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Mentha aquatica

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Mentha, Mint

Mentha aquatica (water mint; syn. Mentha hirsuta Huds.) is a perennial flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It grows in moist places and is native to much of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.

Uses

Anodyne, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Emetic, Refrigerant.

Parts Used

Leaves.

Chemical Composition

The main substances identified were: menthofuran (51.26 to 58.59%), limonene (5.94 to 12.06%), trans-β-ocimene (5.59 to 6.10%), ledol (3.01 to 4.06%) and β- caryophyllene (2.923 to 3.557%). Key words: Mentha aquatica, phenophases, essential oil, menthofuran.[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada
Hindi
Malayalam
Tamil
Telugu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit
English Water Mint


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Water mint leaves are thick, ovate with serrated edges. They can be totally green to having purple edges and veins; and can be hairy or smooth. They grow opposite and they are almost glabrous.

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 5 mm (0.2”) long Pink to lilac clusters The corolla is slightly zygomorphic, it measures about 5 mm (0.2”) long, and is 4-lobed. The calyx is narrowly campanulate, 5-lobed, grooved, and 13-veined. It has four stamens almost of even length, yet longer than the corolla. Water mint flowers in mid to late summer.


Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Plant Mentha aquatica along the edges of bodies of water or in shallow water. The plant prefers slightly acidic soil in moist loam. Watermint plants do best in full sun but can also thrive in partial shade.[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tall grasslands, Meadows, Borders of forests and fields.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links