Mint (Wild) - Mentha Arvensis

Historical Uses
The oldest written records of mint are attributed to King Hammurabi of ancient Babylon (1800 BC), who prescribed them for gastrointestinal purposes. In fact, the medical use of mint plants for gastrointestinal issues is present in the works of most philosophers and physicians who came across them, from classical antiquity to present-day medicine.

Gerard says of it, “Mint is marvellous wholesome for the stomacke. It is good against watering eies. It is poured into the eares with honied water”. 1

Culpeper also agreed with the virtues of Mint calling it “Wild or Horse Mint” and saying, “such as grow in ditches are serviceable to dissolve wind in the stomach, to help the cholic, and those that are short-winded, and are an especial remedy for those that have venereal dreams and pollutions in the night, being outwardly applied. The juice dropped into the ears eases the pains of them and destroys the worms that breed therein…. The decoction or distilled water helps a stinking breath, proceeding from corruption of the teeth, and snuffed up the nose, purges the head.” 2

Modern Research
Mint oil contains a compound called menthol, which is what is thought to help alleviate the gastrointestinal issues mentioned above and throughout history. It alleviates symptoms through its relaxing effects on the muscles of the digestive tract. Peppermint Oil is often used for this, and Peppermint is actually a hybrid plant from Wild Mint and Spearmint. A 2007 study showed that food passes through the stomach quicker when people take peppermint oil with meals, which relieves symptoms from indigestion. 3

The essential oils of Wild Mint have also since been found to contain phenols and flavonoids that inhibit the spread of microbial pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. In one 2005 study, while inhibitory actions varied among the bacterial species tested, they were almost the same against antibiotic-resistant and antibiotic-sensitive strains of H. pylori, the cause of ulcers and S. aureus, the cause of soft tissue infections. 4

The usefulness of Wild Mint leaves have been further justified in a study that revealed their anti-inflammatory properties exhibited a 68.30% reduction in swelling compared with diclofenac sodium which caused 77.87% inhibition. 5

The 2003 book, Clinical Botanical Medicine recommends oil application or leaf decoction for toothache treatments, Yarnell et al. [45, p.218]. This pain-relieving effect was further investigated in a 2019 study of the effects of peppermint oil compared with lidocaine drops for migraine attacks. The findings were that nasal application of peppermint oil caused considerable reduction in the intensity and frequency of headache and relieved majority of patients' pain similar to lidocaine. The study therefore concluded that this nasal menthol can be used to relieve migraine headaches. 6

It is also possible that Wild Mint could have contraceptive effects. The extract of the showed a reduction in the number of offspring of male mice when mated with normal females. The body weight and libido of the treated animals remained unaffected but a significant decrease in the weight of the testis, epididymis, cauda epididymal sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology of the spermatozoa was observed. 7

Finally, a new way of formulating a solution of the essential oil has allowed the potential anticancer and antibacterial agents of Wild Mint to be re-evaluated. A clear and stable nanoemulsion was obtained and anticancer activity was clearly displayed by the induction of early apoptosis (cell death) in anaplastic/aggressive thyroid cancer cell lines. Also, the same nanoemulsion demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus confirming the earlier 2005 results. The results of this research are expected to substantiate the potential for use of Wild Mint oil in therapeutic studies, as well as in anticancer and antibacterial therapy. 8

Topical Uses
Wild Mint’s antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus means that it acts as a natural antiseptic agent as it aids in treating skin problems and healing wounds.

Dosage (as for Peppermint):
Tisane: 1-2tsp/5-10g. Drink freely
Tincture: 1:5, 45% 2-4ml 3 times per day -20 drops = 1ml/1tsp = 5ml

Precautions
None known