Healthy life : Peppermint Oil Guide

Healthy Life : Peppermint oil is derived from the M.Balsamea, or otherwise known as the peppermint plant. Like all essential oils, distillation is required to harvest these liquids. M.Balsamea is a naturally occurring hybrid plant between the Spearmint and the Watermint plant. Originally though to be a distinct species when it was first found in the eighteen hundreds, further tests pointed it out be an actual hybrid. While they were originally found only in Europe, it has been introduced to many regions throughout the world as it has become a major cash crop. It is somewhat of a short plant with a maximum height of about twenty nine inches. It reproduces via vegetative reproduction as most peppermint plants in the wild are sterile.

Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction that is available to some plants. They are almost always found in areas with an abundance of water. As such, they are normally found along the sides of rivers and even drains. They can also be classified as a weed as they are very durable plants that reproduce very quickly in the wild. It is rich in vitamins A, B and C along with a few essential minerals such as Iron and Magnesium. Traditionally, it was harvested for medicinal purposes but it has since emerged in many other industries such as the cosmetics and health care industries. Because peppermint oil has a high amount of menthol, breathing in the scent can promote focus and help in memory functions. Some students use the scent during exam preparations because of this.