A cross between watermint and spearmint, peppermint has been used as a health leaf for thousands of years in Europe and Asia.

Peppermint leaves contain several essential oils; including menthol, menthone and limonene. Dynamic in flavour, peppermint also contains iron, folate, vitamin A, maganese and antioxidants.

To be honest, we're not sure we have enough space to speak of all the potential peppermint benfits here... so we'll just mention the top winners. Starting with the digestion, gas, bloating, abdominal pain and indigestion. Peppermint oils have been linked to helping ease Irratble Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Some studies also link peppermint with easing tension headaches and migraines.

Fresh breath. Dahhh. Every fresh breath mouth wash, toothpaste or chewing gum links fresh breath to spearmint and peppermint. Whilst spearmint has a toothpaste smell and undertone of flavour, peppermint is it's sweeter and more popular tea relative.

Additionally, studies indicate that peppermint reduces several types of bacteria commonly found in your mouth. Peppermint is a natural breath freshener!

Sinus issues have also been reported to be cleared through the use of peppermint. This is due to peppermint having antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. A component of peppermint, menthol, has been found to clear the perception of airways. Therefore, steamed peppermint tea may have sinus relieving benefits.

In one study, 24 healthy young people experienced less fatigue during a cognitive test when given peppermint oil capsules. Whilst this particular study was using the peppermint oil and not the tea, linkages have been made to the energetic properties of this herb and reduction of afternoon fatigue.

Caffeine free, Peppermint tea is an ideal choice before bed. Some studies show that peppermint tea may aid in sleep due to it's potentially muscle relaxation properties.

Calorie free, whilst no peppermint tea studies show signs of weight loss, peppermint oil has been linked to reduced appetite in some studies.

Peppermint contains rosmarinic acid, a plant compound found in rosemary and plants in the mint family. Rosmarinic acid is linked to reduced symptoms of allergic reactions, such as runny nose, itchy eyes and asthma.

Want to sharpen your senses? Two small studies have researched peppermint oil for cognition, finding that participants performed better on cognitive tests when given peppermint oil. Another found that simply smelling peppermint oil was found to improve mental alertness and memory, comapred with ylang-ylang; another essential oil.

To learn more, please review studies directly or via this link.