English water mint (Preslia cervina, Mentha aquatica) is a type of mint that can be found on the banks of shallow waters or in wet meadows. If the plant does not yet bear flowers, it resembles rosemary at first sight.
Occurrence and cultivation of English water mint.
In medicine, the active ingredients of English water mint are used as phytotherapeutics. Mints are among the oldest known medicinal plants. The plant has been used since ancient times and also finds mention in the New Testament. The botanical genus name “Mentha” is due to a nymph with the same name, who was the mistress of Pluto and was transformed by Proserpina into this very plant. Among the Druids, mint was considered a sacred plant, and among the Celts it was a symbol of good luck and wealth. Through breeding and crossbreeding, a very large number of different types of mint were created, which are still used today as a spice or as a remedy. Depending on the composition of their active ingredients, they can be used in different ways. Due to the many species, a description is also extremely difficult and so the English water mint received several times a different botanical name. In the vernacular, English watermint is also called deer mint. This name is derived from the Latin word cervinus, which means “deer-like”. The medicinal plant is native to western North Africa as well as southern Western Europe and grows mainly in places where it is moist. It belongs to the labiates family and is a herbaceous plant. Mint reaches a height of about 40 centimeters, the leaves grow to about four centimeters long and are very narrow. The rootstock, which sprouts underground or in water, is thin and long-limbed. English water mint has blue-purple and sometimes white flowers and smells very strongly of menthol. The mint blooms between June and September, and the flowers are found directly on the stems. The flowers are five-toed and have a double perianth. Seeds then develop from these until late autumn. Water mint contains menthol, limonene, essential oils as well as tannins, is also a very good pond plant and thrives by the garden pond or in marshy soils. It grows best in sunny or semi-shaded locations. The plant spreads by shoots, but it does not proliferate, so it is impossible for it to take over the shore area. In pots, however, water mint is only conditionally hardy, so it is recommended to sink them into the ground.
Effect and application
English water mint is used to treat flatulence, nausea, stomach cramps or nausea, but treatment should not be carried out for a long period of time, as some of its ingredients can cause liver damage. In medicine, the active ingredients of English watermint are used as a phytotherapeutic. It is also used for seasickness, fatigue and insomnia. The oil of English watermint is often used externally, but it should not be used on the nose and mouth of small children, as it may cause respiratory arrest. Due to lack of research, English watermint should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in case of hypersensitivity to any active ingredient and also in case of liver diseases. In addition, English water mint oil is suitable for:palpitations, dizziness, tension in the neck, shock and travel nausea.
Health significance, treatment and prevention.
In addition, the active ingredients of mint are also indispensable in cosmetics, where they cleanse and detoxify the skin. The fresh leaves of mint can always be picked. If you want to dry the plant, harvest the stems with the leaves just before they begin to bloom and in sunny weather. They are dried at a maximum of 35 degrees, after which the leaves are stripped and stored in a closed container. However, those who collect water mint themselves should in no case confuse it with the poisonous polemic mint. To make a tea, take two teaspoons of dried mint leaves and pour 250ml of hot water over them. Then steep for five minutes and strain. The tea relieves gastrointestinal complaints and nausea, but is also used for headaches, fever and weakness.The mint oil is best mixed with a few drops of vinegar and used as a gargle for bad breath or also as a bath additive to refresh the body. For aching joints, mint oil can also be used as a liniment. However, the plant also unfolds its effect on insect bites. For this purpose, you can make a herbal paste that will numb the sting and have a cooling effect. For this purpose, fresh water mint leaves are crushed and applied to the sting, and the relief begins immediately. The essential oil can also be dripped onto a handkerchief and inhaled for colds. Furthermore, the mint oil is used in aromatherapy. Here, the scent promotes clear thinking and concentration and it is therefore very often used for fatigue as well as poor memory. However, mint oils should never be used on large areas, as they cause a strong feeling of cold. In addition, the oil makes you feel frisky and refreshed, so it is not advisable to use it in the evening.
