PEPPERMINT
Peppermint’s origin is a mystery, but it has been in existence for a long time—dried leaves were found in Egyptian pyramids dating from around 1000 BC It was highly valued by the Greeks and Romans, but only became popular in Western Europe in the 18th century.
Volatile oil of peppermint is strongly antibacterial. Menthol (a constituent of the oil) is antiseptic, antifungal, cooling, and anesthetic to the skin. Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint (M. aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata), which have similar, though milder, therapeutic properties.