If you have irritable bowel syndrome, a syndrome that doctors mostly find difficult to treat, why not begin with a remedy that is organic and usually reliable, not to point out a whole lot less expensive than doctor prescribed medication? Brew yourself a glass of peppermint tea to enjoy the best of peppermint herbal tea benefits.

Peppermint tea is an age-old cure for many types of stomach pain. In Europe, where some insurance plans pay for herbal teas as well as for typical medications, peppermint tea was put to clinical screening. There is a significant body of scientific research that finds it is good for minor stomach ache, stomach gas, and loose bowel movement. It's better to know what you are dealing with, however, since stomach ache is a sign of many different conditions, several of them requiring immediate medical attention. Although if you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), even your doctor will advise peppermint tea.

Like many other herbs, peppermint is helpful in moderation and dangerous in excess. The tannins inside the tea intervene with absorption of iron from food, which is a useful thing if you have hemochromatosis (iron overload disease) and a bad thing if you have iron-deficiency anemia. Men who consume very large amounts of peppermint tea (a gallon a day or so) can experience lowered testosterone levels. Women who use peppermint tea as a douche can suffer from contact dermatitis.

You could wash a minor skin with warm (not hot) peppermint tea as an added amount of protection towards several kinds of skin infections, including MRSA, but the essential oils in peppermint tea are too much inside the body - don't place it in your neti pot. Peppermint tea is meant to be consumed, and about 5 cups (1.2 liters) daily is all your digestive tract requires.

Peppermint herbal tea benefits are additionally found in lemon balm (melissa), chamomile, and star anise teas. Considering that all of these herbs work through their essential oils, you do not want to boil the herb in the process of making your tea. Preparing peppermint tea with boiling water boils the essential oils away. Put almost-boiling water in a covered teapot or teacup, and let to brew for 3 to 5 minutes. Drink warm, not hot.

One other way to get the benefits of peppermint for intestinal problems is to take enteric-coated capsules of peppermint oil. These capsules only dissolve as soon as they reach the small intestine, saving their volatile oils for optimum effect against irritable bowel syndrome or duodenal ulcers. When it is not practical to make tea, consider capsules as a great way to get relief of IBS or ulcers.