Spearmint
(Mentha spicata)
Family: LABIATAE
Energetics: Cooling then Warming.
Taste: Sweet. Mildly pungent.
Tissue States:
Systems Affected: Nervous system. Digestive system.
Parts Used: Leaf.
Key Components: Volatile oils. Menthol. Menthone. d-limonene. Neomenthol. B-Vitamins. Vitamin C. Potassium. Flavonoids. Tannins.
Preparations & dosage: Infusion: (can also mix a strong infusion with sparkling water). Tincture. Essential oil. Food: Raw in salads or as a nibble, fruit salads, grain dishes.
Actions:
Foundational: Aromatic. Astringent. Stimulant. Relaxant.
Primary: Diaphoretic. Stomachic. Mild alterative.
Secondary: Calmative. Antispasmodic.
Uses:
Almost identical to peppermint but is a more mild option and as such is a better choice for children or when you want a milder action than peppermint.
Used as a digestive aid before or after eating. Starts off cooling to the digestive system but then stimulates blood flow thus becoming warming.
Used alone or with ginger to combat nausea,
Use as flavoring in tooth powders or mouthwash.
Helps to calm fevers.
Combines well with: Catnip & elder flower for fevers. Lemon balm for hyperactivity or anxiety. Ginger for nausea. Chamomile for digestive complaints. St. John's Word & Rose for depression.
Identifying:
Growing: Quick growing member of the mint family. Grows well in zones 4-9. Rosemary Gladstar says that it is best to start mints from cuttings or root divisions rather than from seed because they won't be as potent. Grows very well near water such as a pond.
Harvesting:
Contraindications:
Sources:
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: Rosemary Gladstar. Pg 203-207
The Way of Herbs: Michael Tierra. Pg 195-196
Studies:
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