Mentha citrata (syn. Mentha × piperita

Peppermint

Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...

L. var. citrata (Ehrh.) Briq.; syn. Mentha x aquatica var. citrata (Ehrh.

Jakob Friedrich Ehrhart

Jakob Friedrich Ehrhart was a German botanist, a pupil of Carolus Linnaeus at Uppsala University, and later Director of the Botanical Garden of Hannover, where he produced several major botanical works between 1780–1793...

) Benth.

George Bentham

George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...

; syn. Mentha odorata) is a herb

Herb

Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...

. It is also known as Bergamot mint, Eau-de-cologne Mint, Horsemint, Lemon Mint, Lime Mint, Orange Mint, Pineapple Mint, Su Nanesi, Water Capitate Mint, Water Mint, Watermunt, Wild Water Mint, and in Central America Yerba Buena.

Description

The whole plant is smooth, dotted with yellow glands and is of a dark green color, generally tinged with purple, especially the margins of the leaves, which are finely toothed. There are very conspicuous lines of yellow glands on the purple calyx.

This herb has a characteristic lemon odor when crushed. It is sometimes used to make a tasteful tea similar to lemonade, with medicinal value.

Medicinal uses

A tea made from the fresh or dried leaves has traditionally been used:

• for stomach aches, nausea, parasites and other digestive disorders,
• for nerves and sick stomach, and
• for fevers and headaches.

The leaves and flowering plant have analgesic

Analgesic

An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....

, antiseptic

Antiseptic

Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...

, antispasmodic

Antispasmodic

An antispasmodic is a drug or a herb that suppresses muscle spasms.-Smooth muscle spasm:One type of antispasmodics is used for smooth muscle contraction, especially in tubular organs of the gastrointestinal tract...

, carminative

Carminative

A carminative, also known as carminativum , is a herb or preparation that either prevents formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of said gas, thereby combating flatulence...

, cholagogic

Cholagogue

A cholagogue is a medicinal agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the system, purging it downward.In Patrick O'Brian's book "The Post Captain," which is set in the Napoleonic era, Stephen Maturin, one of the book's main characters sits in the snug of the Rose and Crown in Deal and drinks...

, diaphoretic

Diaphoresis

Diaphoresis is excessive sweating commonly associated with shock and other medical emergency conditions.Diaphoretic is the state of perspiring profusely, or something that has the power to cause increased perspiration....

, and vasodilator

Vasodilation

Vasodilation refers to the widening of blood vessels resulting from relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, particularly in the large arteries, smaller arterioles and large veins. The process is essentially the opposite of vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of blood vessels. When...

 properties. Like other members of the genus Mentha

Mentha

Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...

, it is best not used by pregnant women because large doses can cause miscarriage

Miscarriage

Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...

.