Mint is very well known for its use in food. Make a very simple mint sauce with a hand full of chopped up spearmint (fresh) and about a small cup of half and half vinegar and boiling water. Stir well and add a teaspoon of sugar. (Modify it to taste by adding more/less sugar, salt, other herbs et c. but there’s a basic mint sauce for you.) Add fresh chopped mint to peas, if you like. For a refreshing drink, add Applemint leaves to a jug of cold water and ice. I’ve never tried it but mum came home after a day over a friend’s house and couldn’t stop telling me how nice it was. (I’m preying my Applemint thrives this year!)
Traditional Uses
Mint has always been known for its ability to calm and to ease digestive problems. Only the other day, I was feeling ill like I was going to be sick and a peppermint tea and a lemon, ginger tea and a couple of hours later I was fine and happy. ^.^ My brother had severe hyperactivity problems when he was younger and when he felt like it was going to be a bad day he would always have a peppermint tea as soon as the signs started showing. For one thing, it has magnezium in it, a depletion of which scientists have linked with some cases of ADHD. Not saying it’s flawless, but it definitely helped in my brothers’ case.
Uses today
It’s still considered a very good herb for digestive problems and researchers have found it effective against IBS. The volatile oil in it has also been found to be an effective antiseptic, antifungal, anaesthetic and good at cooling. Peppermint is sometimes used in creams to use on joints with arthritis, mum and dad swear by the stuff. The diluted oil can be rubbed on the temples for headaches.
Mint Info
You can get an infinite variety of mint. Ones I’ve come across are Spearmint, Peppermint, Catnip, Banana Mint, Ginger Mint, Apple Mint and Chocolate Peppermint. Trust me, there are more! Mints usually have a strong sent and flavour, a reddish stem and green leaves (although varieties may be different; the stem may be green or almost maroon in colour and the leaves can be yellowish and dark green). One thing is certain, this herb is an unstoppable propagator. It spreads roots under the ground and grows up from them. I planted my chocolate peppermint last year and thought it had died. 😦 It didn’t seem to be growing at all. Then I was about to plant a new rosemary when I dug down only to find a network of roots spread around less than a cm deep in the soil. I cut into one and the aroma was unmistakable! The plant couldn’t be bothered to grow up as long as it could grow out! This is the surest way of propagating mint, by the root. Although, it’s not impossible by seed. 🙂
A touch of Witchcraft
Use mint to boost divination witchcraft. Add it to your dream pillow for prophetic dreams (add bay leaves and cinnamon also). Make a Mint infusion to sprinkle around an area to promote calmness, or drink it before meditation and rituals. To make an infusion, add a tea spoon of the dried herb to a cup of boiled water. (Do not add when just boiled, wait a minute first) Tie some mint up in a muslin bag to add to a bath, not only to enjoy its pain easing abilities but also to calm you before a ritual or meditation. Mint is an air element plant… which may explain its unorthodox nature! XD And why sometimes its behaviour reminds me of myself!
Rowan
x~x
Pagan Pair 