Or, at least, in our minds, right? Peppermint is synonymous with the winter months, whether in a culinary application via treats and drinks, or an aromatic application to make your home smell like treats and drinks. But what about the herbal uses of the plant? Let’s dive into why Mint is synonymous with winter, and how its medicinal properties can help soothe our bellies with the extra nosh!

The beautifully soft and velvety mint plant

Upon researching this blog post, I found 2 theories as to why Peppermint is associated with the winter months that piqued my interest the most. The first is Greek Mythology, a personal favorite, and the second is logical.

Let’s start with the mystical:

There is a mountain towards the east, near Pylos in Greece, named after Minthē who, according to this myth, was loved by Hades. Minthē was a Nymphē, a young girl who symbolized nature, freshness, and water. She was known for her long life, whom Hades, the king of the Underworld, then seduced. Korē, Hades’s wife, also known as Persephonē, caught the two of them. She crushed Minthē under her foot, transforming her into the plant that bears her name. Significantly, the location where Persephonē crushed her is a fertile region, close to the sea, with high humidity. She quickly realized, however, that she was not dying, and tried to revisit every Spring. This component of the story hints at a plant that escapes death and is particularly resistant.

Anyone who has ever had mint in their yard knows this is a very clear description of the invasive species' almost weed-like property. Even though the myth ends with the plant’s transformation, its true usefulness is not over. In the yearly rituals of Persephonē’s cult, which celebrated the yearly cycle of natural life, Minthē was mixed in a beverage for each participant.

Now for the more logical explanation:

Peppermint’s origin story dates back to the Middle Ages when massive, celebratory winter feasts took place after the harvest of fields and livestock. The meals were rich and filling and needed a natural digestive to help move things through the system and ward off any potential discomfort from overindulging. Mint was plentiful and found to be easy to work with to add to teas, sweets, or other post-dinner delights. Because peppermint contains menthol, it produces the icy taste on our tongues. It tricks our brains into perceiving a cool sensation by activating some nerve-ending receptors involved in sensing cold. The resulting cooling sensation helps satiate this, increase alertness, and ease breathing. It reminds us of cooler weather, and the sensation of peppermint feels like winter.

What about its Medicinal properties?

Mint has been used as an herbal remedy by easing queasy stomachs, calming the digestive tract, and alleviating indigestion, gas, and cramps for a long time. It can also be used to calm stress and anxiety and promote restful sleep, specifically when used in addition to lavender, whether it be infusing oils or using as candles or room sprays.

Topically, peppermint is most notably used in an essential oil format. We can add a couple of drops into our shower to breathe in the benefits, which would also help relieve stress and muscle tension. A couple drops of peppermint oil rubbed onto the temples can aid migraines. The cooling of the menthol is soothing on redness and irritation, which can happen in the dry winter months. This is why the aromatherapy rollers we create are with a high-quality, 2nd distill Peppermint Oil to ensure the menthol effects stay potent.

Quick View

Headache Relief

$5.50

A common question is, what is the difference between Mint and Peppermint or Spearmint? The answer is that mint is the parent, and all the other iterations are its children. There are approximately 25 species of mint. Peppermint is a type of mint with high amounts of menthol — about 30% more than spearmint according to Medical News Today. In comparison, the spearmint herb only has 0.5% menthol, making Peppermint the go-to choice for potency.

Whether its the astringent properties you desire for facial products, or a cool, chill sensation on your dry, red, and chapped skin in winter, mint has been a mainstay and will continue to be for the winter months.

Peppermint: Winter’s favorite herb

Surviving Daylight Savings Time

The All Powerful Calendula