What Is Spearmint Tea Good For? Health Benefits and Recipes

spearmint tea benefits
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Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a species of mint native to Asia and most of Europe. It is now grown throughout the year around the world. One of the many ways to use this mint is to prepare spearmint tea by infusing dried or fresh spearmint leaves in water.

Many of the reported spearmint tea benefits, as well as the distinct and pungent aroma, are attributed to the volatile oil known as carvone. But what is spearmint tea good for exactly? Spearmint tea may be able to fight inflammation and osteoarthritis, balance your hormones and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), improve memory, boost immunity, treat digestive issues, and more.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about spearmint tea, including its nutrition facts, health benefits, and similarities with peppermint tea and green tea. We’ll also cover spearmint tea side effects.

And if you’re wondering how to make tea with both dried and fresh leaves, we’ve also included some tips and recipes for you to try.

Spearmint Tea Nutrition Facts

What do you need to know about spearmint tea’s nutritional value?

Two tablespoons of fresh spearmint contain small amounts of carbs, fat, and protein. There are also minimal amounts of minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, potassium, and copper.

Vitamins found in spearmint tea include vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate.

In addition to the carvone in spearmint, other beneficial active compounds include the flavonoid thymonin, limonene, rosmarinic acid, menthol, caffeic acid derivatives, 1,8-cineole, and dihydrocarvone.

What about the caffeine in spearmint tea? It is important to note that spearmint tea is caffeine free, and it’s unrelated to the Camellia sinensis tea plant used to make teas such as green tea or black tea.

Health Benefits of Spearmint Tea

Spearmint tea has been used for centuries in Ayurveda medicine to relieve digestive troubles such as nausea and vomiting. Spearmint tea might also fight inflammation, enhance your respiratory system, strengthen your immune system, improve memory, relieve stress, protect the liver, and improve hair problems.

Let’s take a more detailed look at the health benefits associated with spearmint tea consumption…

1. Fights Inflammation and Osteoarthritis

Spearmint has the ability to suppress pro-inflammatory mediators; as a result, it could potentially resolve inflammatory issues such as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and ulcerative colitis.

The anti-inflammatory properties of spearmint tea may also target joint pain, particularly when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

A number of animal studies have reported the analgesic effects of spearmint oil, and that its compounds menthol, limonene, and carvone can reduce pain severity in osteoarthritis patients.

A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2014 also singled out the rosmarinic acid in spearmint tea as being responsible for significantly improving stiffness and reducing pain in 62 adults with knee osteoarthritis.

2. Balances Hormones and Manages PCOS

Another interesting benefit of spearmint tea is how it can impact your body’s hormonal balance. How does spearmint tea benefit hormones? In particular, spearmint tea for PCOS management relies on the tea’s ability to lower androgenic hormones. Consequently, this tea could reduce unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women—also called hirsutism.

What is the spearmint tea anti-androgen effect? The connection between spearmint tea and hirsutism is the hormone androgen, which is primarily responsible for male reproductive development. Women with PCOS produce excess amounts of the hormone, and may experience the discomfort of hair on their face, breasts, and stomach.

A review analyzed two articles regarding spearmint tea anti-androgen effects.

The first study, published in the journal Phytotherapy Research in 2010, tracked 41 women with PCOS and hirsutism over a 30-day period. The researchers found that consumption of spearmint tea twice daily had resulted in a reduction in androgen hormone levels, cell turnover time, and follicular hair growth.

The other study, published in 2007, included 21 female hirsute patients—nine with hirsutism and 12 with PCOS. After five days of drinking spearmint tea, there was a reduction in free testosterone and an increase in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

LH is a hormone that triggers ovulation and maintains regular menstruation. FSH, on the other hand, ensures proper maturation of ovarian follicles, and this can help with fertility.

However, it is important to note that the above studies were short in length. Like most herbal remedies, spearmint tea must be consumed for a longer duration for better results.

Studies indicate spearmint tea can also help manage other PCOS symptoms, including cystic acne; weight gain; fertility issues; irregular periods; chronic stress and anxiety; and PMS (premenstrual syndrome) symptoms like nausea, bloating, and cramping.

Is spearmint tea for hair loss as well? As an anti-androgen agent, spearmint tea is able to stimulate blood circulation, and therefore potentially hair growth.

In men suffering from hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia (AGA), spearmint tea is apparently able to reduce levels of the hormone-free testosterone.

This also results in less of the androgen hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone).

3. Promotes Heart Health

Is spearmint tea for blood pressure and other heart problems as well? As mentioned, spearmint is able to enhance blood circulation. The iron in spearmint has a positive effect on the circulatory system and blood production, whereas the high potassium content in spearmint may help to control blood pressure.

Potassium does this by dilating your blood vessels and relieving the stress on your arteries and blood vessels.

As a result, spearmint tea might be a useful part of any heart-healthy diet designed to prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

4. Enhances Respiratory Health

The powerful compounds in spearmint tea are also able to reduce the severity of respiratory illnesses such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to some studies.

The naturally soothing effect of spearmint is able to reduce inflammation, which has a significant impact on your respiratory system. As a result, spearmint tea may help soothe sore throats, relieve chest tightness, and alleviate congestion and sinus problems.

In particular, spearmint tea is thought to ease the symptoms associated with COPD, including coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. A Chinese study published in 2008 found that spearmint oil has a protective effect on lung injury in rats with COPD due to its ability to improve pulmonary inflammation and relieve oxidative stress.

5. Improves Memory

Another fascinating benefit of spearmint tea is the way it seems to improve memory. Research shows that the antioxidant limonene found in spearmint tea can help counteract free radicals and increase neurotransmitter activity, and this may improve concentration, focus, the ability to learn, and memory.

