Herbs that Became Candies

In the most recent issue of The Natural Path (16.2), we did a hallowe’en special on herbs that became candies. Well, here’s one more: peppermint. . . .

Long before peppermint was a candy that satisfied your tummy, it was a herb that soothed your tummy. It is one of the best herbs for colic, nausea, bloating and gas.

But peppermint’s most important use is for irritable bowel syndrome. Taken as an oil or as an enteric-coated oil, peppermint is the best remedy for IBS. Several studies have proven its effectiveness. Double-blind research has shown that enteric-coated peppermint oil combined with caraway oil is slightly more effective than the drug cisapride: the drug brought about much or very much improvement in 70.9% of people, compared to 78.6% for the herb (Arzneim-Forsch Drug Res 1999).

Peppermint oil is antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and powerfully anticandida. Peppermint can fight the bacteria that causes gingivitis and tooth decay.