Pregnant women often hear recommendations to consume as many natural products as possible. Many just at this period of life begin to join traditional medicine, so as not to harm the unborn baby with potent pharmaceuticals. However, it should be remembered that pregnancy is a time when a woman must be extra careful in the use of natural remedies. Not only traditional medicine, but also doctors sometimes advise pregnant women to use mint as a remedy for nausea or a mild natural sedative. However, there are also opposite tips, up to a ban on this product. Let's try to understand the intricacies of using mint during pregnancy. An ancient medicinal herb

Mint (lat. Méntha) is the common name of a genus of plants belonging to the mint family. Mint has been known to man since ancient times. To date, the range of its application is quite wide. Thanks to the essential oils, tannins, phellandrenes, flavonoids, bitterness and other elements contained in this plant, mint is used in perfumery, cosmetology, cooking, traditional medicine and modern pharmacology.

The medicinal properties of mint are diverse:
It helps with various digestive disorders such as flatulence, colic, stomach cramps, diarrhea and constipation.
Mint has a good antiemetic effect, so it is recommended to use it to combat nausea.
For colds, mint is used as an antiseptic and expectorant.
Peppermint is an excellent natural remedy for headaches due to its anti-spasmodic and vasodilating effects.
In addition to the above, this herb is an excellent natural sedative.
Peppermint and other varieties

To date, 25 varieties of this plant have been identified and described, only a few of which are cultivated and used by humans. Consider the most famous types:

Peppermint. Most often, this type of mint is used for medicinal purposes (both in traditional medicine and in pharmacology), and it is also cultivated on an industrial scale for the production of medicines and food supplements. This mint is used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract. Due to its antiseptic properties, it is indispensable for colds, and due to its ability to lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, it is often used for headaches.
It is this mint that can be bought in almost every pharmacy. This is due to the biologically active substances contained in its leaves and flowers and a large amount of essential oil.

Field (wild) mint. This is one of the most common species that can be found in the wild. It is used due to the high content of menthol as a spice in cooking. In addition, its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties allow the infusion to be used as a natural remedy.
Cat mint. A species with a low content of essential oils relative to other types of mint. However, due to its pronounced lemon flavor, it is used in cooking. In folk medicine, it is used for bronchitis and anemia, and also as an appetite enhancer.
Catnip owes its unusual name to its stimulating effect on the felines.

Lemon mint, or lemon balm. It has a delicate aroma, has an immunomodulatory, antiviral and antibacterial effect, which allows it to be used for colds and viral diseases along with peppermint.
Melissa, like peppermint, is sold in pharmacies, is officially considered a medicine and is provided with medical instructions for use. Toxicosis of the first trimester and other indications for prescribing mint to a pregnant woman

The list of indications for the appointment of mint infusion during pregnancy is quite extensive:

Toxicosis. Perhaps, the almost universal problem of women during the period of expectation of a baby is nausea and vomiting in the early stages, and here mint can become an indispensable tool. Peppermint tea or mint lozenges can soothe nausea. In addition, mint neutralizes the effects of toxins, helping to survive this unpleasant period.
Buy mints or mints at the pharmacy. Try not to buy candies with menthol in the confectionery departments: they are most likely based on artificial flavoring.

Digestive problems. Unfortunately, nausea is not the only unpleasant companion of pregnancy. Enough often a woman in an interesting position is tormented by flatulence, abdominal pain, heartburn, acidity disorder. The use of infusion (not to be confused with a tincture that has an alcohol base!) mint leaves helps to normalize the digestive tract and overcome discomfort.
Alcohol tincture on mint for expectant mothers is categorically contraindicated for ingestion.

