With its distinct aroma and important medicinal attributes, peppermint, a particularly beloved herb in antiquity, invigorates the mind and mood, and also features strongly in cooking, medicine and cosmetics.
Due to the essential oil of menthol to be found in its leaves and stems, peppermint helps as an expectorant, soothing coughs and relieving sore throats, nausea and colds. It also reduces muscle aches and pains, and brings relief to period pains.
In many countries it is served as a cordial after meals to help with digestion, while settling the stomach and refreshing the breath.