Botanical name: Mentha piperita Other names: Mint, Horsemint Family: Part used: leaves Taste (rasa): sweet, pungent Characteristic (guna): Light, dry, penetrating Energy (veerya): cooling and heating Post digestive effect (vipak): pungent Dosha effect: VPK-, taken in excess it increases vata Action (karma): improves digestion, sweating to eliminate colds &flu, antispasmodic, antiseptic, carminative, cholagogue, tonic, stimulant, pectoral, digestive, anaesthetic, diuretic, antioxidant, antiviral, cools skin inflammation, ease menstrual pain Dose: Infuse 1 teaspoon of herb with hot water for 5 minutes. Drink and enjoy. Contraindications: High vata; sensitive individuals and epileptics need to regulate dosage. Not recommended with iron medication or gastric reflux medication. Avoided by patients with oesophageal reflux and those with gallstones.

Ref: ‘Ayurvedic Medicine by Sebastian Pole; ‘Ayurvedic Pharmacology & Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants’ by Vaidya V.M. Gogte; ‘Yogi of Herbs’ by V. Lad & D. Frawley; ‘Herbs Are Special’ by Isabel Shipard.