Perennial herbaceous plant of the labiumaceae family. The stem is ascending or erect, branched, bare or pubescent, 15-60 cm high. The leaves are opposite, simple, ovate or elongated-elliptic, hairy, saw-toothed, acute, short-petioled at the top; the upper ones are sitting. The flowers are zygomorphic, small, purple or pinkish-purple, in dense spreading rings. The fruit is a nut. Blooms in June – August.
Spread. It grows on the shores of reservoirs, in floodplain forests and meadows throughout Ukraine (rarely in the Crimea).
Procurement and storage . Leaves collected at the beginning of flowering of the plant are used. The entire aerial part is cut off, then the leaves are cut off, spread out in a thin layer and dried. Store in a tightly closed container. The shelf life is 2 years.
The plant is unofficial .
Chemical composition . The leaves contain essential oil, hesperidin, rhamnose, glucose, betaine, carotene, etc. The composition of the essential oil includes menthol.
Pharmacological properties and use . Field mint preparations have antispasmodic, analgesic and antiseptic properties. Infusion of leaves is used in traditional medicine as a sedative, anticonvulsant, diaphoretic and diuretic, for colds, nausea, stomachaches and diarrhea, to improve appetite, and topically for itching.
Medicinal forms and applications. Internally – infusion of leaves (1 tablespoon of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water, infuse for 20 minutes, strain) 1/2-1 cup 3 times a day for 15 minutes. before eating
Externally , oil (a 10% tincture of field mint leaves is mixed in equal amounts with Provencal or sunflower oil and the alcohol is evaporated in a water bath) for the treatment of wounds and erosions of the cervix.