Peppermint oil is under preliminary research for its potential as a short-term treatment for irritable bowel syndrome,[40][41] and has supposed uses in traditional medicine for minor ailments.[42][43] Peppermint oil and leaves have a cooling effect when used topically for muscle pain, nerve pain, relief from itching, or as a fragrance.[43][44] High oral doses of peppermint oil (500 mg) can cause mucosal irritation and mimic heartburn.[43][44] As an aroma, peppermint may have memory- and alertness-enhancing properties.[43][45]
Mint [N] [S]
(Gr. heduosmon, i.e., “having a sweet smell”), one of the garden herbs of which the Pharisees paid tithes ( Matthew 23:23 ; Luke 11:42 ). It belongs to the labiate family of plants. The species most common in Syria is the Mentha sylvestris, the wild mint, which grows much larger than the garden mint (M. sativa). It was much used in domestic economy as a condiment, and also as a medicine. The paying of tithes of mint was in accordance with the Mosiac law ( Deuteronomy 14:22 ), but the error of the Pharisees lay in their being more careful about this little matter of the mint than about weightier matters.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 King James Version (KJV)
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Christ tells the Pharisees that they only pay taxes with their herbs, because it looks good on them. They really do not care if the herbs covers the needs of God’s priests or not. Christ rebukes them for concentrating on keeping God’s people in their place, restricting them, and keeping them in bondage. Especially since Jesus came to give them freedom.
