Spearmint - Mentha spicata

I had thought that I would follow each Astrological Blog with a blog on the oil that is considered to be the signature oil for that sign but as it turns out I have already written a blog on Geranium on June 4, 2008 , (scroll down the page) I had to choose a different oil. The oil I have chosen is Spearmint.

There are many different varieties of plants belonging to the genus Mentha, with peppermint and spearmint being the best known. While there are some similarities between the two oils they are also different. Some authorities suggest that spearmint might be a better choice for children than peppermint, however when looking at the chemical profile of the oil I ask myself whether this is in fact correct. Certainly aromatically spearmint is more gentle in aroma than peppermint, however when looking at their chemical profiles:

Peppermint: 6% Esters; 30% Ketones; 6% sesquiterpenes; 7% Oxides; 6% Monoterpenes and 42% alcohols
Spearmint: 3.5% Esters; 55% Ketones; 3% Sesquiterpenes: 2% Oxides; 12% Monoterpene and 22% Alcohols.

one sees that spearmint has a larger ketone content than peppermint which would indicate to me that the same cautions should be used when applying either oil to children and that perhaps peppermint might be a better choice for children after all.

The genus name is said to have been derived from Greek mythology. There are two different legends around this: the first being that Hades, the god of the Underworld seduced the nymph Minthe so in her jealousy, his queen Sephony turned her into a plant, mint; the second was that Minthe was a numph beloved by Pluto, who transformed her into the scented herb after his jealous wife took umbrage.

Spearmint, also known as English Mint, is a hardy perennial herb with bright green, lance-shaped leaves; pink or lilac-colored flowers and spreads quickly via underground runners. It flowers from July through August producing pale purple, aromatic flowers that are arranged in loose, cylindrical, terminal spikes. It is these flowers that give Spearmint the rest of its Latin name spicata (i.e. bearing a spike).

Mint has been cultivated for its medicinal properties since ancient times and has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1000BC. The Japanese have been growing it to obtain menthol for at least 2,000 years. In the Bible the Pharisees collected tithes in mint, dill and cumin. Charlemagne, apparently was very keen on herbs and ordered people to grow it. The Romans brought it with them as they marched through Europe and into Britain. They apparently added it to them milk to prevent it from curdling. In Athens it is said to have been used to perfume the underarms. The herb mint is best used fresh, although it can easily be dried, frozen or preserved in oil or vinegar. Mint leaves can also be crystallized. There are several recipes for this in my e-book
Aromatic Gifts for all ages and for all seasons.

On a subtle level, Spearmint helps establish integrity. It also aids one to take responsibility for one’s actions and decisions and be true to one’s feelings.

Avoid in pregnancy and with young children.Generally considered to be non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.