Mint is a fantastic flavor in pastries, drinks, soups, salads and more, but did you know it’s also one of the most potent natural home remedies around for a whole host of ailments? While you may enjoy it in your ice tea or a mojito, after reading this long list of it’s medicinal properties, you’ll want to make sure you’re growing some this year. Here’s a look at some of the beneficial uses for this healing herb:

Mint Home Remedies

Aids Digestion: Eating some fresh mint or drinking mint tea can help to ease heartburn, nausea, abdominal cramps, morning sickness, irritable bowl syndrome, and more. Mint oil can even prevent diarrhea and reduce flatulence.

Eases Respiratory Issues: Chewing on fresh mint can clear out sinuses, relieve sore throats, calm coughs, and even soothe asthma and bronchitis.

Encourages Reproductive Health: Taking mint extract before and during menstruation can stave off painful cramps.

Heals Wounds: Mint oil has antiseptic properties and can be used to speed the healing of minor cuts and scrapes.

Promotes Healthy Skin: Apply mint oil to pimples, skin rashes, sunburn, bug bites, and hemorrhoids to reduce pain, itchiness, and inflammation.

Soothes Aches and Pains: Rub mint oil (recipe below) over sore muscles and achy joints to help with pain from overexertion, injuries, or arthritis. Rubbing mint oil on your temples can also help soothe headaches, including migraines.

Tames Toothaches: If you have a cavity, cracked a tooth, or lost a filling, you can ease your suffering until you can get to a dentist by rubbing some mint oil into and around the affected tooth. Try more toothache remedies here.

Make Your Own Mint Tea You can buy pre-made mint tea bags, but it’s also easy to make your own. Just steep freshly-cut mint leaves in hot water for about five minutes and serve.

Make Your Own Mint Oil

For an effective home remedy for the above ailments and more: Crush fresh, dry mint leaves with a mallet or a mortar and pestle to release the oils. Place the mint in a jar and cover it with about 2 oz. flavorless, odorless carrier oil, such as jojoba or almond oil, and shake to combine. Place the jar in a warm place for 24 hours, then strain the oil through a piece of cheesecloth to remove the mint leaves. Apply topically to soothe sore muscles.

Helpful Mint Growing Tip:

If you’re growing mint, be sure to grow it in pots, as it can spread! See the tip here.

Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.

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