Organism Interaction
Mentha x piperita can be used in a variety of ways including culinary, medical, and cosmetics. These categories affect humans, therefore; peppermint has a commensal relationship with humans. Commensalism is defined as a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits but the other is neither helped nor harmed. In this case, the human is the organism that is being benefited and the plant is neither helped nor harmed.
CULINARY USES
Peppermint is a common product found in foods, usually
in the
form of oil/extract. The most common types of peppermint foods are
candy canes, gum, and mint ice cream. Peppermint can also be
added into basic cooking. It is also common for
restaurants to add a peppermint leaf as a garnish. This may have
developed from the reasoning of mint helps soothe the digestive
system. For uses of peppermint in food check out
Interesting Facts & Recipes.
MEDICAL USES
Peppermint has a calming and numbing effect, therefore; it has been used to soothe upset stomachs and aid in digestion. Maybe after some further research peppermint will even be able to help reduce stomach ulcers. Some examples of its uses are to treat headaches, skin irritations, anxiety associated with depression, nausea, diarrhea, and menstrual cramps. Peppermint also is a common ingredient in chest rubs to treat common symptoms of the common cold. The Medical Center at the University of Maryland gives some exact uses of peppermint, how to take peppermint, and some precautions to keep in mind when taking peppermint.
COSMETIC USES
Peppermint is typically used as a source of fragrance in cosmetics.