Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), fam. Lamiaceae.
   Grows in the forest, in very wet places (often straight from the water). It blooms with pink capitate inflorescences, and its leaves have distinctive smell, familiar to everyone.
   The beneficial properties of mint are based on high content of essential oils, vitamins and minerals in it. Any greens outperform most other products by concentration of these indispensable substances. And mint (as well as its relative, the garden basil) is, in turn, one of the best representatives of this food group. Mint is included into most sedative herbal remedies. Unfortunately, sometimes this has negative effect – this property of mint can be a little harmful for people with hypotension or already feeling lack of energy. Besides, bitterish taste does not allow to consume this plant in great quantities, anyway.
   Menthol, the essential oil of mint, has spasmolytic, antiseptic and light vasodilating, choleretic action.

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