St. Louis University. (2013, November 14). Can certain herbs stave off Alzheimer's disease? [press release]

Although these mint teas have a similar flavour, peppermint tea contains a higher menthol content making the flavour more pronounced. Similarly taking this herb along with other natural remedies that can induce sleepiness is not recommended. Other natural products known for causing drowsiness include 5-HTP, calamus, California poppy, catnip, hops, Jamaican dogwood, kava, St. John’s wort, skullcap, valerian, yerba mansa, and others. Final Thoughts In large doses, spearmint may harm the liver or kidneys. If you already have liver or kidney disease, it’s important to know that this herb may increase liver or kidney damage, especially in large quantities. Even spearmint tea side effects may include liver and/or kidney damage if the tea is drank in excess. Falcone PH, Nieman KM, Tribby AC, et al. The attention-enhancing effects of spearmint extract supplementation in healthy men and women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Nutr Res. 2019;64:24-38. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2018.11.012 Vijaimohan K, Jainu M, Sabitha K, Subramaniyam S, Anandhan C, Devi CS. Beneficial effects of alpha linolenic acid rich flaxseed oil on growth performance and hepatic cholesterol metabolism in high fat diet fed rats. Life Sci. 2006;79(5):448–54.

Other names

Spearmint is said to help balancing the hormonal system and positively affect it in many ways. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic hormonal condition that affects 5 – 10% of all women of reproductive age, and has symptoms like irregular periods, weight gain, acne, growth of body hair, hair loss, anxiety and depression.

Studies in women have shown that it can decrease male hormones like testosterone while increasing female hormones necessary for ovulation, such as luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol. Spearmint essential oil has also been shown to fight food-borne pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Rafii, F. and Shahverdi, A. R. Comparison of essential oils from three plants for enhancement of antimicrobial activity of nitrofurantoin against enterobacteria. Chemotherapy 2007;53:21-25. View abstract. Rasooli, I., Shayegh, S., and Astaneh, S. The effect of Mentha spicata and Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oils on dental biofilm. Int J Dent.Hyg. 2009;7:196-203. View abstract. Bardaweel SK, Bakchiche B, ALSalamat HA, Rezzoug M, Gherib A, Flamini G. Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of essential oil of Mentha spicata L. (Lamiaceae) from Algerian Saharan atlas. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):201. View abstract.Lete I, Allué J. The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy. Integr Med Insights. 2016;11:11-17. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273 de Sousa, D. P., Farias Nobrega, F. F., and de Almeida, R. N. Influence of the chirality of (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-carvone in the central nervous system: a comparative study. Chirality 5-5-2007;19(4):264-268. View abstract.

So after discovering the ice cream recipe, I decided to look into other foods, that were sugar-free and carb-free, since I try to avoid sugar as much as possible in my attempt to follow a healthy diet. Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2010;24(2):186–8.

As is illustrated in Fig. 2 C &B level of estradiol and testosterone in the PCOS group is dramatically higher than that of other groups. However, in the treatment group, testosterone and estradiol levels decreased significantly ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the progesterone level in the treatment group has increased compared with the PCOS group but the DHEA level did not change significantly among the groups (Fig. 2 A & D). Ovarian histomorphology One of the active components of spearmint is carvone. Research shows that carvone has an antispasmodic effect in the intestines. L-theanine: L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea and other foods. It has been studied for its potential role in memory enhancement, especially in older adults. During the last week of treatment, again the reproductive cycle of all rats assessed. On day 93 (the last day of the experiment) rats were anesthetized by 2% diethyl ether-saturated cotton ball in a chamber for 3–5 min., and euthanized by whole blood collection through heart puncture, and sera were used for measuring hormones including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Akdoğan M, Tamer MN, Cüre E, Cüre MC, Köroğlu BK, Delibaş N. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):444-7. doi:10.1002/ptr.2074 Its essential oil is commonly used as a flavoring for toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, jellies, candies. It’s also used to scent cosmetic and home products such as lotions and candles.Akdogan, M., Tamer, M. N., Cure, E., Cure, M. C., Koroglu, B. K., and Delibas, N. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother.Res 2007;21:444-447. View abstract. We can all benefit from spearmint extract. Whether to improve nausea, sore throat, indigestion, gas, toothache or headache, it has proven natural effects on all of these symptoms. Researchers claim that it has good total phenolic and flavonoid contents, also making it an excellent source of antioxidants. It even has antifungal properties and can be used directly on the skin to reduce swelling. The Bottom Line When consumed in amounts commonly found in food, spearmint is safe for most people. When taken as a medicinal substance or applied topically to the skin, it is also generally considered safe when used appropriately.