PEPPERMINT
Upper airways 
Digestion Peppermint, Mentha × piperita L., is a perennial member of the Lamiaceae family native to Europe, North America and North Africa. It is a cross between water mint Mentha aquatica L. and spearmint Mentha spicata L. Aromatic peppermint leaves are rich in essential oils, mainly menthol and menthone, and are traditionally used for their soothing effects on the digestive and respiratory tracts. Read detailed description
Regulations
and analysis
Identification : TLC
Data on traditional use
Cahier de l’agence du médicament (France):
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Used to aid digestion
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Used to calm abdominal spasms of digestive origin.
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Used to facilitate the body’s elimination functions
EMA monograph :
- Used to relieve digestive disorders such as bloating and flatulence.
WHO monograph :
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Used for indigestion, flatulence, intestinal colic and transit.
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Used for the respiratory tract
German monograph :
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Used for gastrointestinal spasms and gallbladder function
Canadian monograph :
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Used to aid digestion and relieve flatulence.
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Detailed description
Peppermint, Mentha × piperita L., a perennial plant belonging to the Mentha genus of the Lamiaceae family, is the result of a cross between two mint species, water mint Mentha aquatica L. and spearmint Mentha spicata L. Native to Europe, North America and North Africa, it is now cultivated in all regions of the world for its aromatic leaves rich in essential oils.
The history of peppermint dates back to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, where it was used as an aromatic or for its soothing effect on the stomach. It then continued to be used for its health benefits, particularly on the digestive and respiratory tracts.
Its essential oil is the most popular natural product and one of the most widely marketed essential oils in the world. It is composed mainly of menthol and menthone, which give it its properties. Many other compounds have been identified in peppermint, including steroids, flavonoids and their glycosides, terpenoids and phenolic acids.