Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Middle Eastern & Unani.
Also called Garden mint, Lamb mint, Green mint
Spanish: Hierbabuena
Can lower male hormone levelsSpearmint is a milder mint used as a tea for bloating and, in small studies, for extra facial hair in women.
Did you know? Carvone, the main oil in spearmint, is also used to stop stored potatoes from sprouting.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Women's health. A few small, short trials found spearmint tea lowered male hormone levels in women with extra facial hair.Early proof
- Digestion & gut health. Used for bloating and indigestion, and the support is mostly tradition.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Middle Eastern and European households drank spearmint tea for indigestion, nausea, and upset stomach. It remains a common tea across the Middle East.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Hormone balancer, Antispasmodic. Energy: cooling.
How people take it
Usually steeped as tea. Studies used the tea one or two times a day for days to weeks.
Tea, food and essential oil.
Where to get it
Native to Europe and Asia and widely grown in gardens. Sold as dried leaf, tea bags, and essential oil, and used as a common culinary herb.
Be careful
Generally mild. Its hormone effects are a reason to avoid medicinal amounts in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and to talk with a doctor if you have a hormone condition. Concentrated oil can irritate the mouth and skin.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both mints are used together in tea blends.
- Works well together
Often combined in calming mint teas.
- Works well together
Strawberries with mint is a classic fruit salad pairing.
- Works well together
Moroccan mint tea is green tea brewed with fresh spearmint.
- Works well together
A classic tabbouleh pairing with bulgur, lemon and olive oil.
The honest take
Spearmint tea is a pleasant, low-risk drink, and a few small trials suggest it may lower male hormone levels in some women. Those studies were short, so the real effect on hair growth or PCOS is unknown. Claims about memory or weight loss are not proven.