Field mint (Mentha arvensis) is a plant from the Lamiaceae family that is found in the moderate climates of Eurasia. The use of field mint extends far and wide. Field mint purifies the air and breathing, cools fiery ailments and eases pains.
Field mint knows in different languages the following names:
- Botanical: Mentha arvensis.
- Sanskrit: Pudīnā.
- Hindi: Pudīnā.
- English: Field mint, corn mint, wild mint.
- Dutch: Akkermunt.
Field mint grows in an area where since ages ayurveda, the Hinduistic medicine, is being practised. It is no wonder then that field mint is in use in ayurveda. Below you can find a general overview of the qualities of field mint from ayurvedic perspective.
- Energetics: Sharp - cold - sharp.
- PK- V+ (Field mint reduces pitta and kapha and raises vata).
- Tissues: Plasma, blood, marrow, nervesystem, respiratory system, digestion, blood circulation.
- Action: Stimulating, diaphoretic, carminative, nerve calming, pain relief.
- Indication: Cold, fever, sore throat, laryngitis, ear pain, digestive disorders, nervous unrest, headache, dysmenorroe.
- Spirituality: Field mint is sattvik by nature.
Field mint is indigenous in Europe and has therefore a traditional place in Western herbology. Below follows an overview of the qualities.
- Action: Analgesic, antibacterial, antiitch, antipyretic, antiseptic, carminative, cholagogue, detoxicant, secretolytic, stimulant, tonic.
- Indication: Arthrosis, asthma, athlete's foot, bacteria, biliary disease, bronchosis, burn, cardiopathy, caries, catarrh, cholecystosis, cold, colic, cough, debility, dermatosis, diarrhea, dyspepsia, dyspnea, enterosis, fever, flu, gas, gastrosis, headache, hepatosis, infection, inflammation, itch, myalgia, nausea, nephrosis, neuralgia, pain, pharyngosis, pneumonia, poison ivy, respirosis, rheumatism, sore throat, stomatosis, sunburn, swelling, toothache.
In the Agni Yoga teachings of Helena Roerich we find references to peppermint (Mentha × piperita) in particular but also to mint (Mentha) in general (under which thus also field mint falls).
- Action: Purifies respiration, purifies air, relieves pain, friend of life, calms agitated nerve centers, disinfectant, purifies from entities, inhibits inflammations, anti intestinal diseases, anti inflamed nerve centres, anti asthma.
Field mint essential oil can be used aromatically, in bath, for massage and as a perfume. Consult before use the paragraph 'Side Effects' and when hesitant a doctor or therapist.
- Aromatically: The oil can be used aromatically by putting a few drops in a nebulizer or vaporizer. When having a cold you can also add a few drops in hot water, inhaling the vapor.
- Bath: Add several drops to your bathing water.
- Massage: The oil can be mixed with a conducting oil (for instance cold pressed sesame oil). This use is among others very suitable with muscular pain.
- Perfume: Apply one or two drops on the places where one would also apply perfume. This use is among others very suitable with cold.
Usage of field mint essential oil on the manners as described under the paragraph 'Usage' is deemed safe. For completeness however can the following points of attention be mentioned. Consult when hesitant a doctor or therapist.
- General: May be choleretic and may irritate the mucous membrane. Adviced against with cardiac fibrillation, G6PD deficiency and astroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Should not be applied on or near the face of babies.
Field mint essential oil has in general constituents as follows:
- Menthol 28.8–34.7%
- Menthone 16.3–31.1%
- Isomenthone 6.8–12.1%
- (þ)-Limonene 5.8–9.6%
- b-Pinene 2.0–4.5%
- a-Pinene 2.0–4.3%
- Neomenthol 2.5–4.1%
- Piperitone 0.6–3.8%
- Menthyl acetate 1.8–3.4%
- 3-Octanol 0.4–2.4%
- b-Myrcene 0.9–2.1%
- Sabinene 0.8–1.6%
- Isopulegol 0.9–1.4%
- b-Caryophyllene 0.6–1.3%
- (1R)-(þ)-b-Pulegone 0.4–1.3%
- Iso-isopulegol 0.4–1.2%
- Menthofuran 0.4–0.6%