Zen and the Scent of Mint Meditation
We are more than the family we come from.
We are the alchemy of our ancestry.
We contain the same medicine, the blueprint of wholeness.
All one yet each unique.
Hello hello! Did you know that more than half of the kitchen herbs we know and love are in the mint family? These beloved aromatic plants are mostly used for aromatherapy, culinary, and medicinal purposes. They all have a beneficial action in calming the mind, soothing the central nervous system and aiding digestion. They are the exquisite and versatile members of the Lamiaceae family which has over 220 genera (genus) and around 7000 species.
Amongst the most commonly known and most used are mint, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, lemon balm, lavender, oregano, and basil.
We are going to keep it simple and chat about the uplifting mentha variety. There are dozens of types from spearmint to chocolate mint to lavender mint and of course the well-loved peppermint. Menthol is found in peppermint but not in spearmint. The spearmint varieties are the ones we mostly cook with and the peppermints are used mostly in aromatherapy and for medicinal purposes because of the expansive and penetrating effects of the menthol.