Spearmint is a plant that belongs to the same family as peppermint. It is native to Europe and Southwest Asia. Spearmint has a plethora of pharmaceutical and culinary uses.

In cooking, spearmint is added in salads, in spice mixes for meatballs, in lemonades and in various dressings.

Pharmaceutically, spearmint has a big list of uses. It is mainly prepared as a herbal tea for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can help relieve colicky babies and relieve from gas, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Due to its action against vomiting, spearmint is commonly used by pregnant women when they experience morning sickness. Spearmint is a strong diuretic and perspirant and has a positive effect on the nervous system, helping against headaches, migraines, rapid heartbeat and insomnia.

We can either prepare spearmint as a decoction, by simmering a few dry leaves on a cup of water, or as an infusion, by adding a teaspoon of the herb in a cup of hot water and letting it sit for thirty minutes.