Brazilian Mint – more than just a herbal aspirin
Brazilian mint, Hyptis crenata, is also known as chazinho de hortelã (chazinho mint) and salva-de-marajó (life of marajo). It is a well known shrub in Brazil, used in traditional medicine. (I’m negotiating for the right to use a picture published in a Brazilian journal when they reported a piece of research carried out at Newcastle University which showed that this herb has analgesic effects). Information on the plant is sparse, but it is apparently a shrubby perennial which grows wild in many parts of Brazil. It is in the same family as many other plants called “mint” but is not closely related.
Gather and dry the leaves for later use. In Brazil, several different methods of preparation are used, including decoction, infusion, cold extraction and tinctures. The reported research was the effect of decocted Brazilian mint as an analgesic.
To make a decoction add 25g (1 ounce) of dried leaves or 3 handfuls of fresh to 500ml (2 US cups, 8 fl oz) of cold water, bring to a boil and boil for 30 minutes. Strain before use.
To make a standard infusion use the same quantity of herbs, pour boiling water over and allow to stand for 3-4 hours, then strain.
Take one third of a cup of either preparation up to 3 times a day. Don’t be surprised that it tastes more like sage than mint, as this is normal. Sweeten it with honey if you prefer.
Brazilian mint is used to treat stomach aches, sinusitis, flu, intestinal parasites, lung disorders and as an antibiotic. Research shows that it also works as a painkiller. If you live in Brazil, no doubt you knew this already, and if you don’t, as it will be difficult to obtain supplies, it’s not necessarily of any value to you. But I’m into this stuff, and the news story piqued my interest. “Art for art’s sake” or something like that…
If you live in the area where it grows, you will probably find it very easy to grow Brazilian mint – or you could just go and find a few plants and gather leaves for drying. At present, it appears unlikely that you will be able to grow it elsewhere, if only because seeds are not available. However, if you do decide to grow it, give it conditions similar to those found in its native Brazil, and grow it organically to avoid corrupting its effective ingredients. To find out more about growing organic herbs visit the Gardenzone.
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