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Persephone, A Woman Scorned

© T. Darlene Cheek

In Greek mythology, Persephone, the wife of Hades, king of the underworld, discovered that he was in love with a nymph named Menthe. In a jealous rage, she turned the nymph into a plant. Over the ages, her name changed to Menthe, and then to Mint.

From ancient Greece, the story says that two strangers traveling throughout Asia went from home to home, and no one offered them anything to eat. An elderly couple, Philemon and Baucis not only offered them a meal, but as they prepared the table, they rubbed it with mint leaves for cleansing and freshness. As the travelers sat down to eat, the couple discovered that they were in all actuality, Zeus and Hermes, who had set out to "test" mankind. This story has made mint the symbol of hospitality.

In the Bible, Jesus is angered by the Pharisees for demanding tithes on mint. Shakespeare mentions mint in his writing. Mint is said to produce wisdom just by inhaling its scent. In Victorian language, flowers of mint stand for virtue.

The interesting folklore of mint, however, is only a small part of its fame. Mint is an unbeatable healer! Mint is an antispasmodic, an antibiotic, and a perfect incense accompaniment to any healing work. Try rubbing a piece of fresh mint on your skin and you can instantly feel its cooling effects. Wrap mint in a coffee filter, tie it, and toss it into your bath water to feel refreshed and energized. Hang mint from your ceiling to freshen the air in a room. To increase concentration, place two drops of peppermint oil (essential, not cooking variety) on a cloth or handkerchief and inhale. Mint can also be used to deter insects, rodents and pests by placing in a windowsill or around shrubs, in your closets and drawers.

Remedies include:

Indigestion - add 2 tablespoons of mint to warm milk to ease the upset stomach.

Stomach Flu - mix 2 tablespoons dry pepper, 2 tablespoons bruised caraway seed, measure 1 teaspoon into a cup and add boiling water, steep 15 minutes (covered), strain, sweeten with honey.

Nausea - chew mint leaves (peppermint works best).

Heartburn - strong infusion of mint tea.

Liver - take a strong infusion once a day to stimulate the bile and increase liver function.

Cold - make the infusion, adding chamomile.

Menstruation - drinking an infusion will relax your muscles around the uterus and help cramps go away.

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