In folk medicine, under the phrase "peppermint" usually refers to several species of this plant, from the wild and ending with those that are cultivated on a commercial scale.In fact, information about the form of the wild - no more than a myth.Peppermint artificially bred by crossing a number of different species.A grass growing near a stream in the forest or in the field - it's just a plant with a pleasant odor, belonging to the same family, and no more.Therefore, in the season when it is necessary to collect the mint, do not look for it either in the forest or in the meadow.
Useful properties
As a rule, the appointment of peppermint as a medicinal plant is the basic content of its leaves menthol.It is used for diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract.It also has a soothing and antiseptic effect.Peppermint oil is also used in dentistry and cooking, in the production of cosmetics and perfumes.Broth from the leaves used as a sedative, they are added to the normal brewing tea with or administered alone.
When collecting mint
This should be done in the period of maximum content of menthol and oils in the leaves.As a rule, it is time this occurs in the middle of the summer at the beginning of flowering.Later, when leaves cease to grow, and the whole force is directed to escape inflorescence amount of nutrients is reduced.When grown on a commercial scale in the fields when collecting mint, experts decide on the presence of buds.This is done using specialized equipment, after which it is dried naturally for further processing.The oil is extracted from the fresh plant, in all other cases, use the dried raw materials.
If mint is grown in small quantities in the garden, it can simply cut off by using clippers.Subsequently shoots connect several pieces and dried in the open air.Keep it in this way can be up to 2 years, during which all useful properties.When collecting a mint in your own garden, everyone decides for himself.Some gardeners even use it as an ornamental plant, periodically cutting off the leaves and adding them to tea.In this case, it just gives the drink a pleasant aroma and has a slight soporific effect, calming the nervous system.So its content of oil and menthol does not play a large role.
In folk medicine, the use of this plant is very common.With him relieve headaches and nausea, it is used for motion sickness and cold, with pain in my heart, and for wound healing.In general, no matter what happens, always makes a mint.When collecting it for different purposes, it is also important.To prepare the droplets dried using the plant collected in time of flowering, the tea is brewed from it though.But a headache for the healing of wounds suitable fresh leaves at any time of the year.
How to make peppermint drops
much easier to buy them off the shelf in a conventional pharmacy.Should such a cheap drug, so it is available to anyone.But if the principle cook it at home, then, when going to the mint, there comes the time.It is dried, and then pulverized and poured rubbing alcohol per 1 g of grass 20 g of the liquid and then during the day insist (capacity must be periodically shaken).On the second day of the filter.For maximum effect it is recommended to add 40 drops of peppermint oil.The finished drug use, dripping on refined.
