I have been doing a lot of research on the relationship between Peppermint tea and UTI. other herbal teas especially mint teas are also similar to the peppermint tea in their relationship to the UTI.
but I wouldn’t say that they are the same because there are some differences here and there between them. so stay tuned in this article as I am gonna let you know what I have discovered about the Peppermint tea and the UTI.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) can be very discomforting. It can also affect anyone at any time. Its symptoms can be severe and painful.
You may have heard of different home remedies to relieve the symptoms or to treat the infection.
Water has been recommended to help flush the bacteria out of the body. Fruits and fruit juices like orange and cranberry can boost the immune system and reduce the risk of UTIs.
Apple cider vinegar and ginger tea, because of their antibacterial properties, have also been recommended as home remedies for UTIs.
These home remedies are natural with unique properties that benefit the health of the urinary tract.
But if one were to pick one natural home remedy that will boost the immune system, relieve symptoms of UTI, and fight off bacteria, peppermint tea should be the choice.
Peppermint tea is one of the most widely consumed herbal teas with a wide range of health benefits.
The tea is an infusion of the aromatic herb, Mentha piperita L. – a sterile hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). Peppermint though originally grown in Europe is now grown all around the world.
To make a teabag, the plant’s leaves are harvested and dried, then crushed before packaging into tea bags.
The tea is easily brewed by infusing the loose leaf or tea bags in a mug.
It leaves a refreshing taste in the mouth of the drinker and also exudes a soothing and relaxing effect.
Its relaxing effect makes it attractive for clearing sinuses and relieving gastrointestinal ailments.
Peppermint tea has also been commonly recommended for relief of pain and also as a health tonic for the wellness of body and mind.
The bioactivity of peppermint has been widely researched.
A number of studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial, analgesic, anesthetic, antioxidant, and gastrointestinal relaxing effect
(1). Peppermint has also shown antitumor and antiallergic activity potential. check out the price of peppermint tea on amazon.
Peppermint is loaded with numerous compounds- volatile and non-volatile that exert different effects in the body.
peppermint leaves contain two major compounds groups. these two compound groups are the volatile compounds and the polyphenolic nonvolatile compounds.
not all of the compounds in the peppermint leaves will remain in the tea after the boiling and the infusion process.
so On infusion of the leaves, about 21% of its volatile constituents and about 75% of its non-volatile polyphenolic constituents are extracted
(2). Menthol and menthone are the main volatile compounds found in the leaves and they are responsible for most of the tea’s health benefits.
Peppermint herb contains vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C. A cup of infused peppermint tea contains up to 6mg of vitamins with antioxidant properties
Peppermint tea is also an excellent source of phenolic compounds as mentioned earlier.
Peppermint leaves contain phenolic flavonoids and acids such as rosmarinic acid, eriocitrin, luteolin, and hesperidin.
these phenolic compounds have great benefits for the people who suffer from UTI as we will see in this article.
these phenolic compounds are divided into phenolic acids and phenolic flavonoids.
An infused tea bag (2 g) of peppermint leaves is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids (up to 19% of caffeic acid derivatives and 77% of flavonoids) (2).
note: caffeic acid is not related in any way, shape, or form to caffeine.
Generally, peppermint tea is regarded as safe as not many adverse effects of the tea have been reported. However, certain groups of people are cautioned against consuming peppermint tea to prevent any unwanted effect peppermint could induce.
Pregnant women and patients with GI reflux, hiatal hernia, or kidney stones are amongst this group of people.
Peppermint tea constituents and UTI
Urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection in any of the organs of the urinary system i.e kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
Women are more likely to develop a UTI than men because they have a shorter urethra. Its symptoms include:
• Increased urge and frequency to urinate
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Cloudy urine
• Strong foul-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain (in women)
• Rectal pain (in men)
The symptoms can be unbearable and discomforting and certain foods are known to worsen the symptoms of UTI.
Spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, acidic fruits, citrus, or caffeinated drinks and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners have direct effects on the bladder and can further aggravate symptoms of UTI.
When treating UTI, it is advised to avoid these foods. Caffeine, in particular, can irritate the bladder and lead to worsening of UTI.
In small clinical studies, caffeine was found to increase bladder pressure and contraction of the detrusor muscle.
This leads to increased urgency and frequency to urinate. The choice of drinks is very important when UTI is the case.
Peppermint tea just like many other herbal teas doesn’t contain caffeine.
Herbal teas are considered as a suitable alternative to coffee and cocoa beverages when treating UTI.
Asides being caffeine-free, peppermint tea has other properties that make it attractive for treating UTI. Infused peppermint tea contains flavonoids, phenolic acids, and vitamins which have excellent antioxidant properties.
Oxidative stress is a major cause of a number of diseases -including cancers and infections- as well as aging.
Antioxidants help to reduce the risk of such diseases by altering the metabolism of lipids, proteins, DNA, and other molecules.
