It’s the Winter Holiday season, closely associated with the wonderful healing herb, peppermint. Here’s a bit about peppermint’s history to reawaken your curiosity about this wonderfully powerful yet gentle healing herb.

Mint is the world’s most familiar scent. Archeological evidence shows peppermint/mint was being used as far back as 10,000 years ago. The Ancient Egyptians wrote about it in a medical text dating back to 1550 BC, where mints were listed as calming to stomach pains. It was so valuable in Egypt that it was used as a form of currency.

Peppermint is an excellent digestive herb. As good or better than Western drugs for treating IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). It also helps treat the colds and flu that can be common this time of year.

Did you know…

Smith Kendon is the person who created the breath fresheners called Altoids in 1780 to relieve intestinal discomfort?

Or that in 1927, Eduard Haas, of Vienna, invented peppermint Pez candy and its original dispenser?

Legend says that Christmas holiday candy canes date back to 1670 when a German choirmaster handed out sugar sticks to his young singers to keep them quiet during the Living Creche ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he bent the candies into shepherds’ crooks.

Peppermint is easy to grow and has a wide range of healing applications. Find out how to better make use of Peppermintand peppermint oil to heal, calm, and improve your focus.