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Spearmint
Essential Oil Profile
By Dawn Copeland and
Jeanne Rose
PART OF THE
AROMATHERAPY COURSE – HOME & FAMILY
(with therapeutic additions)
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Name of Oil:
Spearmint
Latin Binomial/Botanical Family:
Mentha spicata/Lamiaceae
Countries of Origin: Native to
the Mediterranean.
General description of plant,
habitat & growth:
A very
hardy, perennial herb with bright green, fragrant leaves, that
quickly exhausts the soil and needs to be replanted regularly via
the underground or over ground stems. Many Mints behave in this
manner.
Portion of plant used in
distillation, how distilled, extraction methods & yield:
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Spearmint
Mentha Spicata |
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The over ground plant is steam distilled. “3,000 lbs.
Charge requires up to 50 minutes and produces over 10 k. of oil”
375
Essential Oils and Hydrosols, p. 142. |
Organoleptic
Characteristics:
(see
Vocabulary of Odor Basic 7© for description and organoleptic
qualities)
Color:
Pale, pale, pale celery-like green
Clarity: Clear
Viscosity: Non-viscous, like water
Taste: Refreshing, delightful, and delicately
minty.
Odor Intensity: A fresh 5
Chemical Components: Up to 56% l-Carvone (Caraway
has d-carvone), Terpenes,
Limonene, Phellandrene, and, sometimes, Linaloöl
and Cineol. |
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Historical Uses: |
(-)-carvone
(l-p-mentha-6,8(9)-dien-2-one;
1-methyl-4-isopropenyl-6-cycloxen-2-one) |
The herb tea has
been widely used as a tonic drink in most places.
Interesting Facts:
Spearmint tea is
poured after every meal in Egypt.
Properties (by IG=ingestion or
IN=inhalation or AP=application):
Ingestion:
Digestive. Antispasmodic. Digestive tonic.
Inhalation:
Stimulant. Antidepressant. Tonic. Calmative. Mucolytic.
Application:
Antiseptic. Digestive. Fever reducing.
Anti-inflammatory.
Physical Uses & How used (IG or AP):
Ingestion:
Digestive ailments. Nausea. Vomiting. Gums. Candies.
Dental products.
Application:
Body-care products. Acne and skin irritations.
Digestive disturbances. Fever reducing.
Inhalation:
Respiratory ailments and chronic bronchitis.
Emotional Uses (AP or IN):
Application:
Headache
Inhalation:
A memoristic antidepressant. Alleviates mental strain &
fatigue. Acts as tonic to the entire system. Uplifting. Reduces nervous
stress and tension.
Hydrosol
Use:
A refreshing
hydrosol that is useful in the bath for a clean and refreshing scent, as
a mouthwash or in water as a digestive tea. Can be added to skin care
products or as a cleansing wash to the house or in the laundry.
Key Use:
Dentifrice products and as an antidepressant.
Safety Precautions: None
known.
Source:
This is one of the essential oils in
the Basic 25
Kit.
Essential Oil Profiles were by compiled Dawn Copeland of Chicago, Ill.
with permission.
Bibliography:
(Also References for Essential oil profiles)
Lawless, Julia. The Encyclopedia of
Essential Oils.
Miller, Richard & Ann. The Potential of Herbs as a Cash Crop.
Acres USA. Kansas City. 1985.
Rizzi, Susanne. Complete Aromatherapy. Sterling. NY. 1989.
Rose, Jeanne . Herbal
Studies Course, Jeanne Rose - Institute of Aromatic & Herbal
Studies, 1992.
Rose, Jeanne.
375
Essential Oils and Hydrosols. Berkeley, California: Frog, Ltd.,
1999
Rose, Jeanne.
The
Aromatherapy Book: Applications & Inhalations. San Francisco,
California:
Worwood, Susan & Valerie Ann. Essential Aromatherapy, a pocket guide
to essential oils and Aromatherapy. Novato, CA. New World Library,
2003.
"Distillation as such
is an entirely natural phenomenon. When, raising
your head you look at the clouds in the sky, those are but the
evaporation visible
patterns. And when you tread upon the early morning dew, it is the
condensate of the night."
Georges Ferrando
DISCLAIMER:
This work is intended for informational purposes only and is not a
substitute for accurate diagnosis
and treatment by a qualified health care
professional.
The author is neither a chemist nor a medical doctor.
The content herein
is the product of research and some personal and practical experience.
Institute of Aromatic &
Herbal Studies - Jeanne Rose©
All
rights reserved 2004. No part of this article from
Aromatherapy Course –
Home & Family may
be used without the prior permission of Jeanne Rose.
© Authors Copyright Jeanne Rose,
AromaticPlantProject
www.jeannerose.net
info@jeannerose.net
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