Horse mint (Mentha longifolia) is a plant of the mint genus and part of the labiates family. It is also known by the name long-leaved mint. The old mint variety can still be found growing wild in wetlands and riparian areas. It is used in folk medicine mainly for gastrointestinal complaints and against headaches.
Occurrence and cultivation of horse mint
At flowering time, which lasts from July to September, horse mint bears pink flowers. In some cases, the flowers can also be whitish or even mauve. Horse mint is a herbaceous plant that grows quickly and perennially. It usually reaches growing heights of about half a meter. However, in favorable conditions and a good location, it can grow well over a meter. On the green stems sit elongated oval leaves. They sit directly on the stem or have a very short petiole. They grow between four to nine centimeters long and are one to two centimeters wide. The leaves have shaggy hairs and are also toothed in the front area. At flowering time, which lasts from July to September, horse mint bears pink flowers. In some cases, the flowers can also be whitish or even mauve. At the point where the inflorescence begins, the stem branches like panicles. The individual panicle branches then have false whorls with many small flowers. These in turn form dense false spikes. The horse mint can still be found in Europe, Central Asia, Asia Minor and Africa. In Europe it is mainly found in the low mountain ranges or in the lowlands of the Alps. In the Allgäu Alps it even grows at an altitude of almost 2000 meters. The plant prefers wet and nitrogen-rich soils. Therefore, it is mainly found near rivers, lakes or in depressions in the ground. Horse mint is also native to the vicinity of settlements or agricultural areas. Underground, the plant forms so-called root runners. Thus, in good growing conditions, it can form mass stands.
Effect and application
Unlike its relatives, horse mint does not smell or taste particularly good. The smell is perceived by some people rather unpleasant or even musty. The main constituents of horse mint are essential oils, carvone, flavonoids, linalool, myrcene, sabinene, piperitone oxide, and limonene. The flowers and the leaves are harvested between June and September, because then they have the highest content of active ingredients. For a tea made from horse mint, two teaspoons of horse mint leaves are poured over a quarter liter of cold water. The infusion should steep covered for ten minutes and can then be strained. Indications for horse mint tea are especially complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. When a meal is rather heavy in the stomach, disturbed digestion or nausea and flatulence, horse mint can provide relief. Also, for cramping pain of the gallbladder and bile ducts, horse mint provides better drainage and increased production of bile juices. In the stomach, the plant stimulates the secretion of gastric juices. This speeds up gastric emptying and stimulates appetite. Especially for people suffering from loss of appetite due to various diseases, horse mint has proven to be a proven remedy. Horse mint has an anti-flatulent effect and can thus relieve abdominal pain that has developed due to increased gas formation. For chronic stomach ailments, such as chronic gastritis, horse mint should be combined with plants that are gentle on the stomach. Horse mint can also be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, as it noticeably relaxes the muscles of the intestines. A fresh leaf poultice made from horse mint leaves helps to relieve itching from insect bites. The fresh plant poultice has a local cooling, numbing and anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, it can also be used to treat small wounds. The leaves of horse mint can also be used to make an oil. To do this, crush the freshly sorted leaves and pour a virgin fatty oil over them. The mixture of oil and plants should then stand in a bright place for about two weeks. Twice a day, the mixture should be stirred for several minutes to ensure that all the active ingredients are released from the plant material. After two weeks, the oil can then be strained through a linen cloth or other filter. Afterwards, the oil is filled into a dark bottle and should be stored in a cool, dark and well-sealed place.The oil extract from the leaves of horse mint is particularly suitable for the treatment of neuralgia. Neuralgias are pains that spread in the supply area of a nerve. They can be caused, for example, by inflammation or metabolic disorders. Painful areas should be rubbed with the horse mint oil extract two to three times a day. Caution is advised, however, if infants are to be treated with the extracts of the plant. Mint oils should never be used on young children around the nose or mouth, as the essential oils can cause respiratory arrest.
Health significance, treatment and prevention.
Mint plants were used as a medicinal plant thousands of years ago in Africa, Asia and also in Europe. For example, archaeologists discovered remnants of mint in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. The plant also had medicinal and mystical significance in other cultures, for example among the Celts. The Greek physician Dioscorides used mint as early as the first century AD to treat cramps and hiccups. In contrast to peppermint (Mentha piperita), horse mint did not really establish itself as a medicinal plant in European latitudes. At best, it is used in folk medicine. Otherwise, the plant is rather used in Asian or Indian cuisine or in the confectionery industry as an alternative to peppermint oil.
