It is a medicinal plant with a sharp pleasant taste. Mentha piperita is native to England, further it was imported to the countries of Asia and America. It blooms and fruits from the end of June till September. Rhizomes and leaves of the plant are provided for medicinal purposes.The plant contains ethereal oil consisting of menthol, menthone, pinene, limonene, cineol, dipentene, pulegon, vitamin C, carotene, rutin and other organic acids, tannic substances. Betanene, hesperidin, trace elements. Ethereal oils of Mentha piperita is used in medicine, the perfumery- cosmetics industry, confectionary and liqueur-vodka industries. In medical practice menthol is mostly used. The plant as a medicine is of great service in the treatment of pains in the heart, affections of the stomach and the bowels, colitis, enterocolitis. Oill of peppermint is applied in affections of the liver and the gallbladder. Peppermint tea is useful in insomnia to normalize sleep and a nervine.
