Blisstree » mint

Peppermint Flower & Garden Gifts

Jennifer Chait — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:43:02 +0000

It’s the perfect time of year to give Peppermint minded gifts. Following are some ideas…

Tulip clusiana Peppermint Stick
If you’re giving a Peppermint Amaryllis bulb as a holiday gift it will spread cheer after the holidays as they can take 4-6 weeks to bloom. If you want to give a Peppermint Amaryllis in bloom by the holidays check with a local nursery.
Peppermint in 11 x 14 Floating Frame – a Silk Giclée image in a Floating Frame is ready to hang.
Peppermint Twist Bouquet – a lovely bouquet of long-stemmed red and white roses – VeriFlora certified.
Phlox paniculata Peppermint Twist – shipped for spring planting.
Teapot Garden Mint – grow mint right in this little teapot. Cute and perfect for someone who loves minty tea.
Peppermint Spray Roses Hatbox Bouquet – pretty white Majolica and red Mikado spray roses in a lovely box.
Peppermint Organic, Caffeine-Free Tea
Peppermint Pretty bouquet with peppermint carnations and white cushion spray chrysanthemums.

Plant Dictionary: Mint Basics

Jennifer Chait — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:57:57 +0000

PLANT O’ THE DAY: Mint – which granted is a little broad. There are over 600 varieties of mint. If you’re perplexed by which mint variety to plant narrow down what you’ll be using it for. For example if you’d like to make some insomnia mint tea, you may want to try a lemon mint, or for scented bouquets you could grow some apple scented applemint. You can look at a book about mint or talk to your local nursery to learn about native mints.

GROWING CONDITIONS: With over 600 types you might guess that there are plenty of growing conditions too. Generally though mint likes sun but can stand partial shade. It thrives well in moist but well drained soil and likes rich soil.

VISUALS: Again, with 600 varieties well… Mints come in a wide range of colors from green (shocking) to yellow, purple, white-green, and more. The leaves vary from plant to plant as do stems.

USES: You’ll want to pick leaves to use before the plant flowers and then you can dry, freeze, or use the leaves fresh or even infuse them in oils or vinegar. Each mint has it’s own special uses but here are some popular mint uses to ponder. Oh, note that Pennyroyal is a popular mint with a super strong scent so it can be nice in a garden, but it’s not edible. It’s a toxic mint.

Spearmint can be infused in oil then inhaled from a handkerchief for cold relief.
Peppermint is useful for all sorts of things. You can make a tea for tummy upset, colds, or the flu. You can rub a little essential mint oil along your temples and the back of your neck, along with a few drops of lavender for headache relief.
You can use fresh or dried mint around the house instead of air fresheners.
Scatter mint leaves (dried or fresh work) near food to deter mice or place pots of mint by your door to keep ants away.
Use the leaves to garnish foods and ice cream (see the pretty raspberry mint cake above).

As noted, mint has tons of uses. Eventually we’ll look at mint specifics, but for now I wanted to broadly cover this herb. Which is your favorite mint?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Plant Dictionary: Mint Basics

Bourbon Mint Tea

Heather R. — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:17:39 +0000

After a beautiful spring day of yard work and spring cleaning (the kids already got their treat!), I can’t think of a better way to unwind tonight than with a little extreme sweet tea.

This recipe and picture come from The Bitten Word, who got it from Everyday Food:

Bourbon Mint Tea

In a large saucepan, boil 4 cups water. Add 1/2 cup sugar; stir to dissolve. Remove from heat; add 8 teabags of black tea. Steep 10 minutes; discard teabags. Add 4 cups cold water; transfer to pitcher, and chill. Add 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, crush mint until fragrant; stir in 2 cups bourbon. Serve over ice.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Bourbon Mint Tea

Pain Relief from Mint

ruth — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 10:11:05 +0000

We commonly use mint an an herb in cooking or as garnishing in desserts, but we also find it in liniments and palliative ointments and massage oils. It’s pain relieving powers have been long known particularly to those who practive traditional chinese medicine, but there have also been anecdotes that even Hippocrates, the Greek scholar, has used it to treat sprains, join pains and inflammation.

“Swellings and pains in the joints, ulceration, those of a gouty nature, and sprains, are generally improved by a copious affusion of cold water, which reduces the swelling, and removes the pain; for a moderate degree of numbness removes pain.”

But what is it in mint that relieves pain? I used to think it’s just a sort of diversion, a trick to make the mind focus on the cooling sensation instead of the pain. Well, it turns out I’m partially correct.

Scientists from the Universtiy of Edinburgh have identified chemical compounds in mint oil and relatd compounds that act on a nerve receptor on the skin, called TRPM8, which is activated by the cooling chemicals or cool temperatures. When activated, it inhibits the ‘pain messages’ being sent from the locality of the pain to the brain.

The researchers are optimistic that these compounds may one day offer relief for those who suffer from chronic pain, including those with arthritis or those who have had nerve damage or spinal injury following major accidents.

Quite a feat, eh? Now who says herbal medicine is pure quack?

Er, Mojitos, anyone?

[Photo: Matchstick]

Post from: Blisstree

Pain Relief from Mint