Mint (Mentha haplocalyx Briq.) is a plant of the Lamiaceae and the genus Mint, that is, it belongs to other dry whole plants.

It is mostly born in mountainous wetlands and rivers, with rhizomes growing underground, mostly at an altitude of 2100 meters, but it can also grow at an altitude of 3500 meters. It is an aromatic crop with special economic value.

The whole plant is green and aromatic. Opposite leaves, small lavender flowers, lip-shaped, small dark purple-brown fruit.

mint is one of the common Chinese medicines. It is a pungent sweating and antipyretic medicine to treat influenza, headache, red eyes, body heat, throat, gum swelling, and pain.

The external application can treat neuralgia, skin itching, rash, and eczema. Usually, use mint instead of tea to clear the heart and improve eyesight.

The appearance characteristics of mint

Perennial herb. The stem is upright, 30-60 cm high, with slender fibrous roots and horizontal creeping rhizomes in the lower nodes, sharply quadrangular, with four grooves, the upper part is puberulent, and the lower part is puberulent only along the edges. Multi-branched.

The leaf blade is oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, sparsely oblong, 3-5 cm long, 0.8-3 cm wide, and apex acute;

The base is wedge-shaped to nearly round, the edges are sparsely thick tooth-like serrations above the base, and the lateral veins are about 5-6 pairs, and the middle ribs are prominently under the upper micro depression, and the upper surface is green; the remaining parts are densely dense and sparsely puberulent, Or nearly glabrous except for the veins, the top is light green, usually densely puberulent along the veins; the petiole is 2-10 mm long, concave and dorsal, and puberulent.

Cymbidium axillary, outline globose, flower diameter about 18 mm, peduncle or sessile, peduncle up to 3 mm long, puberulent;

The pedicel is slender, 2.5 mm long, puberulent, or nearly glabrous. The calyx is tubular and bell-shaped, about 2.5 mm long, puberulent and glandular on the outside, glabrous on the inside, 10-veined, inconspicuous, calyx teeth 5, narrow triangular subulate, the apex is long and sharp, 1 mm long.

The corolla is lavender, 4 mm long, slightly puberulent on the outside, puberulent on the inner surface below the throat, coronal eaves 4-lobed, upper lobe apex 2-lobed, larger, and the remaining 3 lobes are nearly equal in size, oblong, The apex is blunt.

Stamens 4, long anterior pair, about 5 mm long, all projecting outside the corolla, filaments filiform, glabrous, anthers ovoid, 2-locule, parallel chambers.

Style slightly beyond stamens, apex nearly equal to 2-lobed, lobes subulate. The faceplate has a flat top.

Nutlets are ovoid, yellowish-brown, pitted, with small glands. The flowering period from July to September, fruit period in October.

The growth environment of mint

mint has a strong ability to adapt to environmental conditions. It can grow in areas below 2100 meters above sea level. It is born in moist land next to water and can reach up to 3,500 meters above sea level.

Temperature

Mint has a strong ability to adapt to temperature, its rhizomes persist through the winter, and can withstand -15℃ low temperature. The optimum temperature for its growth is 25℃-30℃. The growth is slow when the temperature is lower than 15℃, and the growth is faster when the temperature is higher than 20℃. At 20℃-30℃, as long as the water and fertilizer are suitable, the higher the temperature, the faster the growth.

Light

Mint is a long-day crop, which likes sunshine. Long sunshine can promote the flowering of mint and facilitate the accumulation of mint oil and menthol.

Soil

Mint does not have very strict requirements on the soil. Except for soils with excessive sand, excessive viscosity, excessive acid and alkali, and low-lying poor drainage, general soil can be planted, sandy loam and alluvial soil are better. The pH value of the soil is 6-7.5.

The main value of mint

mint has both medical and edible functions. The main edible parts are stems and leaves. It can also be squeezed into juice. In food, mint can be used as a flavoring agent, as a spice, and can also be used with wine and tea.

mint is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in China. The young stem tip can be used as a vegetable, and the whole herb can be used as a medicine to treat colds, fever, sore throat, headache, red eye pain, muscle pain, skin rubella, itching, measles impermeability, etc., in addition to carbuncle and gangrene, Scabies, ringworm, varnish sores are also effective.

mint contains menthol, which can freshen breath and has various medicinal properties. It can relieve abdominal pain and gallbladder problems such as cramps. It also has antiseptic and sterilization, diuretic, phlegm, stomach, and digestive effects.

