{"id":121,"date":"2022-08-27T15:32:42","date_gmt":"2022-08-27T15:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=121"},"modified":"2022-08-27T15:32:42","modified_gmt":"2022-08-27T15:32:42","slug":"peppermint-the-survival-herb-you-didnt-know-you-needed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=121","title":{"rendered":"Peppermint: The Survival Herb You Didn\u2019t Know You Needed"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Kit Perez<\/a><\/p>\n

W<\/span>e\u2019ve talked before about the need for a well-prepared home to have an herbal medicine cabinet. Not only is it a fantastic back-up in a disaster scenario, but for many it\u2019s a good alternative to traditional medicine as part of a holistic approach.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s easy to say that people should have herbs around, but how do you start? How do you know what ones to use, what to use them for, and how much? That\u2019s what this article and others like it to come is for \u2014 to give you the tools to confidently use herbs effectively. (Note: This article cannot and should not take the place of medical advice from your health practitioner.)<\/p>\n

What Is Peppermint?<\/h2>\n

Mentha piperita,\u00a0<\/em>as it\u2019s known in the scientific world, is the Western variety of peppermint. It\u2019s one of the oldest herbs in medicine, used by the Greeks and Romans in ancient times. It\u2019s been shown to relax your digestive muscles, relieving cramps and calming abdominal pain.<\/p>\n

\"mint\n<\/picture>
Peppermint tea is an easy-to-make home remedy<\/a> that can soothe upset stomachs and\u00a0nausea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It spreads readily; if you do decide to grow it for yourself, consider putting it in a nice big container. It tends to take over gardens if allowed to grow freely. It grows best in a window with partial sun and partial shade and loves plenty of water.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s easy to grow with minimal effort, and can be harvested over and over, making it a fantastic plant to keep around as a living pharmacy that\u2019s always ready to use year-round. You can dry the leaves in a dehydrator or even laid out on parchment paper in a 170-degree oven for at least four hours.<\/p>\n

Now let\u2019s talk about how to go about using it as medicine!<\/p>\n

A Gut Reaction<\/h2>\n

In 2014, researchers\u00a0found<\/a>\u00a0in a placebo-controlled trial of 726 patients that peppermint oil was \u201csignificantly superior to placebo\u201d for improvement of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. Even better news was that the side effects were \u201cmild and transient in nature,\u201d usually being temporary heartburn.<\/p>\n

\"mint\n<\/picture>
Peppermint spreads fast and can be quite invasive in a garden; for best results, grow it in a large\u00a0container.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another 1996 study of IBS, outlined in the Physician\u2019s Desk Reference of Herbal Medicine, found that 42% of patients were pain-free after only two weeks. While peppermint certainly can\u2019t replace a disease management program, it\u2019s been shown repeatedly to be adept at helping with the symptoms.<\/p>\n

Upset Stomach<\/h2>\n

Even if you don\u2019t have a chronic problem like IBS, peppermint can help with the occasional stomachache or bout of nausea. Peppermint capsules\u00a0given<\/a>\u00a0to 200 chemotherapy patients in one study reduced the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting.<\/p>\n

Migraines<\/h2>\n
\"mint\n<\/picture>
Peppermint leaves can also be used preventively. Try bruising some leaves and using them in some\u00a0limeade!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peppermint can act as a relaxant and pain reliever for sufferers of migraines and headaches. In fact, one study found that applying peppermint oil to the forehead was just as\u00a0effective<\/a>\u00a0as 1,000 milligrams of acetaminophen (Tylenol).<\/p>\n

Sinus Congestion<\/h2>\n

If all of the above effects aren\u2019t enough to convince you of peppermint\u2019s importance in an herbal medicine cabinet, consider that it\u2019s a fantastic antimicrobial; its active ingredient, menthol, can help clear up congestion and help you breathe easier.<\/p>\n

Modes of Peppermint Use and Dosages<\/h2>\n

Peppermint can be taken in a variety of ways, many of them easily prepared at home. If you have a plant, you can use dried or fresh leaves to make a tea. This is often most effective on one-off instances of stomachache or nausea. Use one teaspoon of leaves per each \u00bd cup of boiling water, and steep for about 10 minutes before straining. While many people like the taste of peppermint tea as is, others prefer to add a bit of honey for sweetness. You can also buy peppermint tea already pre-packaged if you prefer. Maximum dosage, according to the herbal PDR, is three to four cups of tea per day, but I\u2019ve found that in most cases, one cup is quite effective.<\/p>\n

\"peppermint\n<\/picture>
The easily recognizable, slightly furry leaves of peppermint are a powerful medicine as well as a familiar flavoring in culinary\u00a0dishes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Capsules are also a great way to take peppermint. You can buy them in health food stores or make them yourself with gelatin capsules, filled with your dried leaves. If you choose to make the capsules yourself, make sure to weigh the leaves to ensure a consistent dose in each. Don\u2019t take more than 3-6 grams per day.<\/p>\n

If you choose to use peppermint essential oil, such as during a headache or for congestion, use a maximum of eight drops per day. For a headache, rub a few drops on your temples or forehead. For congestion, put a drop or two in a bowl of steaming hot water and put your face over the bowl with a towel over your head to trap the steam.<\/p>\n

Note: Peppermint is contraindicated by gallstones, so if you have issues with stones in your gallbladder, avoid using this herb.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Peppermint is a versatile, powerful plant that serves as a foundational herb for any natural pharmacy. Whether you choose to use oils, buy dried bulk herb, or grow it yourself, buy the best quality you can find. Make sure to store your stock appropriately, in airtight containers out of sunlight.<\/p>\n

I keep our peppermint in several forms; I have peppermint oil for headaches and congestion, but I also grow my own plant for use in making capsules and teas. In fact, it\u2019s one of the most-used herbs in our home.<\/p>\n

Have you used peppermint effectively? What\u2019s your go-to way of using it?<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Kit Perez We\u2019ve talked before about the need for a well-prepared home to have an herbal medicine cabinet. Not only is it a fantastic back-up in a disaster scenario, but for many it\u2019s a good alternative to traditional medicine as part of a holistic approach. It\u2019s easy to say that people should have herbs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}