Satureja Viminea: 3 Benefits of The Rare Jamaican Mint Tree

Satureja viminea is one of those rare plants that grow wild in Jamaica. It is an evergreen shrub.

Local names for Jamaican mint tree are mint bush or bush mint. This shrub thrives in the cooler regions of the island.

Although this is an unusual shrub with its strong minty aroma, and locals call it mint bush,  it is not a true mint.

What Is Satureja Viminea? The Satureja Viminea plant is actually a member of the Lamiaceae family.  The plant is native to Costa Rica.

Jamaican bush mint is one of the savory plants of the Satureja genus. Another accepted biological name for it is Clinopodium vimineum.

rare Jamaican mint tree satureja viminea
Jamaican Mint Tree

Savory plants are good for culinary purposes because of their intense aroma. But a few of them are sought after ingredients in the cosmetics industry. Jamaican mint tree is one of those.

Satureja Viminea Names

 Although this species is native to Costa Rica, the Jamaican mint tree can be found in several warmer areas. However it is still considered a rare plant.

A few other names for the Jamaican mint tree are: Costa Rican mint tree, Jamaican mint bush, Bush mint, Serpentine savory, or Karma sutra mint.

Satureja Health Benefits

What do Researchers say about the satureja species? Several studies conclude that compounds found in the satureja plant species, including satureja viminea, have disease fighting capabilities.

The research show that the plants have useful antioaxidants.

 One study confirmed that the Satureja species contain carvacrol and several flavonoids such as apigenin, naringenin, aromadendrin, and luteolin.

Some of the health benefits identified in the Satureja plants are:

Analgesic

This means Jamaican mint tree may be able to relieve pain.

One experiement seem to agree with this finding. An animal study was done using extracts from fresh and dried Jamaican mint tree leaves. The goal was to determine whether the extract would affect the animal’s pain level.

After 30 minutes of administering the extracts the results proved that the animals experienced both sedative and pain relieving effects.

Antibacterial

Another animal test was done to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil taken from Satureja hortensis.

The antimicrobial test results showed that the essential oil of Satureja hortensis had great potential antimicrobial activities against all 23 bacteria and 15 fungi and yeast species that were tested.

Antihyperglycemic

This is what one report had to say about the potential benefits of the Satureja species, including Jamaican mint tree.

“Satureja species may be recommended for the prevention, improvement, or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.”

Source: Journals.sagepub.com

Examintion showed that the plants had antispasmodic, antiviral anti-inflamatory and other benefitial activity.

Anti-inflammatory reduces inflammation
Vasorelaxant relaxes veins to reduce blood pressure
Anticoagulant lowers the risk of forming blood clots
Antiseptic slows the growth of microorganisms
Antispasmodic relieves stomach spasm and cramps
Antiviral retards the spread of viruses
wild Costa Rican Mint
Jamaican Mint Tree

Jamaican Mint Tree

What does the Jamaican mint bush plant look like?

The leaves are small, glossy, and lime green in color. The bush mint plant blooms tiny white flowers year round. 

This is a bushy shrub that can grow up to 8 feet tall. If you prune the plant, it will result in a less messy looking shrub.

Although the entire plant is edible, the older stems are not widely used in Jamaica. They tend to be hard and look like wood.

Jamaican Bush Mint Tea

Bush mint tea is one of the most common beverages in Jamaican culture.  Drinking a cup of Jamaican mint tea is a morning ritual in many households.

In addition, Jamaican bush mint tea is one of the centuries old Jamaican home remedies. It makes a widely used herbal tea for digestion.

Satureja viminea tea is a jamaican mint which we as remedy for headaches, upset stomachs, bloating and gastrointestinal problems.

Due to its soothing aroma, mint bush tea is also used to relieve anxiety and calm the nerves. 

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How to Make Mint Bush Tea

Brewing tea is one of the easiest ways to extract the essential oils from the herb. So go ahead and brew some bush mint tea.

Grab a handful of fresh leaves and stems or dried leaves to 2 cups of water. Boil for two or three minutes. Remove it from the flames and let sit for another 2 minutes. 

Strain, sweeten and drink. Can also store the tea in refrigerator and enoy it as cool mint water. And here is some nutritional value you will get from drinking the mint bush tea.

There are some other ways to enoy the flavor Jamaican mint bush. For example adding a few dried mint tree leaves are used for flavoring meats, soups, and stews.

Related: You May Also Like Jamaican Black Mint

Conclusion

Examination shows that Satureja Viminea, Jamaican mint tree, Costa Rican mint, Kama Sutra mint or whatever name you know it by, does have some powerful health benefits.

But more research is needed to discover the full potential of this rare plant.

There are no known side effects to drinking the mint bush tea. So go right ahead and enjoy a cuppa Jamaican mint bush tea.

However, you should not use this in place of any medication. And always consult with a professional medical provider before using alternative health products.

Disclaimer: This website is for information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be viewed as medical advice. Please consult with a professional healthcare provider about your medical care.

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