How does peppermint affect pressure - raises or lowers?

That mint is used not only in cooking and cosmetology, but also is a medicinal plant, many know. But about whether mint raises or lowers the pressure, few people have heard. So how does mint work on the human body?

Useful properties of mint

The aroma of this one of the most fragrant plants is very familiar to everyone. According to ancient Greek legends, the nymph Minta was the beloved god of the underground kingdom of Hades, which Persephone out of jealousy turned into a plant.

There are more than twenty five varieties of mint, the most famous of which are: peppermint, long-leaved, meadow, Japanese and curly. Each species has its own characteristics in the properties and odor, but, in general, it has the same healing abilities. But in order to understand how peppermint influences pressure, it is necessary to get acquainted with what substances the plant has in its composition.

Mint contains:

• menthol;
• flavonoids;
• bitterness;
• tanning agents;
• organic acids;
• vitamins and trace elements.

Menthol

Menthol has antiseptic properties, has a relaxing and analgesic effect. Causing irritation of nerve endings on the skin, menthol has a cooling effect, resulting in an anesthetic effect.

Due to its vasodilating effect, menthol is one of the components of such medicines as valocordin, validol, menthol pencil, drop and other means that normalize the heart palpitations and relieve spasms of blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure, reduces headache, and has a calming effect.

In medicine, menthol is used externally as an analgesic, antipruritic and disinfectant. When administered orally, menthol has a sedative and vasodilating effect. Alcohol solution of menthol is recommended to rub into the skin with itching dermatitis, oil suspension is used for inhalation in inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract, menthol pencil is used for headaches and migraines, rubbing the skin on the temples.

With a question, raises or lowers the pressure of mint, probably, everything is clear. Due to the soothing and vasodilating effect of menthol, spasms of blood vessels are removed, cardiac activity improves, which means that the pressure decreases. Most menthol is found in peppermint.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids strengthen the walls of vessels and capillaries, improve their elasticity, prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques, preventing sclerotic changes. Also flavonoids eliminate the fragility of capillaries and with a lack of vitamins, and inflammatory processes.

In addition, flavonoids have a coronary expansive effect, antiarrhythmic, relieve spasms of blood vessels, lower arterial pressure, have a diuretic effect, have hemostatic properties, have a hepatoprotective effect.
Tannins have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Also have hemostatic effect.

Tannins take not only externally, but also inside. With cuts, abrasions, burns, they can be used in the form of compresses and lotions, mouth infections, stomatitis, pharyngitis, ulcers in the mouth are useful rinsing. When ingested tannins have an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestinal mucosa, reduce the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract, have a preventive effect when depositing salts of heavy metals, exhibit antidote properties.

Organic acids

Organic acids impart a taste to fruits, improve digestibility of nutrients in the body, promote the removal of toxins, improve intestinal motility, slow the growth of pathogens, and strengthen immunity.
Bitterness stimulates the appetite, improves digestion, stimulates the metabolism, helps in the purification of the body.

Vitamins and microelements increase the protective properties of the body, have a general strengthening and health-improving effect.

How does peppermint affect pressure?

Probably, to the question: does the pressure of mint raise, the answer is already clear.
Substances that make up mint have the following effect:

• dilates blood vessels;
• have an antispasmodic effect;
• calms the nervous system;
• relieves pain;
• have a diuretic effect;
• contribute to the cleansing of the body;
• improves bowel function;
• strengthens the immune system.

All of the above properties of peppermint help to reduce pressure, so mint with increased pressure can be used, however, only as an additional element of complex therapy of hypertension. To replace the medicamental treatment the plant can not, but is able to have some relief of the state of hypertension.

Indications

Mint is recommended to take:

• for hypertension;
• for headaches, migraines;
• for angina pectoris;
• as a sedative;
• with nausea;
• with nervous overexcitation;
• with toothache;
• for improving bowel function.

Contraindications

Like any medicinal plant, mint has contraindications.

• with mild hypotension, peppermint is not recommended;
• for varicose veins, mint should be used with caution or completely discarded;
• children up to the age of three also should not abuse the use of drinks containing menthol;
• for individual intolerance;
• with liver damage and with kidney failure it is undesirable to take broths with mint.

When breastfeeding, doctors are also advised to refrain from eating products that contain mint, because mint can affect lactation.

Recipes from mint from high pressure

Photo: Extract of mint oil

Hypertension usually worries about the question: is it possible to drink tea with mint at a pressure? Herbalists and traditional healers are sure that tea with mint will only benefit a person suffering from increased blood pressure. If you add a few leaves of fresh or dry mint into a glass with boiling water and let it brew for 5-10 minutes, you will get an excellent drink that can gently reduce pressure, normalize sleep and calm the nervous system. To improve the taste and healing properties of tea, you can add a circle of lemon, ginger, honey to taste or cinnamon. In this case, in some cases, tea with mint is not recommended:

• with drowsiness and lethargy;
• just before the situation, requiring increased attention: precise work, driving transport.

People with hypertension are encouraged to regularly drink tea with mint.

Mint from pressure is also used in the following drinks and infusions:

• chop mint, pour boiling water( a tablespoon of mint to a glass of boiling water), let it brew for half an hour. After straining the tea, the infusion is drunk in two doses, and the mint thickens the face, neck, collar area, wrapping the gruel into a gauze pouch. Without wiping the liquid, massage these areas for five minutes. Regular performance of these actions will help to reduce pressure for a long time;
• mix mint, chamomile and valerian root, a tablespoon of mixture pour a glass of boiling water, after insisting to take at least a month for the third part of the glass;
• to reduce blood pressure can also be used and essential oil of mint. For this, massage is performed on the collar zone, in the occipital part, under the lower jaw. To enhance the effect, you can add aromatherapy with mint oil;
• is very effective in hypertension bath with mint oil. Literally a few drops added to the bath with warm water will help reduce the pressure, calm the nervous system.

Feedback on application

Review No.1

I adore tea with mint. But before he drank only with honey, and recently began to add cinnamon, raspberries. The taste of ginger for some reason I do not like, although with catarrhal diseases ginger I add everything.

Tea is very tasty, never bothers. Of course, peppermint is not completely rid of drugs, but it does bring relief.

Valentina, 50 years - Kazan

Review №2

Very good bath with mint, before going to bed. Calm, bliss, serene sleep you are guaranteed.

Tea is also very good, sometimes I drink it simply instead of water. The pressure was always very high, but the tea still helps to reduce the frequency and dosage of medications.

Larissa, 42 years old - Ufa