What Are the Benefits and Uses of Peppermint Tablets?
Peppermint is commonly used as a material to treat wind-heat colds due to its dispersing and clearing heat properties, especially suitable for people who do not sweat or sweat poorly. The "Medical Zhongzhong Canxi Lu" records that "peppermint is used to induce sweating in febrile diseases." Modern pharmacological studies have shown that peppermint oil can promote sweat gland secretion and increase heat dissipation, thereby playing a role in inducing sweating and relieving fever. A mild case can be treated with 3 grams of peppermint, 5 grams of mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, and honeysuckle, steeped in boiling water as a tea substitute, or used in cooking porridge.
The "Pharmaceutical Classification" records that peppermint has a pungent taste that can disperse, a cool nature that clears, and can unblock the meeting point of the six yang meridians, dispelling the pathogenic wind-heat. In other words, peppermint is good for the head and face, and can be used to treat loss of voice, oral cavity problems, and throat clearing. In addition to internal administration, it can also be steeped in boiling water and used for slightly cooled nasal, eye, or oral fumigation to help clear the mind and relieve symptoms such as headache, red eyes, throat and gum swelling, and nasal burning caused by wind-heat. Alternatively, gauze can be used to absorb the decoction and applied to areas with a sensation of heat, such as the eyes and mouth.
Peppermint has a light and dispersing nature, mainly entering the lung meridian, which governs the skin and hair. It can promote the opening of pores and disperse the toxins accumulated in the pores, and its cooling sensation can relieve the itching caused by skin rashes. Studies have shown that topical application of peppermint oil can stimulate the cold receptors of nerve endings, producing a sensation of cold and reflexively causing changes in deep tissue blood vessels, which has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipruritic effects. It can be used alone or combined with other herbs such as Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia, Burdock seed, Cicada slough, and Kushen for relieving rash and itching by decoction for both internal and external use.
Peppermint also enters the liver meridian, and its aromatic and dispersing nature can promote the dispersal of the liver and regulate emotions, treating the feeling of melancholy caused by liver qi stagnation. To relieve tension and anxiety, you can place a potted peppermint on your desk, enjoying its delicate green leaves and refreshing aroma. Alternatively, you can use 3 grams of peppermint, 1 slice of lemon, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar, steeped in boiling water as a tea substitute.
