Mentha arvensis, commonly known as wild mint or corn mint, is a perennial flowering plant that’s native to Europe, parts of North Asia and the Himalayas. Despite their minty, slightly bitter taste, wild mint leaves are often used in salads and cooked foods, as well as to make herbal tea. Meanwhile, the essential oil isolated from wild mint leaves are widely used to flavor sweets and beverages.
Wild mint leaves and essential oil are also traditionally used as natural medicines. The former is said to be a great remedy for liver inflammation, peptic ulcer, diarrhea, bronchitis, jaundice and skin diseases, while the latter is often used as an antiseptic. Because of the reported antioxidant activity of wild mint, Indian researchers decided to investigate if it also has antidiabetic properties.
Rosa damascena) is a flowering plant widely known for its heady fragrance and many uses. Rose oil, also called the “attar of roses,” is used to flavor food and make rose water, which is used today to remedy skin irritation and redness, sore throat, infections and headaches. Meanwhile, recent studies have found that Damask rose essential oil has antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic and anxiolytic properties.
In a recent study, Iranian researchers assessed the effects of aromatherapy using Damask rose essential oil on the pain and anxiety felt by nulliparous women, or first-time mothers-to-be, during the first stage of labor. The first stage is characterized by irregular uterine contractions and the dilation of the cervix.