HERBAL MAGIC –
July 2, 2025 – Peppermint can improve attention, working memory, and even mood. Some scientists have proposed that these benefits arise because peppermint increases cerebral blood flow, especially in the prefrontal cortex. This allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach the brain, enhancing mental performance
“The cognitive enhancing effects of peppermint are well established, but little attention has been paid to the possible mechanisms, particularly neurovascular mechanisms, that might underlie these effects. Here, we wanted to explore this more, asking whether acute (short term) positive changes in cognition, particularly memory and attention, following consuming small amounts of peppermint team might be mediated by increased oxygenated blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, assessed with fNIRS.”
The researchers at a UK-based institution recruited 25 healthy adult volunteers, aged between 20 and 56 years, and randomly assigned them to one of two groups. One group consumed a cup of peppermint tea, while the other received a placebo—a cup of warm water that participants were told contained peppermint extract. This single-blind design ensured that participants were unaware of which condition they were in, helping to control for expectation effects.
