Author:
I’m sure we’re all familiar with the annoyance and pain that comes with having a sore throat. Swallowing feels awful, it hurts to talk, and nothing seems to make it feel better. Well, almost nothing. If you happen to be an avid tea drinker, you just might know the solution to this troublesome predicament.
Peppermint! Specifically when consumed in tea form. Peppermint tea offers soothing relief in the form of a hot liquid, comforting the affected area in your throat and improving your physical constitution. It kind of feels like you’re drinking a magic potion, but there’s plenty of scientific factors at work to explain its wonderful effects. Perhaps you’ll realize that peppermint tea is exactly what you need to add a boost to your health.
Mint has been utilized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years, its primary health benefits are associated with easing digestive issues. Existing as a hybrid between watermint and spearmint, peppermint has been celebrated for being more powerful than either of its predecessors in terms of its use as a medicinal agent.
Peppermint is popularly known for the cool, menthol flavor it gives off when consumed and its pungent aroma. It is a common flavor found in candies and dental products, and its scent is often found in perfume, soaps, and cleaning products. Once extracted from the plant’s leaves, peppermint oil can function in benefitting your physical and mental wellness through its therapeutic capabilities. Notably, peppermint is renowned for treating symptoms of sickness, such as headaches and nausea, along with nervous system disorders.
Peppermint is a natural remedy for gut pain. It is rich in fiber, which is a carbohydrate that does not get digested normally by the body. Fiber passes through the digestive system and helps to regulate healthy bowel movements. Drinking peppermint tea can help with issues pertaining to your digestive health by relaxing bowel muscles, enabling better performance with your bodily functions.
There are toxins that exist within your body that, when built up to an excessive level, can negatively impact your health. Peppermint is a good choice to help combat an overabundance of these toxins, since it works as a detox water. A cup of peppermint tea can mitigate the toxins that accumulate in your body over time and flush them out of your system. This will lead to improvements in your digestive health and lessen the chance of developing diseases related to bad gut health.
The effects of peppermint pertaining to irritable bowel syndrome have been documented by researchers as beneficial to relieving symptoms. The antispasmodic qualities of menthol cause the intestinal smooth muscle to relax, so bloating and constipation caused by IBS can be alleviated through peppermint consumption. This effect also helps to relieve pain in those who suffer from IBS due to its calming properties.
If you find yourself suffering from gut pain caused by IBS, then peppermint might offer the relief you’ve been seeking. Try including peppermint in your diet the next time you experience IBS symptoms. You may be skeptical about the difference peppermint can make in managing these discomforts, but there is science to back up these claims.
The nerve fibers in the colon become hypersensitive when symptoms of IBS flare up, but the menthol in peppermint triggers a certain anti-pain receptor in the body that temporarily decreases the sensitivity of the fibers that detect pain in the gut. No wonder peppermint works as a great solution to these persistent aches!
The menthol present in peppermint acts as a cooling agent against inflammation present in sore throats, soothing the raw sensation and providing fast-acting relief. Its anti-inflammatory qualities are also reported to be helpful in reducing sinus swelling, so peppermint is an all around good ingredient to consume when you happen to be feeling a little under the weather. Peppermint also reduces the presence of microbes in your system, which simply means that it helps to fight off the bacteria that makes you unwell in the first place.
If you’re looking for a way to boost the effects of peppermint tea even more, try adding a spoonful or two of honey to your beverage! Combined with the menthol of peppermint, honey will coat mucous membranes in your throat and promote extra comfort.
So we know that drinking a hot cup of peppermint tea is an effective way of relieving the pains caused by a sore throat, but there is so much more that peppermint does for you when you might not be feeling like your best self. In fact, there is even some speculation that peppermint can help before you get sick. Partaking in a cup or two of peppermint tea a day can amplify your immune health and lessen the severity of colds, so if you’re prone to being sick, or simply hate how terrible being ill feels, try incorporating peppermint regularly into your diet.
Peppermint, as previously mentioned, includes the compound menthol, which does a lot more than soothe the irritation caused by a sore throat. The antiviral and antibacterial qualities in peppermint are particularly helpful when dealing with clogged sinuses, since menthol works to decongest airways, making it easier to breathe through blocked nasal passages. If you find yourself dealing with respiratory issues, hot peppermint tea will offer amazing assistance in loosening the build up of mucus in your lungs, even going so far as to fight off possible infections.
The anti-inflammatory effects of peppermint are useful for combating sore throats, but the benefits don’t stop there. If you are experiencing inflammation in other areas of the body due to an injury, such as a swollen ankle, consuming peppermint can even aid in mitigating the immediate pain caused by the affliction.
Since peppermint is good for clearing clogged sinuses, it also works as a solution for troublesome headaches. An excessive amount of mucus accumulation in your sinuses can lead to infection, causing unpleasant headaches that no one wants to suffer through. The more peppermint tea you drink to keep your sinuses clear, the less likely you are to have extensive mucus buildup.
Peppermint consumption benefits your physical health in many useful ways, but its abilities don’t stop there. There are factors of peppermint that have been shown to reduce stress and improve performance levels shortly after being ingested. The menthol in peppermint acts as a calming agent and removes pain, putting your body into a relaxed state that is able to lessen the amount of stress you feel. Its antispasmodic qualities can function similarly to a sedative, producing stress relieving effects. Peppermint even reduces anxiety about driving and helps you in being more aware of your surroundings.
Even the scent of peppermint can have positive effects on your mental health. Taking in the aroma of the peppermint tea you drink before an exam or interview can give your memory a boost and increase your alertness. If you’re looking for ways to improve your cognitive capabilities, you should brew a cup yourself and find out what effects it has on you.
Due to the relaxing effects that peppermint has on the muscles in your gut, it might not come as a surprise that one drink of choice to combat period cramps happens to be peppermint tea. In addition to soothing your tender insides, the hot beverage offers a comforting feeling as you drink it, calming you down both physically and mentally.
If you’re still speculating about the legitimacy behind the benefits peppermint has on your sore throat, and other afflictions, then I heartily encourage you to try it and see what it does for you. You might be stuck in a hard place where no over the counter drug is giving you the relief you need from your pain, but peppermint tea could be the answer you were looking so desperately for. Free yourself from the agony and brew a cup to see!
