Field Mint
A common kitchen and medicinal herb for wind heat patterns and liver qi stagnation.
Classification
Actions
Releases the exterior (dispels wind heat), clears the head and eyes, soothes the throat, and moves liver qi.
Primary Uses
Wind heat common cold with sore throat, headache, red eyes, liver qi stagnation patterns, certain skin patterns with itch.
Preparation
Decoction (typically 3 to 6 grams; added near end of cooking because the volatile oils evaporate). Tea is widely consumed.
Cautions and Contraindications
Use cautiously in deficient sweating patterns and yin deficiency. Generally very safe in food and tea doses.
Find a Licensed Practitioner
Chinese herbal medicine is most safely practiced under the guidance of a licensed practitioner who can match herbs to your specific pattern and constitution. Many herbs are very safe for daily food use (ginger, jujube, goji berries) while others (especially in formula combinations) require professional guidance. In the United States, look for an L.Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist) with formal training in herbal medicine, or an O.M.D. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine) where licensed.
Will Bo He (Field Mint) actually work for you?
Bo He (Field Mint) carries a Wood signature, the element associated with career frustration, stalled projects, irritability, decision fog. But whether your specific pattern needs more Wood support or whether Wood is already excess in you is the difference between this approach helping or hurting. Your free Energy Chart reveals which of the Five Elements run strong, weak, or out of balance in you, the foundation for selecting the TCM and wellness practices that actually fit your wealth and expansion pattern across past, present, and future.
