Self Help

Contemporary herbalists recommend peppermint externally for itching and inflammations, and internally as a digestive aid and treatment for menstrual cramps, motion sickness, morning sickness, colds, cough, flu, congestion, headache, heartburn, fever, and insomnia. Some herbalists consider peppermint and spearmint interchangeable.

Spearmint is a perennial that reaches 2 feet and spreads by underground root runners. It has the mint family’s characteristic square stems with wrinkled, lance-shaped, serrated, 2-inch leaves, and flower spikes with whorls of small white, pink, or lilac flowers, which bloom in midsummer.

Peppermint looks like spearmint, except it grows somewhat taller, spreads by surface runners and has longer, less-wrinkled leaves. Mints crossbreed so easily, it’s often impossible to tell what’s sprouting from seeds. The best way to propagate true peppermint or spearmint is to use root cuttings. Any piece of root with a joint or node can produce a plant. Contain your mint bed or plant in containers. In rich, moist, well-drained soil, under full sun or partial shade, spreading mints may become pests.