Mentha
Mint, Mentha (lat.)
The use of Mint in traditional Armenian medicine.
Medicinal purpose
For medicinal purposes the plant leaves are used. It is gathered in the blossom time, left in the sun for a few hours, and dried in a windy, cool place, then stored in wooden boxes. The plant also generates ethereal oil with its main component - menthol, which is also used for medicinal purposes. The mint has been known the mankind from very long time ago. During the receptions in Ancient Rome, the reception hall was flavored with mint water; the tables were cleaned with mint flowers. In the Mediaeval the mint was thought to be stimulating brain, and the students were suggested to wear mint wreath. Avicenna has been widely using the plant against headache, melancholia, sight weakness, noise in ears, nose bleeding, bad smell, ulcers, toothache, quinsy, breath problems, asthma, cough, stomach inflammations, pains, vomit, etc.
Mint has also been known as a good medicinal plant by famous Armenian doctors, too. Mkhitar Heratsi has used the domestic and wild types of the plant as restorative and anaesthetic means, as well as against diarrhea and vomits. Heratsi also mentions the fever reducing quality of mint in case of high temperature diseases. Examining the medicinal qualities of mint more deeply, Amirdovlat mentions that mint is good for headache, eliminates garlic and onion scent in the mouth, helps the excessive heart beat, smoothens the stomach functions, helps against vomit, cures jaundice, kills the worm, cures stomach upset, stops bleeding, cures dog bites, scorpion and bee stings. The mint is also contraceptive. According to Shahrimanyan, mint is good for brain, heart, and stomach; it also helps get rid of aerogenic substances from intestines. It is also good for appetite absence and menstrual diseases. According to Oghlukhanyan, mint cures nerves, strengthens stomach, reduces fever, stops cough. In the Russian folk medicinal practice, mint was widely used as restorative and sudorific means. The mixture of wild mint juice and white wine was used against urolithiasis. In the Chinese folk medicinal practice, it was used against nephritis, as well as, cold combines with other medicines. It was also known as sudorific and diuretic substance. In the French medicinal practice, mint is also known as efficient wound curing means. It was used against sleeplessness and ear diseases in Poland. In the Bulgarian medicinal practice, the wild sorts of mint are widely used along with the domestic ones. The first ones are not less efficient than the seconds.
Based on the Ukrainian and their own medicinal practice, father and son Nosals have some interesting information on this plant. According to them, mint is good for digestion, is good sudorific. The plant decoction and drops are good for child rachitis, stomach-intestine diseases. According to N.G. Kovaleva, mint is good for hypertonic diseases, atherosclerosis, and kidney and liver diseases.
Lotions from mint leaves are used against rheumatic aches in joints; inhalation is good for throat diseases. Mint leaves and the ethereal oil from them, as well as its main component – menthol, are included in Soviet pharmacopoeia. The plant is officinal almost all over the world. The scientific medicine proves all the medicinal qualities of mint, which was used in folk medicine for ages. Lots of medicines are made from the plant, and the ethereal oil and crystal menthol. Ethereal oil is used as external ointment for headaches and skin diseases, as well as against respiratory and bronchial diseases and bronchial asthma via inhalations. In medicinal practice menthol is also used very widely. Upon touching the skin it irritates extremity nerves with the feeling of cold, burn and numbness. It is also used against migraine, pungent respiratory diseases, diarrhea, vomit, haemorrhoids, etc.
Use
To make a liquid extract, 2 table-spoons of cut fresh mint is mixed with 1 cup of hot water for 30 minutes, dried and drunken warm during the day. This is mainly for stomach-intestine spasm, diarrhea, vomits, strong headaches, strong menstruation, etc. This extract can be used to rinse the mouth and throat. By 1/3 – 1/10 proportions, the dry mint is mixed in hot water in covered pot for 2 hours. This should be used 1 table-spoon, 3-4 times a day, 30 minutes before eating.
To make a decoction, 50 grams of mint should be mixed with one bucket of water and boiled for 15 minutes, after which used for bathes and/or enema.
The mint water is made by adding 1-2 drops of ethereal oil to 100 ml water. This is used in different liquid medicines to give them pleasant taste, as well as for vomits and mouth rinse. To make mint drops (alcohol extract), 1 portion of dry leaves should be mixed with 20 portion of 90 degree spirit, left for one day, mixing frequently. Afterwards, it should be filtered and added 1 portion of mint oil to. This should be taken 10-30 drops, three times a day mainly against diarrhea, intestine diseases, vomits, digestion problems. This extract is also added to some medicines to give them good taste. It can also be used for bathes and enema, adding 1 table spoon to 1 one bucket of water.
In cases of stomachache and stomach burns, 3-5 drops of mint is added on sugar and used by sucking.
Other use
Mint is widely used in food. It is added to pies, salads, cheese, and vegetable and meat soup. Teas, liquors, tobacco, are being flavored by mint. It is also used in cosmetics.
The plant is melliferous. Its honey has nice scent and taste, and a number of qualities of medicinal plant.
Warning
These are folk remedies and are no guarantee is made as to either their effectiveness, or their safety.