When I was a kid my mother grew Peppermint in her garden; At the end of every summer I'd cut the herb down to about an inch from the ground (stems and all) and dry it in her oven on a cookie sheet - at the lowest setting, until the herb was dry and crispy. Then, I'd place the herb in a tea tin to be used with regular tea bags (Camellia sinensis) to make a mint flavored tea throughout the winter. I'd make a two quart pitcher of mint tea by adding 7 tea bags and a handful of loose dried mint (7 or 8 mint tea bags will work too) to a quart of boiling water (Of course, in the summer, I'd use a handful of fresh mint) and removing the pot from the burner - covering with a lid and allowing this to steep for 30 minutes; At that point I'd pour the hot tea into a two quart pitcher contaning ice from 2 or 3 ice trays and top off with cold water and refrigerate until desired. My favorite way to drink mint tea was to put two teaspoons of sugar in a glass with ice and pour mint tea over the ice filling the glass. This is a beverage tea. Medicinal tea is made somewhat differently. Peppermint is water soluable, so, alcoholic tinctures and oil extracts are not the preferred methods.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a problem that affects the large intestine. It can cause abdominal cramping, bloating and a change in bowel habits. Some people with the disorder have constipation. Some have diarrhea. Some go back and forth between constipation and diarrhea. Although IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort, it does not harm the intestines.
IBS is a common disorder and happens more often in women than men. No one knows the exact cause of IBS. There is no specific test for IBS. However, your doctor may run tests to be sure you don't have other diseases. These tests may include stool sampling tests, blood tests and x-rays. Your doctor may also do a test called a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Most people diagnosed with IBS can control their symptoms with diet, stress management and medicine.