In the case of infectious diseases like UTI, oxidative stress can further worsen the disease resulting in tissue injury or damage of the organs.
Also, oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the inflammatory process that ensues after an infection. Antioxidants can go a long way to change the course of a disease and boost the body’s defense mechanism.
Concomitant use of antioxidants with antibiotics when treating infections has been advised.
Luteolin, eriocitrin, lithospermic acid, caffeic acid, and rosmarinic acid are phenolic compounds in peppermint tea with excellent antioxidant properties (2).
Carotenoid (VIT A) and ascorbic acid (VIT C) are antioxidant vitamins present –although to a lesser extent- in peppermint tea (2).
A refreshing brew of peppermint tea brings together all these antioxidants in a cup.
These antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and also prevent tissue injury or organ damage. As earlier mentioned, the presence of bacteria in the urinary tract will facilitate inflammation which will contribute to bladder pressure and muscle contraction.
Increased bladder pressure and muscle contraction translate to incessant visits to the bathroom.
This can be very frustrating! How can peppermint tea help?
By exerting its relaxing effect, it can tone down muscle contractions and alleviate the discomfort UTI brings. Peppermint tea also contains flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition to the muscle relaxing effect of peppermint tea, the flavonoids, by suppressing the inflammation, can help reduce the intensity of the symptoms of UTI such as increased urgency and frequency to urinate.
Peppermint also has antibacterial properties.
Many studies have demonstrated the antibacterial activity of peppermint oil. The antibacterial activity is primarily due to the volatile components -menthol and menthone- in the oil.
Peppermint oil has demonstrated antibacterial activity against E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and pneumonia-linked bacteria (3).
However, peppermint tea isn’t well recognized for antibacterial activity due to the reduced amount of volatile components after infusion.
The unavoidable boiling process of making the tea destroys a lot of these volatile compounds. But when peppermint tea is brewed, it gives off a minty aroma, a refreshing taste, and a cooling effect.
All these are caused by menthol. So without any doubt, peppermint tea contains menthol.
The question here is how much of menthol is contained in an infused cup of peppermint tea because the antibacterial activity depends largely on the amount of menthol ingested.
It is said that the menthol and menthone content in peppermint leaves differs among the varieties of peppermint, so if you find tea or leaves with high menthol content, you are in good luck. Only very few studies have evaluated the antibacterial effect of peppermint tea.
In one study, peppermint tea that contained menthol, menthone, and polyphenols showed antibacterial activity against Chlamydia pneumonia, a gram-negative bacterium (4).
Most UTIs are caused by E. coli, also a gram-negative bacterium. It is logical to expect that peppermint tea can kill another gram-negative bacterium located in the urinary tract.
Phenolic compounds such as rosmarinic acid also have antibacterial and antiviral properties (5).
The phenolic compounds and menthol can work together to kill UTI-related bacteria in the urinary system.
Rosmarinic acid also has immunomodulating properties.
In many studies, rosmarinic acid has shown to reduce unwanted allergic symptoms such as runny nose, asthma, and itchiness (5).
Its immunomodulating effect can be beneficial for relieving symptoms of UTI because enhancing the body’s immunity can have a great effect on helping to treat the UTI and also help prevent the occurrence of UTI.
Finally, peppermint tea contains a trace amount of vitamin B and minerals like potassium and calcium that help to boost the immune system, thus enabling the body to fight off infection-causing microorganisms.
The Bottom line
Peppermint tea has many health benefits; thanks to its high content of bioactive compounds. Not so much research has been done on the direct effect of peppermint tea on urinary tract infections.
However, the bioactivities of the intrinsic compounds are desirable for treating UTI.
In a nutshell, peppermint tea can boost the immune system, reduce the intensity of UTI symptoms and fight bacteria.And the fact that they are also absolutely caffeine free is a major plus.
Peppermint tea is a delicious, refreshing non-caffeine beverage that can benefit patients with UTI. It is an excellent home remedy option for treating UTIs. When taking antibiotics to treat UTI, taking one or two cups of peppermint tea will do you much good.
References
- McKay, D., & Blumberg, J. (2006). A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytotherapy Research, 20(8), 619-633. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1936
- Riachi, L., & De Maria, C. (2015). Peppermint antioxidants revisited. Food Chemistry, 176, 72-81. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.12.028
- Kamatou, G., Vermaak, I., Viljoen, A., & Lawrence, B. (2013). Menthol: A simple monoterpene with remarkable biological properties. Phytochemistry, 96, 15-25. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.08.005
- Kapp, K., Hakala, E., Orav, A., Pohjala, L., Vuorela, P., & Püssa, T. et al. (2013). Commercial peppermint (Mentha×piperita L.) teas: Antichlamydial effect and polyphenolic composition. Food Research International, 53(2), 758-766. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2013.02.015
- “Rosmarinic Acid,” Examine.com, published on 20 September 2014, last updated on 14 June 2018,https://examine.com/supplements/rosmarinic-acid/