What about Spearmint?

[Lady Rebel]

I have been blessed with lucious spearmint. I was wondering what I should do with it, tincture, oil? What is spearmint good for? I would appreciate some advice. Its standing there wanting me to do something with it. It is growing in the one inch crack between my patio and house the length of the long side of my patio. So I feel there's a reason its there.
Blessings,
Frankie

[gaias]

I would carefully dry some of it and save it for tea.

[Mariposa]

i actually tinctured it and am curious if it will be good as a digestive aid...maybe not as good as peppermint, but hey it was free for the pickins in my dad's garden. i also dried a ton of it. he was going to kill the bed it was in anyway, and i couldn't bear all that loss of mint! my dad is getting used to me asking him to keep the weeds around in his lovely garden. he's got some great poke and mullein, and lemon balm too. they're so sweet and happy there.

[Lady Rebel]

Thank you Gaias for the reply Tea does sound delicious. I am more curious about the medicinal use of this plant. None of my herb books have anything on spearmint.

[AlachuaArtist]

Personally, I prefer spearmint to peppermint. Peppermint, as it's name implies, is just to hot tasting for me. Spearmint gives me more of a cooling taste. Here is some additional info for you:

Botanical: Mentha spicata; Mentha viridis
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae (mint)
Other common names: Garden Mint, Green Mint, Sage of Bethlehem, Mackerel Mint, Spire Mint, Lamb Mint, Our Lady's Mint, Pea Mint

Spearmint has been used for thousands of years as a pleasant way to support the gastrointestinal system, with particular emphasis on the lower bowel. It is said to relieve flatulence, indigestion, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, heartburn, and stomach, abdominal, and bowel pains. This is one old home remedy that no one should be without.

[Lady Rebel]

Thank you Wendy for all this great information. You are right that noone should be without it. My daughter and I both have problems with the stomach. We use a lot of slippery elm bark for that. That may be the reason that it has insisted on staying with us. What should I do tincture it or infusions.

[Lady Rebel]

Thanks to Mariposa too. Actually I had removed all of it from my flower bed because it was taking over all the plants. But last year it started coming up through the crack between my patio and house and my dh cut it down. This year I asked him not to cut it. Its amazing what little area they need to grow. They are so lucious and green, tall and smells so good.

[Gr8hands]

I always oil some of it and make lip balm and its good for sore muscles too.

[AlachuaArtist]

Lady Rebel, you can make a fresh tea with it - cut off some of the big leaves (about 5-6); put them into a cup and pour boling water over them. Let them steep in the water for about 5 minutes, then drink up. You can also eat the remaining leaves. If you need it a little sweet, put just a touch of honey in it. Otherwise, as is is best.

You can always dry it - cut the whole stalk and hang it up side down to dry. Then store the dry mint in a brown paper bag - not plastic as mold may grow.

Use the fresh or dried mint it on everything - salads, in potato salad, on tomatoes, roasted meat (if you eat meat) - you can even bathe in it! It's wonderful stuff.

[Alchemille]

Spearmint has a softer taste than peppermint, but as tea the taste can be a little bland.
So you can mix it with some more aromatic herbs; something more citrusy like lemon balm, lemongrass or lemon verbena...for example.
I like to mix spearmint or peppermint with thyme, it wakes you up in the morning (esp. with peppermint) and makes a good winter tea while protecting the respiratory tract.

Teacup blessings,
Alchemille