Mentha citrata/Orange Mint

pH 5.9–6.0

Aroma and Taste Light, refreshing, delicately minty but not overpowering. The taste is lightly citrus, very fresh, and you can see why the French call it bergamot mint; it has overtones of Earl Grey tea, which is flavored with bergamot. The citrus note greatly quenches the mint notes and makes this a good option for those not overly keen on peppermint- or spearmint-type flavors.

Stability and Shelf Life Moderately stable; fourteen to sixteen months, depending on source. Slightly more stable than peppermint hydrosol.

Properties and Applications Great for stress states, it balances and calms while focusing the mind. Take it to the office on those bad days and your colleagues will wonder what your trick is. A general system tonic, it has little effect on the digestion, although it seems to allay hunger somewhat.

In skin care it is cooling, brightening, and clarifying, with a very neutral pH. Can be used to revitalize all skin types and is particularly good for tired or stressed skin conditions.

Mentha piperita/Peppermint

pH 6.1–6.3

Aroma and Taste The aroma of freshly crushed peppermint leaves. Pungent, cool, and refreshing but significantly less intense than the essential oil. Undiluted, the flavor is very strong, but diluted it becomes softer, like a good herbal tea.

Stability and Shelf Life Unstable. Peppermint has a shelf life of around twelve months, even under perfect conditions. Although it will occasionally last longer, it is quite fragile, and I always get rid of the old crop when the new distillation comes into stock. It is one of those oddities that peppermint is considered an antioxidant, yet the hydrosol oxidizes quite rapidly. Indications are that this is a function of the high pH and the high rH₂ (electro-conductivity) factors in combination.

Properties and Applications Peppermint is most famous for its digestive, anti-inflammatory, and mind-stimulating properties. Although the essential oil must be used in low doses only, the hydrosol is problem-free, although I still consider it contraindicated for children under three years of age.

A digestive par excellence, peppermint is useful for treating colic, bloat, heartburn or reflux, and indigestion of all kinds. Try it also if you suffer from Crohn’s disease, colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome, as it has provided significant relief to a number of people suffering from these conditions. It can be combined with basil hydrosol for increased antispasmodic effects and for ending the alternating diarrhea/constipation cycle. Peppermint is an effective digestive tract cleanser, having mild antibacterial and anti-fermentative properties, and is the hydrosol to drink, combined with Roman chamomile, during a parasite cleanse. Take sixty milliliters of peppermint combined with Roman chamomile diluted in one liter of water per day when treating parasites. Take small sips of a 50:50 dilution to combat motion sickness and nausea.

A three-week treatment of plain peppermint will do wonders for bad breath or acneic skin by detoxifying both the liver and the colon. Acne that is very red and irritated can be compressed topically with neat hydrosol; use twice daily while doing the internal treatment. Topically it combats itching and burning, providing fast relief for allergic reactions, bites, and stings, and makes a good douche or wash for genital irritation or itching in men and women.

Anti-inflammatory both topically and internally, peppermint can be used in hydrotherapy treatments for stiff muscles, aches and pains, shin splints, sprains, and strains. Added to hot water it will have a cooling effect; added to cold water it will have a heating effect. Alternating the two types of compresses is a most dramatic and profound treatment. It is recommended in France to spritz it on the décolleté as a toner for the bustline, and it is even more effective combined with black spruce hydrosol; the effect is uplifting, to say the least!

Mentally stimulating, peppermint is the wake-up water. Drink it in the morning to get your whole body going, including to the bathroom. Combine it with rosemary CT cineole to replace coffee. Spritz it on the face to revive during hot weather or when tired, or use it to soothe hot flashes. Students and businesspeople will find this an effective aid for concentration when studying or writing, as it calms and cools the nerves while stimulating the brain.

I have had a few reports of very odd effects when peppermint hydrosol was combined with alcohol or recreational drugs. It seems to markedly heighten the effects of these other stimulants, and caution should be exercised if you are inclined to experiments of this nature.

Slightly sweet, the hydrosol can be used as a sugar replacement. Try it in cooking, in ice cubes, or as a delicious beverage hot or cold. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) can be used in similar ways and has a 5.8 pH.

AVOID with children less than three years old.