Bo He

Mentha canadensis

Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Mentha Species: canadensis Pinyin: Bo He Latin: Herba Menthae Haplocalycis

Synonyms: Clinopodium purpureum, Mentha arvensis var. pavoniana, Mentha glabrior, Mentha arvensis var. schmitzii, Mentha haplocalyx subsp. austera, Mentha haplocalyx var. barbata, Mentha arvensis f. lanigera, Mentha lanata, Mentha haplocalyx var. piperascens, Mentha sachalinensis var. arguta, Mentha arvensis var. haplocalyx, Mentha arvensis var. lanata, Mentha arvensis subsp. canadensis, Mentha arvensis var. sachalinensis, Mentha arvensis f. brevipilosa, Mentha arvensis subsp. haplocalyx, Mentha trachiloma, Mentha haplocalyx f. alba, Mentha canadensis var. borealis, Mentha arvensis f. lanata, Mentha arvensis var. javanica, Mentha canadensis var. glabrior, Mentha arvensis subsp. piperascens, Mentha sachalinensis f. pilosa, Mentha canadensis var. lanata, Mentha canadensis var. villosa, Mentha hakka, Mentha terebinthinacea, Mentha glauca var. parvifolia, Mentha arvensis var. borealis, Mentha arvensis var. canadensis, Mentha haplocalyx var. sachalinensis, Mentha canadensis var. piperascens, Mentha haplocalyx, Mentha arvensis var. occidentalis, Mentha arvensis var. penardii, Mentha haplocalyx subsp. pavoniana, Mentha arvensis f. pedunculata, Mentha arvensis subsp. borealis, Mentha canadensis var. glabrata, Mentha arvensis var. glabra, Mentha disperma, Mentha ciliata, Mentha canadensis var. retrorsa, Mentha javanica, Mentha arvensis f. glabrata, Hedeoma purpurea, Micromeria purpurea, Mentha borealis, Mentha arvensis f. puberula, Mentha sachalinensis, Mentha pedunculata, Mentha arvensis f. glabra, Mentha penardii, Mentha canadensis var. sachalinensis, Mentha canadensis subsp. lanata, Mentha haplocalyx var. pilosa, Mentha canadensis var. mexicana, Mentha haplocalyx var. nipponensis, Mentha canadensis f. pilosa, Mentha arvensis var. barbata, Mentha occidentalis, Mentha canadensis subsp. borealis, Mentha arvensis f. chinensis, Mentha glauca, Satureja purpurea, Mentha arvensis var. piperascens, Mentha sachalinensis f. arguta, Mentha arvensis var. zollingeri

Canadian Mint (English) American Wild Mint (English) Field Mint (English) Bo He (Chinese (Pinyin)) 薄荷 (Chinese)

☯ TCM Properties

Category: releasing_exterior

Temperature: cool

Taste: pungent

Meridians: lung, liver

Functions:

Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat; Vents rashes; Relieves Stagnation of Liver Qi; Expels turbid filth

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:

carminativeantispasmodicdiaphoreticanalgesicantimicrobial

Gallery

Botanical Description

Mentha canadensis is a perennial aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes, growing 15-60 cm tall. Stems are square, erect to decumbent. Leaves are opposite, ovate to lanceolate, 3-7 cm long, toothed, and aromatic. Like M. arvensis, flowers are borne in dense whorls in the leaf axils (not in terminal spikes). Flowers are small, pale lavender to white. The plant contains high concentrations of menthol and is one of the primary sources of natural menthol used commercially. This species is now recognized as the standard botanical source for the TCM herb Bo He.

Habitat:

Moist meadows, stream banks, lake shores, and wetland margins; native to North America and northeastern Asia, found throughout temperate regions.

Native Region: Alaska, Alberta, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, Buryatiya, California, Cambodia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Irkutsk, Japan, Jawa, Kansas, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Labrador, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Maine, Malaya, Maluku, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Myanmar, Nebraska, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Primorye, Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Tuva, Utah, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yukon

Conservation Notes:

Mentha canadensis is common throughout its native range in North America and northeastern Asia. It is extensively cultivated for menthol production. No conservation concerns.

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional Chinese Uses

Bo He (peppermint herb) is a light, cool, acrid herb that disperses Wind-Heat, clears the head and eyes, and smooths the flow of Liver Qi. As an exterior-releasing herb, it addresses fever with mild chills, headache, sore throat, and red eyes in Wind-Heat patterns. Its affinity for the Liver makes it appropriate for emotional irritability and Qi stagnation with hypochondriac pain. Its cooling menthol quality also soothes throat and skin irritation.

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

61602

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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