Why mint is called a woman's plant and why it's dangerous for men (5 photos)

Mint has been used in folk medicine since time immemorial. This plant is very popular among herbalists and healers and has dozens of uses. It is brewed as a sedative, for insomnia, as a pain reliever, including for headaches. It normalizes heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and improves digestion. Mint also has anti-inflammatory properties. However, men were advised against consuming this herb centuries ago. Recently, Turkish scientists have uncovered the secret of mint and the mechanism behind its negative effects on men.





Among the many types of mint known to modern man, peppermint (Méntha piperíta) is considered the most beneficial and therefore the most sought after. This plant is a veritable treasure trove of vitamins, trace elements, and other essential nutrients.



Scientists have discovered that mint contains vitamins A, B, C, PP, folate, flavonoids, trace elements, including iron, zinc, manganese, copper, and macronutrients, including sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. The plant also contains dietary fiber, saturated fatty acids, essential oils, and other less essential nutrients.

Mint is especially prized by older people—brewing tea with its leaves improves sleep, promoting sound and healthy sleep. Some go even further and hang a bag of dried mint leaves at the head of their bed, so that the minty aroma calms the nerves and helps them fall asleep faster.

Even in ancient times, peppermint was called a woman's plant, and many people believed it helped them become more feminine. It's hard to say how people grasped the essence of mint without high technology, but research by Turkish scientists has fully confirmed its benefits for women and... its dangers for men.





First, the researchers studied the chemical composition of mint in detail, and then conducted an experiment on volunteers. Several dozen women with elevated levels of the male hormone testosterone were selected for the experiment. They were asked to drink several cups of mint tea daily for a period of time, while their hormone levels were monitored.

All the participants in the experiment experienced a decrease in testosterone, and some, who had problems with body hair due to hormonal issues, experienced a decrease in hair growth. It turns out that mint has a negative effect on masculinity. To test their Turkish colleagues' discovery, biologists from the United States conducted their own experiment, this time on rats.

The animals were given mint tea instead of water, which resulted in decreased testosterone levels in the males. The scientists didn't stop there and experienced even more serious consequences: several test animals developed irreversible changes in the testicles, rendering them infertile.



Studies on the properties of mint have also been conducted in our country. Specialists at the Institute of Reproductive Medicine are convinced that mint can reduce potency and generally have a detrimental effect on a man's libido. It's not just the plant's calming effect, but also its impact on testosterone production. Mint also negatively impacts sperm motility—even one cup of the drink can have this temporary effect.

American biologists believe that mint tea lovers can be identified by their appearance. Men who overindulge in mint tend to have rounder figures and are almost never hairy. However, for such signs to appear, you'd have to be a long-time mint drinker and brew strong tea several times a day.



But all this doesn't mean men should completely eliminate mint from their diets. In moderation, it remains beneficial, and there's no need to deny yourself the pleasure of drinking aromatic mint tea every few days. However, if you overindulge, you can even get poisoned by bergamot tea, as one Austrian did.