What is Peppermint?

Tajiñebuδehu is the Ioway name for peppermint, and it is one of the traditional smoking herbs that have a long history among Native American cultures. Peppermint is a herb with an extensive history, used for centuries as a traditional smoking herb that cools the body and mind while alleviating head and chest pains.

What Effect does Peppermint Have on the Body

Peppermint is a popular traditional remedy that can be used for many different conditions. For example, it has been found to have calming effects and is often used to treat bloating, menstrual pains, diarrhea, nausea, depression-related anxiety, muscle and nerve pain. It has also been used to treat the common cold and indigestion. Some people have also found Peppermint beneficial in treating IBS.

What are Peppermint Leaves good for?

Peppermint leaves can be used for medicinal purposes, cooking, and making teas due to their antioxidant properties. The plant’s leaves are also used to treat stomach pain, induce appetite, relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, vomiting, indigestion/heartburn, and bloating/excessive gas. Peppermint oil can be used as a mild anesthetic/pain reliever for toothaches. It can also be smoked to stimulate the mind and relieve stress.

What are the negative side effects of Peppermint?

Most people only have mild side effects from Peppermint, such as a headache or stomach aches. In some cases, Peppermint can cause more severe issues such as allergic reactions and problems with the digestive tract. Younger children should not use peppermint, and it should not be applied directly to the face.

Is Peppermint Good for Your Lungs?

Peppermint can ease respiratory disorders such as cold, cough, throat irritation, and sinus redness. Its soothing and relaxing properties have placed it at the forefront of herbs considered when treating respiratory disorders. Menthol, a compound found in Peppermint, is beneficial for the lungs. Studies have shown that it has been effective against harmful organisms and has antioxidant properties. The menthol in Peppermint slows down the cell growth in bronchial and lung tissues, an effective treatment against pathogens in the respiratory tract. The quality of the leaves determines the quality of the menthol. In the United States, Peppermint typically contains about 70% menthol while also containing vitamins A and C, potassium, copper, niacin, inositol, iodine, iron, sulfur, and silicon.

Peppermint in Native Cultures/Traditional Meaning

Native American cultures use this herb for various uses, from treating colds to heart ailments. The most common use of the plant is as a remedy for indigestion and other stomach troubles. It is also used in a compound infusion or tincture taken orally or applied to the chest for pneumonia. A hot infusion of the leaves and stems can be taken for nausea and indigestion. The leaves are also chewed and swallowed for chest pains and heart ailments. Fresh leaves are put in the nostrils for colds. The dried leaves are also used in teas, either by themselves or with other herbs, to treat vomiting, chills, pains, swellings, headaches, and fevers. Native cultures would make mint tea to help an upset stomach and aid in digestion.

Peppermint and Hemp Cigarettes: Mint Blend

Peppermint is one of the three potent ingredients in Soje’s awakening and cleansing mint blend. By combining Peppermint, Prairie Sage, and regeneratively grown Hemp, smokers are returned to the ancestral lands of the Ioway. The cooling effects of Peppermint combined with restorative Sage and calming CBD, creating a distinctively different native hemp cigarette.