benefits of mint leaf

It is keeping it from taking over the garden that takes work. Given medium rich, moist soil and shade to dappled sunlight, mint will thrive and soon form a lush, thick carpet. Keep it cut back, especially once it begins to bloom, otherwise it will become invasive. Since many of the varieties propagate from underground runners, you may have to just pull out wandering plants. Most mints thrive as house plants as well.

When you cut Mint, cut all the way back to the ground. If you want to enjoy the many different colors of flowers, cut them off before the seed is ripe. Remember that when an herb is flowering it is not making lots of nice leaves to cook with. Shear your mint to the ground in the fall and it will emerge shining and ready for gourmand use in the spring.When harvesting mint leaves, cut back alternate plants so you always have small tender leaves available. The peppermints or red mints are very strong flavored and should be dried before using or used sparingly if fresh.

Caterpillars can usually be handpicked. They are repelled by wormwood spray or insect spray. Rust appears as bright orange markings on the foliage of herbs such as mint and chives. Destroy all affected foliage. Do not place diseased plants or foliage in the compost bin. If a mild commercial copper spray does not curb the disease, destroy the plants.

The health benefits of many herbs and essential oils. Studies have shown vast and consistent results that bear up the traditional use of such natural medicines. Researchers are ever searching for the cures for what ails us, and many drugs have their origins in ethnic medicinal practices. In fact, a quarter of all pharmaceuticals contain botanicals.Peppermint essential oil has been used to treat indigestion, headaches, colic, gingivitis, irritable bowel syndrome, spasms and rheumatism. This volatile and potent essential oil has very diverse uses because of its many properties. It relaxes muscles; has antiviral and bactericidal qualities; increases stomach acidity (to aid digestion); is an analgesic and counterirritant; and is a carminative .

The more we process foods, the more nutrients we take out and then need to replace by vitamin and mineral (and herbal!) supplements. Many refining processes send toxins in the air all around us that assault our immune system. Synthetics, likewise, can interfere with our immune systems. In other words, we are suffering from taking away essentials from resources to make products for some convenience . Some would say convenience is killing us. We are also finding that overuse and misuse of some antibiotics have helped create some bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

At work or at home mint rubbing is an excellent choice for spending quality time and for leaving worries and problems behind. Mint rubbing belongs to a larger group of time management techniques that includes gas burning, pulling the cats tail, cutting leaves to dogs, laying with the belly towards the sun and others. There seems to be a wide variety of such techniques that are being researched and practiced at present.

Mint is also extremely popular in Vietnam, where it is nearly always enjoyed fresh. Aromatic leaves are served as a garnish to nearly every Vietnamese dish, at least in the South; the most popular herbs (besides some that are not available in the West) for this purpose are coriander, Vietnamese coriander, long coriander, basil and mint.

Freeze whole mint leaves in ice cubes for tea or lemonade.Mint tea to make peppermint tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes.

Mix chopped mint with butter for boiled new potatoes (or with parsley or dill) & Toss whole mint leaves in cooked rice before serving & you can also Put mint in water used to steam vegetables.

Chop spearmint and mix with olive oil and use as a marinade for fresh tuna. Marinate 30 minutes, grill.Mint has numerous applications in the kitchen, being used all over the world as flavoring as well as key ingredients to foods and drinks. Peppermint sprigs can be added to drinks and fruit dishes as agarnish. It also makes a refreshing tea. Peppermint makes an excellent flavoring for ice cream, chocolates, and other deserts.