Guest guest Posted October 6, 2000 Report Share Posted October 6, 2000 O.K.- I got off my butt & looked for the herbal remedy book I knew I had somewhere - thank God I got a spell of organization awhile back, or I'd never have found it. This book says you can make medicinal infusions like tea, with hot water, or soak in cold water over night. Then you can use oil (a real good cold pressed olive oil) as the base. Ah, tinctures! That's what my brain fog wouldn't let through! Says here you can use brandy, vodka or rum (hey, you can make some real delicious deserts with these...soak raisins for months in it, great in bread, too - oops, forgot we're talking medicinal...) Also, you can use glycerine or vinegar for the base. Basically, chop the fresh herbs, put in a clean mason jar, cover with the ratio of alcohol to water you choose, such as 50/50, leaving a couple of inches for the herbs to swell. Then if they start to soak up the liquid, just add more to cover. Let it sit there for 4 to 6 wks. Shake 'em every now and then. Think the waiting is why why I never tried it yrs ago when I first read it. It's coming back to me - back then I was much more impatient than I am now. Amazing how this disease puts life into focus so much more... Lyn ----------------------------- Would this be like infusion? I am not sure how you would be able to do it but I grow mint every summer, too, so this sounds interesting. Maybe we can all slooth through herbal remedy books at the book stores and report back. First one with info is the winner.... Hugs, Bryarwoode@... wrote: >, Lin, That is an idea Lin. Could you make your own peppermint from >the plants or >would it be too much work for what you'd get. If it is possible, at least >you would get pure peppermint. > >Bev > _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Peppermint: (Mentha piperita) Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint and was first cultivated near London in 1750. Peppermint grows almost everywhere. The two main cultivated forms are the black mint, which has violet-colored leaves and stems and a relatively high oil content, and the white mint, which has pure green leaves and a milder taste. The leaves are used. Recognized in the early eighteenth century, the historical use of peppermint is not dramatically different than its use in modern herbal medicine. Classified as a carminative herb, peppermint has been used as a general digestive aid and employed in the treatment of indigestion and intestinal colic. Peppermint leaves contain about 0.5–4% volatile oil that is composed of 50–78% free menthol and 5–20% menthol combined with other constituents. Peppermint oil is classified as a carminative, meaning that it helps ease intestinal cramping and tone the digestive system. Peppermint oil or peppermint tea is often used to treat gas and indigestion. It may also increase the flow of bile from the gallbladder. Peppermint oil’s relaxing action also extends to topical use. When applied topically, it acts as a counterirritant and analgesic with the ability to reduce pain and improve blood flow to the affected area. Enteric-coated peppermint oil has shown benefit for people with irritable bowel syndrome, according to double blind studies. One double blind study found that combining peppermint and caraway oils in an enteric-coated tablet was superior to placebo for people with irritable bowel syndrome. A tea of peppermint is a traditional therapy for colic in infants, and a double blind study has confirmed its effectiveness. The tea used in this study contained mint and also licorice, vervain, fennel, and lemon balm. However, peppermint should be used cautiously in infants. Check with your pediatrician. A study of topical peppermint oil applied to the temples of healthy volunteers (with or without eucalyptus oil) found that peppermint oil had a muscle-relaxing action and it decreased tension. This may explain its usefulness in treating tension headaches. Peppermint oil alone reduced pain as well. For internal use, a tea can be made by pouring 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water over 1 heaped U.S. teaspoon (5 grams) of the dried leaves and steeping for five to ten minutes; three to four cups daily between meals can relieve stomach and gastrointestinal complaints. Peppermint leaf tablets, capsules, and liquid extracts are often taken at 3–6 grams per day. For treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, 1–2 capsules of the enteric-coated capsules containing 0.2 ml of peppermint oil taken two to three times per day may be preferable. For headaches, a combination of peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil diluted with base oil can be applied to the temples at the onset of the headache and every hour after that or until symptom relief is noted. Suzi What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. health/ http://suziesgoats.wholefoodfarmacy.com/ http://360./suziesgoats 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Search movie showtime shortcut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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