Herbs for Lower Back Pain • Sage for Anxiety • Horse Chestnut for Venous Insufficiency HERB PROFILE Peppermint Mentha x piperita Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) INTRODUCTION In traditional herbal medicine peppermint has reportedly been used as a tonic for preventing gas, relievi ng spasms, and other ep~ermint is one of the most popular herbs used in today's soctety.1 A summer-growing, perennial aromatic herb, stomach ailments.3·6 Its traditional use also includes treatment of P peppermint is a hybrid of Mentha spicata (spearmint) cholera and diarrhea, to raise body heat and induce perspiration, and M. aquatica (watermint). The plant grows wild throughout to treat colds, flu, hys teria and nervous disorders,3 as well as to Europe and North America in moist areas and is thought to be assist in alleviating tension headaches.4 Today, the peppermint of Mediterranean origin. The leaves and stems of peppermint plant is commonly added to cough and cold remedies because of contain volatile oils that give the plant its pungent fragrance and its high menthol content, which provides a sensation of coolness taste. The oil contains menthol, which is responsible for the sensa­ and easier breathing.? tion of coolness that is characteristic of peppermint. I The tobacco industry uses peppermint oil largely as a flavoring and for its high concentration of menthol and cooling sensation HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE in filtered cigarettes, cigars, and both chewing and pipe tobacco.6 The genus Mentha was named after the Greek nymph Minthe. 2 Due to its unique fragrance, peppermint is often found in soaps, Legend has it that Minthe was the lover of Pluto, the God of the detergents, creams, lotions, and perfumes.6 Greek underworld. When Pluto's wife heard of the affair, she MODERN RESEARCH murdered Minthe in a fit of rage Studies have been conducted to evaluate peppermint's docu­ and jealousy. In remembrance of mented and potential effects on various gastrointestinal and Minthe, Pluto brought her back neurological conditions such as dyspepsia8,9, IO ,II and tension to life as a fragrant plant. The headaches (oil used topically) .I2,I3 Peppermint's antispasmodic name peppermint is from the and antidiarrheal effects are topics of continued research.l4 species name piperita meaning Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules have been shown to be "peppery," which distinguishes effective in clinical trials for treating irritable bowel syndromel5, 1 peppermint from other forms 6,17, 18, 19,20,21 and the oil has been used effectively to reduce fecal of mint.2 odor in cholostomy bags22 and to reduce colonic spasms during 2 The Roman naturalist Pliny barium enema23, 4 and colonoscopy.25,26 the Elder (circa 23-79 CE) wrote FUTURE OUTLOOK that Greeks and Romans used The world production of peppermint is more than 4000 tons peppermint to adorn themselves per year with the United States accounting for over 90% of the and their tables at feasts, and production.27 There has been a steady increase in demand for that their cooks used it to flavor peppermint because of its many uses and because of recent expan­ both wine and sauces.3 There is some evidence that M. x piperita sion into the Asian market. The plant requires certain environ­ was cultivated by Egyptians, and it appears in 13th century mental conditions that greatly limit suitable areas for cultivation. Icelandic medical documents. However, it was not used medici­ Because of the high demand and climatic constraints, it is becom­ nally in Europe until the mid-18th century.3 ing common for peppermint crops to be harvested twice each Peppermint has a long history of unique uses. Aristotle (circa season (double harvesting) in the United States. Double harvest­ 384-322 BCE) referenced peppermint in his writings as an ing can lead to rootstock depletion and can diminish the quality aphrodisiac.2 Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) forbade his of oil produced. Horticulturists have also encountered a growing soldiers to have peppermint because it was thought to promote pest infestation that is leading to excessive leaf loss and conse­ erotic thoughts and deplete soldiers of the desire to fight. Arabs quently lower oil quality.27 used peppermint in their social drinks as a virility stimulant and HG -Gayle Engels, Meredith Podraza, and Adrian Sierant Romans would spread peppermint on their floors to help get rid of pests.2 REFERENCES Peppermint has many modern uses worldwide.4 Leaf prepara­ I. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: tions are made from either fresh or dried leaves, while the oil is Expanded Commission E Monographs. Austin, TX: American Botani­ distilled from freshly-harvested sprigs.4 Many believe that pepper­ cal Council; Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; mint is too intense for subtle dishes, bur leaves or their essential 2000. oil are commonly found in tea, chocolate, confections, chewing 2. Onstad D. Whole Foods Companion. White River Junction, Vf: gum, jellies, and sauces.5 Peppermint can also be added to chilled Chelsea Green Publishing Co.; 1996. 3. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Vol. 2. New York: Dover Books; soups or rice on warm days to help cool down the body.5 1971. Continues on page 4 Photo by Steven Foster. ©2006 stevenfoster.com www.herbalgram.org 2006 HerbaiGram 72 I 1 PEPPERMINT advisory board Continued from page I Each issue of Herba/Gram is peer reviewed by members of our 4. Blumenthal M, H all T, Goldberg A, Kunz Advisory Board and other qualified experts before publication. T, Dinda K, Brinckmann J, Wollschl aeger B, eds. The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. Cindy K. Angerhofer, PhD Edward M. Croom, Jr., PhD Austin, TX: Ameri can Botanical Council; Director of Botanical Research, Aveda Institute, Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, Minneapoli s, Minnesota University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mi ssissippi 2003. 5. Wood R. The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia. John Thor Amason, PhD Wade Davis, PhD Middlesex, UK: Penguin Books; 1999. Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society, 6. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Washington, D.C. Natura/Ingredients Used in Foods, Drugs, and Dennis V. C. Awang, PhD, FCIC Steven Dentali, PhD Cosmetics. New York: John W iley & Sons, MediPiant Natural Products Consulting Services, Vice President of Scientifi c and Technical Affairs, Inc.; 1996. White Rock, B.C., Canada American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, 7. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy: Phytochemistry Maryland Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed. Paris: Lavoisier Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD Publishing; 1999. Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Hardy Eshbaugh, PhD 8. Friese J, Kohler S. Peppermint oi l-caraway University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School Professor of Botany & Ass istant Curator, Willard oil fixed combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia Sherman Turrell Herbarium, Miami University, Marilyn Barrett, PhD comparison of the effect of rwo Galeni- Oxford, Ohio Pharm acognosy Consulting Service, cal preparations. [in German]. Pharmazie. Sa n Carlos, California Trish Flaster, MS 1999;54(3):210 -215. Executive Director, Botanical Liaisons, LLC, Boulder, CO 9. Madisch A, H eydenreich C, Wieland V, Ezra Bejar, PhD Hufnagel R, Hotz J. Treatment of func­ Joe Graedon, MS Director ofTechnical Sciences, Herbalife International, tio nal dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil Inc., Los Angeles, CA Author, syndicated columnist, radio host, and caraway oil combination preparation Durham, North Carolina Bradley C. Bennett, PhD as compared to cisapride. A multicentre, Associate Professor of Biology, Florida International Charlotte Gyllenhaal, PhD reference-controlled double-blind University, Miami Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, equiva lence stud y. Arzneimitte/forschung. Un iversity of Illinois at Chicago; Research Program John A. Beutler, PhD 1999;49( 11 ):925-932. Manager, Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care, Staff Scientist, Molecular Targets Development 10. May B, Kuntz H , Kieser M, Kohler S. Evanston, IL Program, National Cancer Institute Efficacy of a fixed pep permint oil/caraway Frederick, Maryland Mary Hardy, MD oil combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Director, Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medicine Medical Arzneimittelforschung. 1996;46(1 2): 11 40- Josef Brinckmann Group, Los Angeles, California 1153. VP of Research and Development, Traditional 11. May B, Ko hl er S, Schneider B. Efficacy and Medicinals, Inc., Sebastopo l, CA Christopher Hobbs, LAc, AHG tolerability of a fixed combination of pepper­ Herbalist, botanist, licensed acupuncturist, Francis Brinker, NO mint oil and caraway oil in pa tients suffering Davis, California Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicines, from functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, David Hoffmann BSc, FNIMH Ther. December 27, 2000;14( 12): 1671 -1 677. Tucson Medical Herbalist, Author, and Research Associate 12. Gobel H , Fresen ius J, Heinze A, Dworschak Traditional Medicinals, Sebastopol, California M, Soyka D. Effectiveness of Oleum Menthae Donald J. Brown, NO piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of Director, Natural Products Research Consultants, Maurice M. lwu, PhD tension headache. [in German). Nervenarzt. Seattle, Washington Bioresources Development and Conservation 1996;67(8):672-681. Program, Senior Research Associate at the Division of John H. Cardellina, PhD 13. Gobel H , Schmidt G, Soyka D. Effect of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed