Growing Mint is easy

Mint is a very nice spice to have in the garden. And i discovered that its very easy to grow them. All I did was buy mint from the market, which is sold as a bunch of stems containing the leaves, some of the stems having roots. I planted the stems in a pot. Within a week's time, small mint leaves have sprung out of the barren stem.

Mint Leaves have the Botanical name of Mentha Sativa and in Tamil, they are known as Pudina, as in most other Indian languages. In addition to its property of spicing up food, Mint is widely known as a medicinal herb.

Medicinal properties

Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicinal system, makes extensive use of the Mint leaves as a medicine. Some of the effects of Mint on the human body are:

• It is a good appetizer
• Causes contraction on skin application and reduces swelling
• It is cooling - refrigerant
• Strengthens the stomach
• It is a diuretic
• It is a stimulant
• Relieves flatulence - carminative
• Relieves spasms
• It is an aphrodisiac
• Restores the normal tone of tissues - tonic
• Promotes the oral ejection of mucus by spitting (Expectorant)
• Found to be effective in the treatment of - Digestive disorders
  - Liver disorders
  - Gall bladder disorders
  - Anorexia
  - Vomiting
  - Poor digestion
  - Bleeding diseases
  - Diarrhea
  
  Preparing mint chutney:
  
  Ingredients:
  
  Mint leaves – 2 bunches
  Black gram (urud dal) – 3 spoons full
  Ginger – 1 small piece
  Ghee – 10 ml
  Pepper – 1
  Rock salt – according to taste
  
  
  Recipe:
  It is usually prepared as chutney. Separate the leaves. Wash and saute them in ghee for two minutes. Along with sauteed black gram, ginger, rock salt, and pepper, put it into a mixer and grind it into a smooth paste. The chutney is ready.
  
  More information is available at: http://www.mintrubbing.org/themintplant.pdf