Water Mint
Scientific Name: Mentha aquatica L.
Family: Lamiaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Habit and dimensions: A perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 15-30 (50) cm, fragrant, with a woody rhizome emitting creeping epigeous stolons.
Stem: Ascending stem, approximately 5 mm in diameter, with a quadrangular section, and covered with hairs especially at the top, branched, reddish.
Leaves: The leaves measure 1-4 x 2-6 (9) cm, are arranged opposite each other in pairs, decussate, with a short petiole (4-9 mm) visibly grooved on the upper part, have an oval-oblong surface with an acute or oval-rounded apex, a serrated margin, and the surface often curved downwards, glabrous on the upper side while pubescent on the lower side, where the secondary veins, parallel to each other, are more evident.
Flowers: The fragrant, hermaphroditic flowers are pink or violet and are gathered in globular inflorescences similar to capitula, at the apex of the stem and in whorls in the axils of the upper leaves, borne on peduncles of about 2.5 cm. Bracts similar to the leaves but smaller and not overtopping the inflorescence. Bracteoles are 3-4 mm. Calyx 3-4 mm, cylindrical, tubular with 5 equal, acute, reddish-green teeth, hairy. Corolla tubular, pink or violet, hairy inside, with 4 lobes, the upper one larger than the others and sometimes bilobed. Blooms from May to October.
Fruits and seeds: The fruit consists of 4 oval nuts with a warty surface.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Present throughout Italy in shady and humid places, on the banks of ponds, watercourses, ditches, marshes, meadows, and damp woods, from 0 to 1,200 m.
USE
Thanks to its active principles such as essential oil (composed of menthol, cineole, menthofuran, and terpenes), resins, tannins, and bitter principles, it is an antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, cooling, vasodilator, antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, stimulant, stomachic, pain reliever, emetic, and tonic plant. In pharmaceuticals, it is used as a flavor corrector for some medicines and dusting powders. In herbal medicine, it is used internally as an infusion (tea) or tincture (alcoholic or vinous) to aid digestion and inhibit intestinal fermentations, stimulate bile secretions, alleviate nausea, and relieve vomiting, hiccups, and spasms in general. However, be cautious as long-term and excessive consumption of drinkable preparations may lead to hypnotic effects and gastric intolerance. Externally, it is used as an infusion for itching, inflammations of the airways and skin, and for bad breath with rinses, gargles, or inhalations. To alleviate rheumatic or neuralgic pain, a tincture is rubbed on the painful parts. The tonic-astringent and refreshing properties of this plant have led cosmetic industries to use it in the preparation of toothpaste and mouthwashes, decongestant creams, purifying lotions, soaps and bath foams, and refreshing and decongestant distilled waters. Before taking any herbal product (medicinal or non-medicinal) for therapeutic or similar purposes, it is always advisable to consult your physician. Fresh leaves and flowers are used in the preparation of mixed salads, sauces, and marinades for meat and fish, legume and bean garden mixtures, to flavor fruit salads, jellies, jams, pastries, non-alcoholic beverages, syrups, juices, grappas, liqueurs, bitters, and in the preparation of candies and chewing gums.
INTERESTING FACTS
A Greek legend tells that Proserpina, queen of the underworld, caught her husband Pluto in amorous conversations with a young girl named Menthes, whom the god of the underworld had fallen deeply in love with. Enraged, Proserpina, to seek revenge, transformed the beautiful young woman into a plant, the Mint, which has since been a symbol of the chill of fear and the ardor of love. Mint is still considered by many to be a potent remedy against evil spirits, and modern “magicians” burn it to consecrate talismans intended to protect against countless illnesses and ward off negative influences.
Photo: Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 by Saxifraga and Ed Stikvoort, Rutger Barendse
