Grandma used herbs in many of her remedies. Her recipes for teas, rubs and oils were passed down from her grandmother who moved to Michigan after the Civil Gram grew a variety of mint in her gardens; Spearmint, Peppermint, Lemonmint, and a few others. Mint grew along the banks of Coldwater Lake. When my cousins and I spent summers with her at the cottage, she often would have us "harvest" the mint. She used it fresh in salads and her yummy panfish dish. Her Mint Tea would solve tummy troubles. Her mint salve calmed us and soothed our skin. However, she would keep some fresh sprigs in water on the widow sill for her mint juleps.
Mint is much like a groundcover so it is suggested to plant it in a pot or within a border. Gram gave mint its own garden with a border. I planted mine in a ditch so it may crawl wherever it wants. I often harvest tender leaves for salads, teas and dishes.
Spearmint is traditionally used to help relieve
symptoms of indigestion, nausea, vomiting and gas.
It is high in antioxidants.
Used to balance sex hormones -great for ovarian support
Reduce facial hair in women.
Improve memory
Lower blood sugar
Fight germs
Lower Stress
Awaken the senses
Fight pain and stiffness in joints
Lower blood pressure
I use mint essential oil for salves and in my diffuser to give a room a fresh, clean scent.
I love visiting Those Nature People in Frankenmuth or the SVRC Marketplace in Saginaw. They have a nice display of essential oils you can give a sniff to test.
