Herbal tea is one of my favorite things to write about. That’s because it’s widely available. Also, herbal tea good for us.
For years, medicinal plants have been used to help heal a wide range of conditions. This includes physical problems, as well as emotional distress.
Some researchers are beginning to explore the potential healing benefits of herbs. But this work is still in its infancy. Right now, most research seems geared toward bringing new drugs to market. So much of what we know about the potential benefits of peppermint tea come from its historical use.
It’s widely believed, at least among herbalists, that peppermint tea is a good digestive aid. It’s possible this tea can also help with weight loss, if you use it to help curb your appetite. Instead of reaching for a sweet dessert, you can substitute a steaming mug of peppermint tea. Some people also use mint tea to naturally reduce anxiety. It’s possible this tea also has mood elevating properties.
Health Benefits of Peppermint Herbal Tea
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Tea is a beverage. It can also be a medicine. In fact, some herbalists even believe this is one of the best ways to take an herbal remedy. That’s because the warm water is easily assimilated by your body, so the healing compounds get where they’re needed.
It’s certainly a pleasant way to take your medicine. Peppermint tea is also delicious, especially if it’s sweetened with raw organic honey. It doesn’t contain caffeine, so you can drink it before bedtime. However, if you suffer from acid reflux, you may not want to drink it right before you lie down. That’s because peppermint tea may aggravate this condition.
Peppermint tea is also believed to help your immune system. So it makes a good cold and flu remedy.
Health Benefits from Drinking Peppermint Tea
In general, as I mentioned earlier, medicine herbs are not very well studied, at least in modern scientific circles. But there is a little research on the potential benefits of peppermint tea, at least in animal models. One review that ran in Phytotherapy Research noted that peppermint seemed to relax the GI system (in animals), and appeared to have natural analgesic effects.
Health Benefits of Mint Tea Leaves
Since I’m not one to wait for all the research to come in, especially for a time-tested herbal remedy that’s been safely used for ages, I drink peppermint tea with the assumption that I’m deriving certain benefits. I also use peppermint essential oil on my forehead when I have a headache. (First, I put it in a carrier oil). In fact, this home headache remedy works so well, at least for me, that I don’t even own any OTC pain relievers. (However, I do need to stress that I can’t claim or promise any natural remedy will work for anyone else. All I can do is share my personal experience.)
Because I have chronic nerve pain, I’m always looking for natural ways to relieve it. Peppermint tea is one of the healthy drinks I have in my house. It’s safe to assume that anything that’s good for you will also help reign in excess inflammation. Many holistic health experts believe chronic inflammation is the root cause of illness.
I’d much rather take herbs than medicine, especially for nerve pain. That’s because I want to skip the dangerous side effects, plus the possibility of being addicted to a drug. I rotate my remedies, so they work better. Below are links to posts on some of the other herbal teas I use for natural inflammation control.
Are There Any Health Benefits To Peppermint Tea?
It’s believed there are health benefits to drinking peppermint tea, although in the absence of hard and fast scientific studies, I can’t make a definitive statement. But we can look toward its traditional use.
The University of Maryland Medical Center is one of the few mainstream outlets that seems to have a very open-minded approach to alternative medicine. It’s actually published an entire web page on peppermint. Here are some of the possible benefits of herbal peppermint, according to the UCCM. However, the UMMC warns against giving peppermint in any form to an infant or a young child. It also noted that peppermint may aggravate acid reflux, and may not be well tolerated by people who take certain drugs. (So, if you’re taking prescriptions, check with your doctor first.)
Peppermint tea does appear to be a healthy drink for most people. Here are a few reasons why:
- Peppermint is an herb with a “calming and numbing effect,” according to the UMMC. (Recently, while suffering from TMJ, I rubbed an essential oil blend that contain peppermint oil on my jaw, at night before I went to sleep. It definitely took the edge off.
- Also, peppermint is a long-standing herbal digestion remedy, and may help people with nausea and diarrhea.
- In the test tube, peppermint has been shown to kill a wide range of pathogens.
- Peppermint seems to contain natural analgesic compounds. That’s why, in our house, we use peppermint essential oil instead of OTC pain relievers.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils or herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
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