How to Make Peppermint Tea: Health Benfits and Medicinal Uses

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) makes a delicious herbal tea and has a pleasant aroma. As an herb for making tea, peppermint can be used alone, or in combination with less palatable herbs to enhance their flavor. Peppermint has a high level of menthol, which is antispasmodic to the muscles, and can help sooth stomach upset and colic.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Peppermint
• Water

1. Making Peppermint Tea from Dried Leaves
   
   Dried peppermint leaves are available and natural food stores, some grocery stores and online. Good quality peppermint will be bright green, not brown, and have a minty aroma.
   
   Using a tea strainer, steep 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint in 1 cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Cover the peppermint tea as it steeps to prevent the medicinal components of the peppermint from being carried away with the steam. Strain the peppermint from the water and enjoy.

2. Making Peppermint Tea from Fresh Leaves
   
   Fresh peppermint leaves can be purchased from most natural food stores and some grocery stores. Peppermint is also a very easy herb to grow in your herb garden at home. Rinse the leaves well before using them to prepare peppermint tea.
   
   Place 1/4 cup of fresh peppermint leaves in 1 cup of boiling water. Steep the peppermint tea for 15 minutes. Strain the peppermint leaves from the water and enjoy.

3. Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses of Peppermint
   
   Peppermint tea is well-known for treating respiratory problems and soothing an upset stomach. Because of its expectorant properties it can be used to treat allergies, hay fever, sinus infections, bronchitis, colds, chest congestion, cough, and flu or influenza. Peppermint tea also has an antispasmodic action on muscles and works well to sooth stomach cramping, irritable bowel syndrome, and nausea. Peppermint tea can also be used to treat migraine headaches, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, or used as an overall heart tonic.

[amysmarts]

on 10/16/2009 Great article on How to Make Peppermint Tea: Health Benfits and Medicinal Uses. I didn't realize all of the health benefits to drinking it. I will have to add this one to my favorites. Thanks. 5*

[honeyd81]

on 10/16/2009 Great article! I love peppermint tea.