Peppermint Tea Benefits and Other Herbal Teas to Try

A hot cup of tea is kind of like a warm hug on cold days. But, it goes beyond a comfort drink.  There are many health benefits that come from drinking herbal teas.  Today I want to talk about peppermint tea benefits and why you should drink it.

When it comes to our health, I’ve been on a bit of a journey to find more natural solutions. While sometimes we need a store bought medicine or prescription, I know that I’ve had my share of side effects when taking them. Therefore, I’ve come to the conclusion that if I can find natural options to help my health, I’d like to try that first.

Notice that I said, “try that first.” Because I don’t want anyone to ever get the wrong impression that modern medicine is not needed. There are times it definitely is needed and I am so thankful for the advances we’ve made in that area and that modern medicine is available to us. Especially when it comes to serious issues, it’s very wise to consult a doctor and seek their advice.

But, when it comes to issues that aren’t as serious I am trying to turn to more natural choices. I am already feeling the effects of those choices, and in a positive way.

Tea is one of those things that can give you many benefits, even helping for minor ailments. Let’s talk about one of my favorite teas, which is peppermint tea.

HERBAL “TEA” IS NOT REALLY TEA

First of all, did you know that peppermint tea isn’t technically tea at all? Actually, herbal teas in general aren’t really tea. Peppermint falls in the herbal category. They are technically a “tisane” which is basically a fancy word for hot water that is infused with herbs, spices, and plants.

A TRUE tea is made from the leaves of a Camellia Sinensis plant. Black, green, white, and oolong teas all fall in this category.

But, true tea or not, I’ll still be calling my hot herbal beverages tea. 🙂 It doesn’t matter what you call it, there’s nothing quite like enjoying a hot cup of tea. Drink it alone or enjoy it with friends, either way there’s always time for tea! Maybe next time you have a cup of tea you might want to choose peppermint for it’s amazing benefits.

PEPPERMINT TEA BENEFITS

May calm an upset stomach. This is my favorite benefit of peppermint tea. Even before I started looking for more natural solutions I would pour myself a cup of peppermint tea when I had a stomach ache. It can help your stomach when struggling with digestion issues, nausea, cramping, and heartburn to name a few. Ladies, this is the tea you want to be drinking at that time of the month.

Can relieve headaches. Headaches are absolutely no fun. Did you know that many times our headaches can actually be caused by our gut? I always find it interesting how so much of our gut health can control other parts of our body. It makes sense, then, that if peppermint tea can help our stomach, then it can help our head too.

May help you relax and sleep better. Because peppermint tea is an herbal tea you can be confident it doesn’t contain any caffeine. This makes it the perfect tea to enjoy before bed time without having to worry that it will keep you up. Actually, peppermint contains properties that act as a muscle relaxant to help you drift off into a peaceful slumber.

Can be a helpful aid in weight loss. Now, let’s be straight here because I just don’t like when I read articles of how some “miracle” tea, pill, or formula will help you instantly lose a lot of weight. If you drink peppermint tea but don’t take care of yourself in other ways you aren’t going to suddenly lose a bunch of weight. However, it can help you in shedding a few extra pounds if you pair it with other things you are doing to take care of yourself (like exercising and eating better.) It can boost your metabolism as well as suppress your appetite.

Helps congestion and can clear your sinuses. Peppermint contains menthol, which is a compound that helps clear your airways. You don’t have to look too far to find that menthol is added into a number of over the counter products people buy when they have a cold, like cough drops and vapor rubs. The steam from the tea also helps with this so you have a double whammy in fighting against cold symptoms with peppermint tea.

Can help clear your skin. Peppermint tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with redness and irritation of your skin. It is also anti-septic which means it can help reduce bacteria build up on your skin and therefore can help fight against acne.

Might help with mental clarity. Peppermint tea is known for helping you focus and concentrate. Not only will drinking it help you in this area, but just inhaling the scent alone can improve your mental clarity.

WAYS TO BUY AND USE PEPPERMINT IN TEA AND OTHER FORMS THAT ARE HELPFUL

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You can buy peppermint tea in loose leaf or bagged form. You can even grow the mint and make it yourself. Mint is relatively easy to grow, but it can become invasive. The biggest thing you want to keep in mind when buying it is to make sure you are buying tea with natural flavors, and not artificial ones.

I like to use bagged peppermint tea for ease, but I also enjoy loose leaf peppermint tea because I enjoy the flavor a little better. It really comes down to personal preference. All you need is a tea ball to steep loose leaf tea.

Peppermint is one of those things that are so beneficial. I love drinking a mug of peppermint tea when I need it, but I also have started using peppermint essential oil (I buy mine at wholesale prices here) in my home. I mostly use it two ways. I like to rub it on my forehead and temples when I have a headache, and I also like to diffuse it with some orange essential oil to help me get going in the mornings. It’s a nice pick-me-up when I am feeling sluggish.

I have also added it to a homemade vapor rub, which you can find that recipe here.

I personally like growing it not only for tea, but to add a few leaves of mint and a slice of lemon to ice water for a refreshing drink on those hot summer days. As you can see, peppermint in many forms is very versatile and useful.

As amazing as peppermint tea is, let’s also talk about a few other really great herbal teas that are beneficial to your health.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HERBAL TEAS TO TRY

Chamomile. Chamomile has a mild taste and is known to be a good tea to drink before bed because of it’s relaxing and calming properties. It’s great for your digestive system and can boost your immunity. Clearly it’s another great tea to drink during cold and flu season.

Dandelion. Dandelion tea is another one that can improve your digestion but it is also a good tea in aiding in weight loss. It can also promote healthy bones. Dandelion contains iron which means this is a tea that can help with anemia.

Ginger. Ginger tea is great for nausea which is no surprise because I am sure many of us remember being given flat ginger ale to drink when we were sick as kids. Ginger tea is also another beneficial tea for stomach cramps.

Licorice root. Licorice root tea is the tea you want for any skin issues. It can help with eczema, and psoriasis, along with dry skin issues. It can reduce inflammation in your skin because of it’s anti-inflammatory properties. This is also another tea good for cramps. Licorice root tea is also helpful in promoting hair growth. This awesome tea may also help fight against depression.

Rose hip. If you suffer from arthritis, then rose hip tea is the one for you. The anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce joint and muscle pain. Rose hip is also a good one for digestion issues, lowering cholesterol, and it contains vitamin C and A which helps boost your immunity and fight against cold and flu.

SIDE EFFECTS OF TEA

While herbal tea is all natural, that doesn’t mean there are no possible side effects. Sometimes we think that if something is natural then it is 100% safe. That simply isn’t true. All you need to do is take one walk out in nature to see that things like berries or mushrooms can poison you, or various plants can give you a rash or even a burn. Nature is an amazing thing that can benefit out health, but it can harm us too.

Most of the time drinking tea will cause no side effects at all, but it CAN happen and so it’s something to be aware of. While this will vary from tea to tea, the most common side effects are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache, heartburn, or irritation of the skin. If you are drinking tea and notice any of these side effects you will want to stop drinking it and talk to your doctor.

HAVE A CUP OF TEA

Peppermint tea benefits, along with the benefits of other herbal teas can help improve your health. Herbal teas are also low in calories which means you can drink it guilt free, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love that?

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