Lamiaceae · herb
Chinese mint
Mentha canadensis
Aerial parts mapped as Bo He: lightly releases the exterior in Wind-Heat and spreads Liver Qi.
Safety first
Leaf is food-like. Essential oil is not decoction. Not peppermint oil for infants. Short cook in classical formulas so the aroma is not lost.
Tradition vs trials
Traditional record. Bensky: Bo He is acrid, cool, and used briefly in Yin Qiao San and constraint formulas.
Trial literature. Human monotherapy trials are not the basis of this mapping.
Practical ranges
Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.
herb in formulas
Classical handful-to-few-gram additions, often added late
Chinese Pharmacopoeia / Bensky — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.
Pregnancy, nursing, children
- Pregnancy. Culinary-strength mint is food-like; concentrated oil is not.
- Nursing. Insufficient reliable data; avoid unless a clinician directs otherwise.
- Children. Herb tea is not peppermint oil. Do not use mint oils in infants.
Contraindications
- peppermint-oil-in-infants error
- known mint allergy
Key interactions
- none distinctive at tea doses · note
Oil is a different object.