12/19/2025
For this month’s edition of Backyard Botanicals, we’re featuring an herb I stumbled upon growing wild in a very neglected planter at my house in Montauk this summer: mint.
Mint is incredibly resilient—once it takes hold, it grows with almost zero encouragement. Many people plant it for its fresh scent and pretty leaves, but it’s far more than decorative. Mint has a long history in herbal medicine, and its uses are genuinely numerous.
What mint is great for:
🌿 Digestion: Eases bloating, gas, cramping, and post-meal sluggishness.
Respiratory support: Opens nasal passages and soothes coughs.
🌿 Headaches + tension: Cooling menthol can calm tight muscles and ease pressure.
🌿 Nervous system support: Gentle, calming, and grounding for the gut-brain axis.
🌿 Skin: Antimicrobial and soothing when used topically (think bug bites or mild irritation).
🌿 Everyday vitality: Adds minerals and antioxidants in a simple, accessible way.
And the best part? You can easily put backyard (or planter-box) mint to work right away.
*Steep a few fresh leaves in hot water for instant digestive support.
*Add chopped mint to salads or summer fruit for a refreshing lift.
*Use it in infused water, homemade iced tea, or mocktails.
*Dry bunches upside down to build your own winter tea stash.
Simple, resilient, and right outside your door—mint is one of those herbs that quietly does it all.
