Muña Muña “Andean Mint” (Minthostachys setosa), crushed leaves

Muña Muña (Minthostachys setosa) is a plant similar in appearance to oregano. It grows to about 2 meters, it is slightly fluffy, the leaves are oval. Its bark and leaves are used to make a delicious tea. It grows in the Andes – from northern Venezuela through Colombia, Peru and Bolivia to central Argentina.

Uses

Muña-Muña is very widely used in traditional Amazonian medicine, it contains many active substances, which after extraction are also commonly used in Western medicine. It is a large group of substances contained in essential oil (menthon, thymol, carcavon,…). All these structurally similar substances are used as flavouring agents and effective admixtures for digestive or respiratory problems.

In traditional medicine, we find various uses – for treating colds, bronchitis and infectious respiratory diseases or asthma. All the mentioned indications and their treatment are based on experience and the active substances in Muña-Muña have a similar use in the Western medicine. Their effectivity is proven by clinical studies.

Muña-Muña is also taken for stomach problems and is especially popular for digestive problems such as colic, constipation and flatulence. The essential oil captures and dissolves gas bubbles and calms the spasmodic movements of the smooth muscle of the intestines. Based on a similar principle, the ingredients of Muña-Muña also work for respiratory problems and are therefore a suitable addition to therapy in the treatment of colds and flu. In Peru, Muña-Muña is recognized as a natural antibiotic.

In Peru, the herb is also sometimes used as a protection against minor pests and insects. Due to the content of these substances, it is widely grown commercially in Argentina and Peru.

Active substances

The list of active substances in Muña-Muña is really wide and varied. Menthol essential oil contains menthol itself and its esters, menthone, isomenthone, pulegone, caryophyllone, limonene, thymol, as well as flavones, terpenes (geraniol, cineol, linalool), alcohols and tannins. It also contains calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B1.

Muña-Muña infusion

1 tablespoon of dried herb is poured in 1 liter of cold water, warmed up and let boiled for about 5 minutes. Usual dosage is 200 ml of the infusion 3 times a day.

Muña muña leaf tea has a pleasant taste, reminiscent of mint. It has a greenish-yellow color and its aroma will delight your soul. You can add lemon juice and drink cold or warm. You can also combine the tea with another Peruvian herb – the cat’s claw (Vilcacora) or wayusa (Illex guayusa).