Minthostachys mollis
StarMinthostachys mollis
Synonyms: Mentha mollis
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Muña is a major Andean folk medicine of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, where the aromatic leaves are brewed as a tea taken as a digestive and carminative to relieve stomach and intestinal spasm, flatulence, gastritis and colic, and also used for coughs, colds and bronchitis (Hoffmann, 1992; Macía, 2005). The carminative and antispasmodic reputation is consistent with its menthone- and pulegone-rich essential oil.
Botanical Description
Minthostachys mollis, known across the Andes as muña, is an aromatic perennial shrub or subshrub of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It grows to roughly one to two metres, with woody lower stems and softer, square, hairy upper branches bearing a strong minty, pennyroyal-like scent when crushed. The leaves are small, opposite, ovate to lanceolate, toothed, and densely glandular. Tiny white to pale lilac, two-lipped flowers are clustered in the leaf axils, attracting bees and other insects. The species is native to the high Andean valleys of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, where it grows on rocky slopes, field margins and dry montane scrub at elevations of roughly 2,000 to 3,500 metres. Rich in volatile oils dominated by menthone, pulegone and carvacrol derivatives, it is widely gathered for use as a culinary herb and traditional remedy.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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