Spearmint Tea
The Health Benefits of Spearmint Tea
Spearmint tea is rising in popularity as a tea that not only has a refreshing kick, but as one that could be used to bolster health in certain areas. Tea made from the spearmint plant has been brewed since before Roman times as a means to perk up or rejuvenate the mind, but it has many more uses than that! In this article we are going to look at the benefits that spearmint tea—and spearmint in general—has to offer, as well as learn a few tasty recipes that you can brew up cup-by-cup or by the jug.
One of the most currently raved-about features that spearmint tea has is an ability to help control unwanted hair growth—particularly in women. Don’t laugh—this is a real problem for some! Women who have an overabundance of androgen in the blood tend to see masculine hair growth on their face, breasts, arms, and stomach. This condition is formally known as hirsutism and can be a really upsetting condition for a woman to deal with. Birth control pills help to regulate this androgen in order to ease the issue, but many are discovering that spearmint tea also helps to alleviate the problem. Studies have shown that drinking merely two cups of spearmint tea a day for five days has an obvious impact on the testosterone levels in a woman’s body. So, if you’re a gal feeling extra hairy, spearmint tea may be the answer to your problem!
Throughout history, spearmint was used for a number of random things! People used to throw spearmint leaves about the house as a means to ward off rodents and other household pests. Spearmint oil was also used by Greek athletes as a means to treat muscle soreness—think of it as an old-world form of Icy-Hot. Some cultures even used spearmint as a means to treat and purify drinking water.
Today’s uses are probably a bit more helpful for the everyday person. Have you ever struggled with sinus problems? Over the counter medications may work pretty well, but they can be expensive and many of us are not happy about relying on large capsules for several days just to function normally. That’s where spearmint can come in handy! Boil a cup of water and pour it in a shallow bowl along with a couple of tablespoons of spearmint tea. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a towel. Breathe the minty steam in through your nose until you feel the sinus pressure ease. It’s a cheap and quick way to relieve sinus issues and you won’t have to go through the “when did I take my last pill?” routine.
In addition to relieving sinus issues, spearmint can also be gargled (in tea form) to ease throat issues, but it is most popular for its ability to soothe an upset stomach. Whether you are pregnant and seriously struggling with nausea and vomiting or simply have an upset stomach due to diarrhea or heartburn, a nice cup of tea made from spearmint can help settle the stomach and soothe symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, and indigestion.
Contrary to popular belief, spearmint tea is not ONLY brewed by steeping the spearmint leaves in boiling water. Many people choose to take an alternative route and brew up green tea with a few spearmint leaves thrown in. This is a great take on spearmint if you want a just little bit of that refreshing minty taste with the added benefits of both spearmint AND green tea. The following recipe is a great “jug” mixture of green tea and spearmint that is meant to be chilled. You may find it especially satisfying in the spring and summer months.
2 green tea bags
1 spearmint bag (or two if you want a really minty kick)
Sugar or sweetener to taste (optional)
Bring a quart of water to boil then remove it from heat. Throw in the tea bags and allow it to steep for about 10 minutes. Once the tea has steeped, pour it into a three quart jug and add any sweetener you like. Top it off with two quarts of cold water. You may want to add a good deal of ice if you want to drink the tea straight away.
Spearmint can be purchased in tea bag form or in the natural leaf form. Either one makes an excellent tea on its own or even with honey. For a hot cup of tea, simply boil your water, add a tea bag to the cup and pour the water over it. Allow it to steep for a bit, then discard the bag. If you are using natural tea leaves, I recommend you brew the tea in a tea pot so that you can strain the “bits” from the tea as you pour it.