Large amounts of mint can cause insomnia, but small doses can help sleep.

Mint facts

Hades fell in love with the beautiful elf Menthe, which caused the jealousy of Persephone, the wife of Hades.

In order to make Pluto forget Mansi, Persephone turned her into an inconspicuous grass, which grows on the side of the road and is trampled on.

However, after the strong and kind-hearted Man Qian turned into grass, she possessed a comfortable, cool, and charming fragrance, the more tortured and trampled the stronger.

Although she has become the grass, she is loved by more and more people. People call this kind of grass mint (Mentha).

mint is a plant full of hope. It is inevitable that there are many people or things that are missed in life, and there is almost no chance to meet, kiss, and love each other again;

But the more you don’t, the more you miss it. Although mint is a plain flower, its taste is refreshing, refreshing and infiltrating into the skin from every pore, and every cell in the body is transparent;

It is a very happy feeling, which will give those who have lost a bit of comfort, so the mint’s flower language is “Wish to meet you again” and “Love me again”.

In addition, it also has a flower language that is “the virtuous person.”

Origin of Mint

mint is widely distributed in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, tropical Asia, the Russian Far East, North Korea, Japan, and North America (Mexico in the south).

Notes for mint

Women during pregnancy should avoid using it. Because mint has the effect of inhibiting milk secretion, women who are breastfeeding should not use it more;

And because of the fragrance of mint, it should be used with caution in patients with lung deficiency, cough, yin deficiency, fever, and sweating.

In addition, the ingredients of mint are easily volatilized due to heat, so it should be put in after the water boils.

It has a refreshing and exciting effect, so it is not advisable to drink too much in the evening to avoid sleep disturbance.

Benefits of mint

Relieve pain

Studies have found that spraying mint essential oil on an anesthesia mask during surgery can reduce the number of anesthetics and postoperative analgesics.

Studies by American Welling Jesus University and German headache experts have found that mint can relieve headaches and the effect is as good as painkillers.

Relieve stress

Modern people are prone to fatigue, and people with high work pressure are more likely to have symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, and liver qi stagnation.

mint can help relieve symptoms such as irritability and insomnia, improve depression and other bad moods, boost the spirit, make the body and mind happy, and help sleep.

Sterilization and antibacterial

Mint has a strong bactericidal and antibacterial effect. mint has desensitization, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects on the skin of mosquito bites;

It also has an obvious cough, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects on upper respiratory tract infections. Drinking it regularly can prevent viral colds, oral diseases, and refresh the breath. Gargle with mint tea juice can prevent bad breath.

Relieve intestinal colic

The mouth contains mint, which has an excitatory effect on taste nerves and olfactory nerves.

It has an explosive and stimulating effect on the oral mucosa, can promote oral salivation, increase appetite, increase the blood supply of the gastric mucosa, and improve digestion. It is beneficial to treat insufficiency of food accumulation and relieve the feeling of swelling and stagnation of the stomach.

It can also treat hiccups and cramping stomach pain. In addition, mint also has a good effect of expelling wind in the intestines, can reduce intestinal inflation, slow down the peristalsis of intestinal muscles, and have the effect of slowing down intestinal colic.

Relieve eye fatigue

Steaming noodles with mint tea can also reduce pores. Putting the tea leaves on the eyes will feel cool and relieve eye fatigue. It is said that mint is also called “eye grass” and can be used to treat eye diseases.

Tips

Mint has dual functions of medicine and food. The main edible parts are stems and leaves, which can also be squeezed into juice. In food, it is often used to make dishes or desserts to remove the fish and lamb smell, or to match fruits and desserts to enhance the flavor. It can also be used with wine, tea, etc., and can also be made into an anti-inflammatory and swelling moisturizer.

Drink a glass of mint water after exercising. After working out and sweating profusely, you will feel warm and thirsty. At this time, a glass of water is comfortable, and mint water is the best choice.

Mint water has a cool and refreshing feeling, and a small amount of mint water can bring a large glass of water to eliminate the feeling of thirst.

Drinking mint water after exercise can also help the body accelerate metabolism, eliminate waste materials and toxins, relieve stress, clear heat and relieve fatigue, increase appetite, and help digestion.

Promote metabolism, have a therapeutic effect on inflammation of the respiratory tract, lower blood pressure, and nourish the heart.