Decreased immunity. Hormonal changes that begin with the onset of pregnancy can undermine the immunity of the expectant mother. Due to its tonic properties, mint tea can be a preventive measure, especially in the off-season.
Cold. If, nevertheless, it was not possible to avoid a cold, you will have to think about mild but reliable ways to treat it, because taking many potent drugs and antibiotics during this period has a number of restrictions. To combat a cold, a doctor can prescribe an infusion of mint leaves to the patient, both for oral administration and for inhalation, which alleviate the condition of the respiratory organs. For sore throats, rinsing with mint infusion is recommended.
If your doctor has allowed you warm steam inhalation, you need to add 1 drop of peppermint essential oil to hot water and breathe in the steam. It is important to remember that the duration of the procedure should not exceed 5 minutes.

Headache. For headaches, it is recommended to make compresses from fresh crushed mint leaves, moisten the cloth with infusion and put on the forehead, or inhale the aroma of mint oil by adding 1-2 drops to the aroma lamp.
For migraines, a compress on the forehead with the addition of 2-3 drops of peppermint oil helps.

Skin problems. Often, hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause skin problems. For local treatment of skin inflammation, ground fresh mint leaves wrapped in gauze are used, as they have the ability to relieve itching and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
In addition, it is possible to enrich finished cosmetics with mint essential oil. Recommended dosage: 1-2 drops of oil per 10 ml of base oil.

High blood pressure. Due to its ability to dilate blood vessels, mint lowers blood pressure, so drinking an infusion of its leaves helps to naturally cope with this problem.
Anxiety and stress. Expectant mothers are advised to be as nervous as possible so as not to harm the baby. However, hormonal changes, preparation for the appearance of a new family member, the fear of childbirth can quite shake the nerves. And here mint tea will come to the rescue, which has a mild calming effect and uplifting with its fresh aroma alone.
A warm bath with peppermint oil can also have a relaxing effect. To take a bath, you will need to mix 3 drops of essential oil with a small amount of milk and pour this solution into the bathing water.

Contraindications and possible harmful effects on pregnancy

As you can see, the range of application of mint is quite wide. It should be noted that in the instructions for the medical use of peppermint, only its individual intolerance is indicated as contraindications. However, mint has a number of rather serious contraindications during pregnancy:

Low pressure. If the blood pressure of a pregnant woman is already below the normal level, she should not use mint, so as not to lower it to a critically low level.
Phlebeurysm. Many women experience this problem during pregnancy. Information available to date on the use of mint in this condition is conflicting. Some sources recommend limiting the use of mint if a woman is faced with the problem of inflammation of the veins, because the substances contained in this plant can cause exacerbations. Other sources offer recipes for curing varicose veins with the help of infusions of mint leaves.
We can definitely say that a pregnant woman should not self-medicate with prescriptions from the Internet. Faced with the problem of varicose veins, you should first consult with a specialist.

Allergy. The menthol contained in mint can be quite a strong allergen. It is usually recommended during pregnancy to limit the use of substances that can potentially cause allergies. As is the case with all allergens, the reaction to menthol is individual, if a woman in a position is aware of her tendency to allergies, she should be careful with the use of mint.
Suppression of lactation. Some studies indicate that mint reduces milk production. Therefore, one should not get too carried away with her in the last stages of pregnancy, so that in the future there will be no problems with breastfeeding. feeding.
Tone of the uterus. One of the most common contraindications to the use of mint during pregnancy is its ability to cause uterine contractions. It's all about the high content of phytoestrogens - substances that act on cells like the hormone estrogen, which is produced in the body of every woman. An increase in the level of estrogen in the blood increases the tone of the uterus, so it is recommended to limit the consumption of mint in the early stages, when there is a high probability of miscarriage, as well as in the later stages, so as not to provoke preterm labor.
Potential hazard early and late

In what form can mint be used, and in what form not?

fragrant green leaves

A future mother can simply chew fresh mint to relieve an attack of nausea, add it to salads, drinks, desserts and even pastries. First, the grass should be washed and dried. The main thing - you can not use fresh mint in bunches, most likely, the doctor will advise you to limit yourself to 3-4 leaves per day.

If you grind the leaves in a blender bowl, they will give the dish more flavor.

The pleasure of drinking aromatic tea

Often, in order to establish a drinking regimen during pregnancy,