Herb spotlight: Peppermint properties, uses, and lore
Peppermint is one of the best known mint varieties, featured in everything from holiday desserts and treats to teas and yes, even our Halloween (Samhain), Christmas (Yule), and Imbolc collections.
If you are planting peppermint, it is wise to plant it in a container, as, if allowed to grow freely, it will take over your entire yard. Bonus: spiders don't like peppermint, so I like to keep a bottle of peppermint and lavender essential oils diluted in some witch hazel on hand to keep the spiders away. Yes, I am the rare highly arachnophobic witch.Peppermint has been used in many healing and love spells for centuries. It also raises the vibration in a space, making it excellent for purification rituals. Place some peppermint under your pillow to help you have prophetic dreams. Add some peppermint leaves or a couple drops of peppermint essential oil to your mop water to help cleanse any negative energy while you are doing mundane housework. Add some peppermint to any workings for love.
Peppermint should not be used on children under the age of 3, as it can inhibit breathing in little ones. Peppermint should always be properly diluted before applying it topically, and peppermint essential oil should never be ingested. It is helpful to remember that one drop of peppermint essential oil contains the same plant material as 26 cups of peppermint tea. Peppermint may be toxic when consumed in large quantities, so use it with caution.
Peppermint can help open your third eye, making any divination you do more powerful. Peppermint is also used frequently in money drawing spells because it is so proliferate.
Bonus fun fact: peppermint may help ADHD because it is so good at improving focus. It can also aid digestion.