Spearmint tea is a beautiful soothing tea that I drink each and every day. It hasn’t always been this way. Before I started reading Dr Libby, I thought both chamomile and spearmint tea were for grannies. Well call me Grandma Mavis because these two have been my personal savours and I have no shame in my love for them!
One of the biggest reasons I started this journey is because of my hormones. They were causing me havoc! Bad skin, crazy time of months, and erm… excessive hair.
I don’t think I have full blown hirsutism, but I am definitely not normal either! I knew these issues could be managed naturally, and without going into a lot of details, spearmint tea has helped me a lot.
Hirsutism is a condition that causes woman to have an excess amount of dark, coarse hair on unwanted places such as: the upper lip, chin, chest and back. Some level of hair in those places is actually quite normal, but when it is a lot it can indicate that there is too many androgens, a male sex hormone.
Excessive androgens can be caused by diet, being on the pill or injection too long, alcohol, drugs or certain medical conditions. Excess androgrens can also be a sign that the liver is not performing at its best. To find out more about naturally balancing hormones, I suggest you read the amazing books by Dr Libby. A big part of the solution can be what you eat, think and feel. I believe, that in a lot of cases, food not drugs can be the solution to these sort of problems.
As with many symptoms the body presents, it can actually be a beautiful sign the body is giving to you to pay attention to your health. Often things that frustrate you most, are an opportunity for you to explore and improve. For me, I have noticed a huge improvements in all my symptoms and incorporating spearmint tea into my daily routine has been a part of it.
What is spearmint tea?
Spearmint is from the mint family and is loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and vital nutrients. Despite having a very similar aroma to peppermint, spearmint does not contain as much menthol, but is rich in limonene, dihydrocarvone and cineol .
Why is spearmint tea good for me?
In a study published in “Phytotherapy Research” in 2007 by The University of Maryland Medical Center, 12 women with hirsutism were given 1 cup of spearmint tea twice a day for five days. By the end of the study, their levels of male sex hormones had decreased and female hormones increased. The scientists concluded that spearmint could be used to treat mild cases of hirsutism. How amazing is that?!
Aside from menthol, other important chemical components of spearmint are α-pinene, β-pinene, carvone, cineole, linalool, limonene, myrcene and caryophyllene.
These compounds make spearmint excellent for relieving headaches, sore throat, nervous strain, nausea, fatigue and stress, as well as for the respiratory problems; helping with asthma, bronchitis and catarrh.
Spearmint help relax the stomach muscles which can relieve gastrointestinal issues such as flatulence, nausea, hiccups, diarrhoea, stomach aches and irritable bowel syndrome.
Further, the herb is rich in many antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C, folates, vitamin B-6, riboflavin and thiamin. Spearmint is also high in minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium.
Spearmint tea can be used safely in pregnancy.
No side effects to spearmint have been discovered.
There is no caffeine in spearmint tea.
Where can I buy spearmint tea?
Dried spearmint tea can be difficult to find, however organic spearmint tea is available in Melbourne at the Queen Victoria Market, or online from McIvers. Fresh leaves can be bought or grown from seeds.
What to look for when buying spearmint tea:
Look for organic 100% spearmint. Organic is not just about the things you don’t put in your body, but the extra benefits such as more antioxidants and nutrients. As with most leafy plants, the large surface area of the plant means it can absorb a lot more chemicals than say an orange, where the surface can be peeled off.
Dried vs. Fresh:
Dried spearmint leaves have a lot more nutrients and minerals per 100 grams than fresh. You can see the difference here and here.
How do I store spearmint tea?
Store in a cool, dry place in a airtight container such as a glass canister.
How do I make spearmint tea?
Place 1-2 tablespoons of dried spearmint leaves in a tea strainer and add to a cup of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. I like my tea strong so I keep the strainer in while I consume it.
Spearmint tea is lovely hot or cold.
Spearmint tea is a great tea to blend. I like to blend spearmint with camomile and rosemary for a beautiful relaxing cup of happiness.
Although honey can be added to sweeten it, it is nutritionally optimal pure.
You can also use fresh spearmint to make tea, salads, mint sauce, as well as a variety of desserts and savoury dishes.