6. Strengthens Immunity and Fights Bacteria

Spearmint tea is also packed with antibacterial properties that inhibit the growth of pathogens and strengthen your immune system. According to one 2001 study, spearmint is able to fight bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella enteritidis, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

The phenolic compounds in spearmint thought to be responsible for its antibacterial activity include carvone, myrcene, muurolene, and limonene. The effect of spearmint is so strong that is able to benefit those resistant to antibiotics.

The antibacterial effects of spearmint tea can also help you maintain proper oral health, which leads to fresh-smelling breath.

Those with a poor immune system are more likely to have a fungal infection. The antifungal effects of spearmint can help inhibit the spread and growth of fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, and yeast infections.

7. Protects the Liver

Research suggests spearmint tea is also able to protect the liver. One study published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism in January 2018 found that spearmint extract contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential that are able to protect the liver against nicotine-induced damage.

Although spearmint had a positive effect in this study, in excessive amounts, it can negatively impact your liver, which may worsen liver damage.

8. Antimutagenic Properties

Free radicals are thought to be the main cause of cellular breakdown and the development of chronic diseases such as cancer. Cancer, in particular, is linked to free radicals that stimulate cellular mutations. However, the antioxidants in spearmint tea may be able to eliminate free radicals without putting a strain on the immune system.

One 2004 study showed that spearmint extract inhibited mutagenic activity, which can possibly inhibit the activation of carcinogens.

9. Improves Digestion

The anti-inflammatory compounds of spearmint tea might also calm your stomach when you experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and digestive symptoms including nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, constipation, and abdominal cramping.

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of gastric ulcers. Research shows that spearmint is effective at inhibiting H. pylori bacteria, which are considered the most common cause of a gastric ulcer.

Since spearmint has been proven safe during pregnancy, many pregnant women also drink spearmint tea to ward off nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness. This condition is common during the first few months of pregnancy.

10. Relieves Stress and Depression

The menthol in spearmint tea contains sedative and antidepressant properties. This has a calming and soothing effect on the body, and could help eliminate the negative effects of stress hormones and reduce chronic stress, anxiety, and depression.

Comparison: Spearmint Tea vs. Peppermint Tea vs. Green Tea

We know all about spearmint tea benefits; however, how does the drink compare with other popular teas, such as peppermint tea and green tea? Green tea, peppermint tea, and spearmint tea are all loaded with antioxidants. Read on to find out how they compare with each other.

Peppermint Tea

First, we will look at spearmint tea vs. peppermint tea. Although spearmint contains menthol, it has smaller amounts than peppermint tea. However, this is why both teas have many of the same benefits.

Spearmint is also rich in limonene and carvone, and the sweetness of spearmint is less strident than peppermint. Just as spearmint tea, peppermint tea benefits the sinuses, joints, and hair growth while potentially treating bad breath; asthma; PCOS symptoms; and IBS symptoms like nausea, gas, and bloating.

Green Tea

What about spearmint tea vs. green tea? As mentioned earlier, spearmint tea is free of caffeine, and it is not related to green tea’s plant source Camellia sinensis. Although both teas have antioxidants, the most common types in green tea are catechins, polyphenols, and other types of flavonoids.

Like spearmint tea, green tea benefits may include improved heart health and decreased memory loss and free radical damage. Green tea is also great for diabetes and bone health as well as reducing appetite and preventing eye disease.

How to Make Spearmint Tea: Recipes

As mentioned, research supports the benefits of spearmint tea for PCOS, osteoarthritis, memory problems, heart problems, and more. This section will detail how to make spearmint tea when using both dried spearmint leaves and fresh spearmint leaves.

Dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor. Therefore, when using dried spearmint, it is best to use only a third of the amount you would use for fresh spearmint. Use one tablespoon of fresh spearmint compared to three teaspoons of dried spearmint.

The following is a spearmint tea recipe for both dried and fresh spearmint leaves.

Using Fresh Leaves:

Ingredients:

  • 1 handful or 1 tablespoon fresh spearmint
  • 2 cups boiling water

Directions:

  • Wash and tear fresh spearmint leaves and put them in a teapot; pour the boiling water over the leaves.

Steep the tea for about three to seven minutes.

Using Dried Leaves:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups boiling water

Directions:

  • Use one to three teaspoons of dried spearmint leaves, and steep in boiling water for about three minutes.

Side Effects of Spearmint Tea

What are the spearmint tea side effects? Spearmint tea is considered safe in moderate amounts. Although spearmint tea is considered safe for pregnancy and is often used for morning sickness, pregnant women should not consume excessive amounts since too much spearmint may damage the uterus. Breastfeeding women should minimize their consumption as well.

Excessive amounts of spearmint tea can also negatively impact your liver and kidney, which may lead to liver or kidney damage. For those with kidney and liver disorders, symptoms may worsen if spearmint tea consumption is not monitored.

Spearmint has also been reported to cause allergic skin rashes or muscle pain in some people.

As with any natural remedy, consult with your doctor or pharmacist before beginning a spearmint tea regimen.

Final Thoughts on Spearmint Tea

Tea consumption can play a significant role as part of a healthy lifestyle regimen, and this is especially true for spearmint tea.

In this article, we answered the question, “What is spearmint tea good for?” Spearmint tea benefits may include enhancing the respiratory system, fighting inflammation and osteoarthritis, strengthening the immune system, relieving stress, improving memory, and protecting the liver.

Drinking spearmint tea for PCOS can also improve unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women, which is a condition also known as hirsutism.

We also explained in detail how to make spearmint tea. Enjoy spearmint tea with either dried or fresh spearmint leaves. Spearmint tea is very comparable to green tea and peppermint tea; however, nothing beats the sweetness of spearmint.

Enjoy a cup today!

Also read:

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