Mentha arvensis L.

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 97-98

Mentha arvensis L.

Names.

Myanmar: payoke-aye, pusi-nan, budi-nan. English: corn mint, field mint, japanese mint, wild mint.

Range.

Europe and Asia. Cultivated throughout Myanmar, but thrives most in temperate climates.

Conservation status.

Least Concern [LC] ( IUCN 2017).

Uses.

Sharp and efficacious in taste with fragrant smell. Whole plant: Five parts of the plant are used to control phlegm, help menstrual blood to descend, strengthen the kidneys, treat asthma, for liver and spleen diseases, and for inflammation of the joints. When the whole plant is dried, prevents thirst and fevers, aids digestion and promotes urination. The plant is used in making medicines to treat gas disorders, distended and bloated stomach, fevers, and muscle twitches. It cal also be boiled and taken to cure stomachaches. Leaf: Liquid obtained from leaves can be mixed with honey and licked to cure loose bowels. They can be boiled and taken to cure inflammation and aching joints, sore throat, and coughing. Boiled with dried ginger, they are used to treat colds. Crushed young leaves are used as an inhaler and to treat a dazed dizzy feeling, and also to clear the brain. Liquid from the leaf is rubbed on like an ointment to relieve aching eyes. Liquid from distilling them can be given to cure stomachaches in children and to treat hypertension. They can be chewed and pressed onto a cat’s bite to disinfect it. Adding leaves to an anti-nausea medicine will speed its action. The solid obtained from their oil is used as an additive in toothpaste and soap in order to augment their properties.

Notes.

The medical uses of this species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991). Medicinal uses of this species in China are discussed in Duke and Ayensu (1985).

References.

Agricultural Corporation (1980), Forest Department (1999).