Mint savory is also known as Calamint, Large-flowered calamint, Mountain balm, Showy savory, and Showy calming, is a perennial aromatic plant having showy purple flowers. Calamintha grandiflora is distributed in Europe, Central Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean region, North Africa and America. It is represented by nine species and 12 taxa, five being endemic to Turkey. It is used as folk medicine in Turkey as Güzel Nane, Miskotu, Tıbbi Miskotu, Dağ Nanesi, Yabani Oğulot. The species are used as antispasmodic, stimulant, digestive, emenagogue, diaphoretic, antiseptic, and strengthening the central nervous system. It is used for treating throat and stomach aches and kidney disorders.
It is a perennial plant that grows 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8 in) with broadly ovate, subentire, obtuse, or shallowly deeply crenate-serrate leaves that are very fragrant when crushed. Leaves have nine teeth on each side. Usually, the plant forms dense foliage on rocky sites, abandoned places, and dry meadows.
The plant bloom flowers from July to September and seeds ripen from September to October. Species are hermaphrodite and is pollinated by insects and bees. The plant prefers well-drained soil. It grows in semi-shade or no shade. It also prefers dry or moist soil and tolerates drought. It is tubular, tiny, two-lipped, lilac to white flowers that appear in axillary spikes. The calyx is sparse to densely puberulent or pubescent and about 3-7 × 1-2 mm in diameter. The plant is found in South, South-Central, and Western Europe, northwards to East England.
Medicinal uses
- The plant is digestive, febrifuge, expectorant, aromatic and diaphoretic.
- Infusion of flowers is used for flatulent colic and weaknesses of the stomach. Also it is used for insomnia, depression and painful menstruation.
- An infusion made from leaves is used for treating nervous complaints, jaundice, cramps and convulsions.
- Apply the warm poultice of leaves to soothe bruises and rheumatic pains.
Culinary uses
- Add the leaves in soup.
- Use the leaves to make herb tea.
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