Herbal teas, like peppermint are a little different from normal teas. Any drink that is tea by definition comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. This includes green, black, white, oolong and pu’erh tea. Herbal teas make up everything outside of the camellia plant. They are often a combination of different herbs, spices or other plants.
These teas have been used for hundreds of years to treat health problems and improve wellness. Peppermint tea is one of the most popular herbal teas, due to all of the potential health benefits it has. And not to mention, it tastes delicious.
So, why exactly is peppermint tea good for you? What are the health benefits? We’re here to tell you!
History Of Peppermint Tea
Before we jump into what this peppermint tea can do for you, let’s talk about what it is and where it’s from. Peppermint is actually a hybrid of two different plants; water mint and spearmint.
The first people to use peppermint plants were the Ancient Egyptians, as there have been findings of dried peppermint leaves in the pyramids that date back to 1,000 BC. Many other civilizations used the fresh mint for medicinal purposes as well. It wasn’t until 1750 when it was first cultivated in London.
Since then, it has expanded all over the world and is loved for its menthol flavour. During its rise to popularity, it was mostly used to treat digestive issues, which it still is today. More on that below.
Peppermint Tea for Headaches and Migraines
We know a lot of people suffer from headaches and migraine attacks. Whether it is chronic, having a rough morning or having a great night out, we all get them. Most people use drugs to treat the pain, but we know of an organic remedy that’s better for you hint, hint).
One of the biggest causes for headaches comes from stress or a poor diet. These causes restrict the blood vessels in the brain to cause pain. If you suffer from this kind of ache, then there is scientific evidence that peppermint can help you. Studies show that drinking peppermint tea relaxes blood vessels in the brain and other muscles to ease the pain. It does this by relaxing nerves in your gut, which sends messages to the brain to relieve headaches and migraines.
Peppermint is one of the best teas for headaches, so next time you feel one coming on, reach for your kettle to make a cup of peppermint tea. If you don’t have any peppermint, then chamomile tea can also work as well, but that’s a different topic.
Now we know that is a great home remedy for head pains, let’s talk about what else it’s good for. We have a list of 7 other health benefits of peppermint tea. Check them out.
Other Peppermint Tea Health Benefits
What is Peppermint tea good for?
- Improves digestion
We hinted on this before, but peppermint is great for not just an upset stomach, but a lot of digestive problems. The herb is actually a carminative, which means it helps move gas out of your body. Gas the traps in your body can cause problems such as bloating, cramping and stomach discomfort, so this makes peppermint very effective with digestion. Also, peppermint oil and tea is a common treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation, as it helps your digestive system work properly.
2. Weight loss
Studies show that peppermint tea can make you feel full for a longer amount of time. Therefore, the herb can help you lose weight by preventing you from overeating and controlling appetite.
3. Boosts immune system
Peppermint tea has plenty of antibacterial properties that can prevent infections and sicknesses from occurring. It is also full of antioxidants, which can help prevent a sore throat, cough or cold and make the duration of one shorter.
4. Helps with sleep
Can’t sleep at night? Maybe you should try some peppermint tea. It’s been proven that it not only helps you go to bed, but it promotes restful sleep as well, so you can wake up feeling refreshed. Furthermore, this herb can help you dream more vividly, which also helps with getting good sleeping.
5. Reduces stress
Adding on to the last point, this tea can help lower your stress levels. This is because the herb has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help cool your body down and let you relax. It also helps lower blood pressure to enhance this effect. Even the aroma of this herb can promote this reduction in stress, and it might be even stronger than just drinking it.
6. Improves focus
If you need some help keeping focus, look to this natural remedy. Peppermint tea has shown to improve brain function by upping alertness and focus. One study put the aroma of peppermint in a room full of students writing an exam. As a result, most of the students showed an improvement in focus. Add this to the fact that peppermint reduces stress, and you can have a perfect mindset going into any situation when you drink this tea.
7. Removes bad breath
And as a bonus, peppermint can fix your bad breath. The menthol in this herb helps with this common issue. This is why you see a lot of types of toothpaste using peppermint as a flavour.
There you have it! You’re now equipped with everything you need to know about what is peppermint tea good for and peppermint tea health benefits. If you haven’t already, check out some of our other wellness teas. Let us know what you think.
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