Spearmint, or Mentha spicata, is a species of mint plant that is grown for its leaves and essential oil, which is used as a flavoring in foods and cosmetics. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that is 30-100 cm tall, with variably hairless to hairy stems and foliage, and a wide-spreading fleshy underground rhizome from which it grows. Spearmint contains vitamins, antioxidants, and vital nutrients, and its aroma is very similar to that of peppermint. It contains less menthol than peppermint, but it is rich in limonene, dihydrocarvone, and cineol. It has a sweeter taste than peppermint.
Spearmint has been attributed with many health benefits, including improving digestion, being high in antioxidants, and helping with memory. Some people use spearmint to help alleviate symptoms of nausea, indigestion, gas, headache, toothache, cramps, and sore throat. It is also applied topically, to the skin, to help reduce swelling due to nerve or muscle pain. Spearmint essential oil has antifungal properties.
While there is no good scientific evidence to support many of the claimed therapeutic uses of spearmint, it is generally considered safe when consumed in food amounts. However, larger amounts of spearmint may not be safe when breastfeeding, and it might harm the liver. Some medications can also harm the liver, and taking spearmint along with a medication that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage. Spearmint might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing, and taking it with sedative medications might cause breathing problems.
