Peppermint
薄荷 · Bò He
Clears your head and settles tension in your body
What it does
Peppermint is traditionally used for the early signs of a cold: headache, sore throat, red eyes. In TCM, these point to wind-heat, meaning your body is running hot and fighting something off. It also helps that tight, frustrated feeling in your chest when you're stressed, what TCM calls stagnation. Peppermint handles both, which is rare for a single botanical.
Safety
- Very safe at normal doses. One of TCM's gentlest cooling herbs
- No evidence mint lowers milk supply. Concentrated peppermint oil is the part to be careful with
- Avoid large amounts if you have acid reflux. It can relax the esophageal sphincter
- Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication
How to take it
Steep 3–6g of dried mint leaves in hot water for 5 minutes (don't over-steep or it gets bitter). Drink warm for colds, or cooled for a refreshing summer drink.
Brew a cup at the first sign of a headache or stuffy feeling
Add fresh leaves to salads, drinks, yogurt, and desserts. Steep dried for tea. Pair with chocolate or fruit.
Muddle fresh mint with lime and water for a quick post-meal digestif
Formulas it's in
Free and Easy Wanderer
逍遙散 · xiāo yáo sǎn
One of the most-prescribed TCM formulas in the world, used for stress, PMS, and the feeling of being emotionally stuck.
Honeysuckle & Forsythia
銀翹散 · yín qiào sǎn
The classical TCM formula for catching a wind-heat cold early. Take at the first sign of sore throat and fever.
Modified Free & Easy Wanderer
加味逍遙散 · jiā wèi xiāo yáo sǎn
The variant of Free and Easy Wanderer for when liver tension has tipped into irritability and heat.
Mulberry Leaf & Chrysanthemum
桑菊飲 · sāng jú yǐn
For the first days of a hot-type cold, when a cough is the main problem.
Xanthium Powder
蒼耳子散 · cāng ěr zǐ sǎn
The classical formula for chronic sinus congestion with thick, foul-smelling discharge.
Where it comes from
Mint has been used in medicine worldwide for thousands of years. Ancient Greek athletes rubbed it on their bodies, and it appears in Chinese medical texts dating back centuries. In TCM, Peppermint stands out for its ability to work on both the exterior (pushing out pathogens) and the interior (moving liver qi). It's a key ingredient in the classical formula Xiāo Yáo Sǎn (Free and Easy Wanderer), one of the most widely prescribed formulas in TCM for emotional and digestive complaints.