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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Mint Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Contraindications / Aggravates

7. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Mint: Raw Zucchini Noodles & Mint Walnut Pesto

Peppermint is distinguished by its high concentration of an aromatic, volatile oil known as mentha, which gives mint its smell. Mentha, like many aromatic oils, shocks, refreshes and numbs, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing tissues. It is penetrating, subtle, clear, etheric, light, and dry.

Whereas pungent spices like cinnamon and cayenne can increase swelling, heat, and inflammation, aromatic spices like mint generally disperse fluids and heat, leaving a cooling aftereffect. Its aroma when inhaled easily reaches the brain. Psychologically, peppermint inspires, refreshes and arouses with a sense of awe and letting go.

Mint clears all forms of stagnation - in the stomach, blood, gallbladder, lymph, lungs, and even emotions. It is used to clear mucus from the respiratory tract and open the sinuses. It soothes sore throats, and reduces eye redness. This ability to clear, along with its diaphoretic quality (releases heat via sweat), can alleviate early stages of fever and also bring rashes to a head for quicker healing. Applied topically as an antipruritic, peppermint alleviates itching, as well.

A renowned stomachic for dyspepsia, mint's stimulating and inspiring nature is a traditional remedy for indigestion. It is a carminative, meaning that it both prevents and facilitates the release of gas. Mint relaxes muscle tissue, especially smooth muscle tissue, making it a useful antispasmodic. It is used to calm all cases of colic, including colicky peristalsis of the intestines, vasospasm type headaches, bronchospasms, and uterine spasms.

About Mint

From tingly shampoos to teas and flowerbeds, mint is an inspiring, popular worldwide herb whose medicinal qualities are also extensive. Varieties of mint grow in nearly every country and climate. In Central and South America mint is called hierbabuena, which literally translates to "good herb." A member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae), peppermint's cousins include many other aromatic herbs like basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, and catnip.

Cooking Mint

Mint leaves have a pleasant warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste, an ideal addition to teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and ice creams. The Ancients believed that mint would prevent the coagulation of milk and its acid fermentation.

Mint helps digest crude fibers in meat. Mint leaves, jelly and sauces are used on lamb dishes from the Middle East, to Great Britain and in American cuisine too. Mint is also key ingredient in Touareg tea, a popular tea in northern African and Arab countries.

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Is Mint Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Mint' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

SERVING SIZE: 1 tsp

SPECIES: Mentha piperita

FAMILY: Lamiaceae

PREPARATION: RAW, SALAD, TEA

EAT IN: SPRING, SUMMER

Metabolic Nature of Mint

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED MOBILE ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity. LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	PUNGENT ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper. LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Subtaste: Aromatic AROMATIC Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues. SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS Moves Energy: Outward OUTWARD Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating. SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS , Upward UPWARD Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body. SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS Tissue (dhatu): Nerves NERVES Marrow tissue (Majja Dhatu) includes bone marrow and nervous tissue. SEE ALL 'NERVES' FOODS / HERBS Subdosha: Vayu Prana, Vayu Udana, Vayu Vyana Affinity: Heart Circulation Blood Family: Lamiaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Mint Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition. Digestion: Carminative STRONG CARMINATIVE Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines. SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Appetizer APPETIZER Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat. SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS , Digestive DIGESTIVE Herbs that encourage healthy digestion. SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Spleen Tonic SPLEEN-TONIC An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues. SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS , Stomachic STOMACHIC An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion. SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: Burns Toxins BURNS-TOXINS An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them. SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS , Internal Detoxicant INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system. SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS Mind, Stress & Sleep: Stimulates Crown STIMULATES-CROWN Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Front Of Brain STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS , Wakes You Up WAKES-YOU-UP Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy. SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS , Analgesic ANALGESIC Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne. SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS , Antidepressant ANTIDEPRESSANT Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function. SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS , Anxiolytic ANXIOLYTIC Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines. SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS , Dopaminergic DOPAMINERGIC Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH). SEE ALL 'DOPAMINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS , Nervine NERVINE Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature. SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Refreshing REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized. SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Energy STIMULATES-ENERGY This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Diaphoretic DIAPHORETIC An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin. SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS , Refreshes Skin REFRESHES-SKIN Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin. SEE ALL 'REFRESHES-SKIN' FOODS / HERBS , Antipruritic ANTIPRURITIC Antipruritics are herbs that inhibit itching, often associated with skin conditions such as sunburns, allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, fungal infections, insect bites, or contact dermatitis (as in poison ivy rashes). SEE ALL 'ANTIPRURITIC' FOODS / HERBS Immune System: Antifungal ANTIFUNGAL Herbs that destroy fungus. SEE ALL 'ANTIFUNGAL' FOODS / HERBS , Immune Calming IMMUNE-CALMING Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions. SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS , Mast Cell Stabilizer Heart & Circulation: Vasodilator VASODILATOR A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area. SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS Reproductive Health: Anti Prolactin ANTI-PROLACTIN Reduces prolactin, a female hormone that suppresses the uterus, fertility, menstruation. SEE ALL 'ANTI-PROLACTIN' FOODS / HERBS Strength, Muscle Health: Antispasmodic ANTISPASMODIC Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, hear palpitations, migraine, or IBS. SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS Other: Anti Aging, Coumarin Constituents: Iron IRON Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells. SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS , Rosmarinic Acid ROSMARINIC-ACID Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid. SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Mint

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Antipruritic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

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Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Antipruritic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

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Allspice

Allspice has these Actions in Common

Spleen-tonic, Stomachic, Antidepressant, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Analgesic, Appetizer, Digestive

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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Appetizer, Digestive, Refreshing, Stomachic

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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common

Antifungal, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Digestive, Nervine, Stomachic, Antidepressant, Burns-toxins, Immune-calming, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator

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Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common

Antidepressant, Appetizer, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Carminative, Immune-calming, Spleen-tonic

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Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Antipruritic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

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Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common

Nervine, Stomachic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Diaphoretic

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Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Digestive, Nervine, Stomachic, Analgesic, Burns-toxins, Immune-calming, Spleen-tonic

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Thyme (fresh)

Thyme (fresh) has these Actions in Common

Nervine, Vasodilator, Anti-prolactin, Burns-toxins, Immune-calming, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Digestive

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Mint

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Immune-calming, Stomachic, Antidepressant, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Antifungal, Mast-cell-stabilizer, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Refreshing, Appetizer, Stimulates-crown, Burns-toxins, Stimulates-energy

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Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Digestive, Immune-calming, Analgesic, Internal-detoxicant, Antispasmodic, Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Vasodilator, Carminative

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Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

Nervine, Analgesic, Refreshing, Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Carminative, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Immune-calming, Mast-cell-stabilizer

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Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm has these Actions in Common

Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Dopaminergic, Analgesic, Immune-calming, Anti-prolactin, Nervine

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Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz

Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Digestive, Immune-calming, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-prolactin, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Vasodilator

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Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-crown, Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Anxiolytic, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing

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Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-front-of-brain

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Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Stomachic, Anti-prolactin, Vasodilator, Antifungal, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Internal-detoxicant

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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Analgesic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-prolactin, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Digestive, Immune-calming

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External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Anxiolytic, Wakes-you-up, Digestive

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Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Nervine, Stimulates-crown, Analgesic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic

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Impact of Mint

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.