[[File:Calamintha officinalis.jpg|thumb|Alt=|250px|left|Calamintha officinalis]]Other Names : Basil Thyme, Mountain Mint, Calamint, Bergsteentijm<br>Calamint belongs to a genus closely related to both the Thymes and to Catnep and Ground Ivy. It is an erect, bushy plant with square stems, rarely more than a foot high, bearing pairs of opposite leaves, which, like the stems, are downy with soft hairs. The flowers bloom in July and August, and are somewhat inconspicuous, drooping gracefully before expansion: the corollas are of a light purple colour. The plant grows by waysides and in hedges, and is not uncommon, especially in dry places. It may be cultivated as a hardy perennial, propagated by seeds sown outdoors in April, by cuttings of side shoots in cold frames in spring, or by division of roots in October and April.<br>See also : [[Calamintha nepeta]]==Special Precautions of Lesser Calamint==* This herb should not be used by pregnant women as it increases the chances of occurrence of miscarriage.* It may hinder the process of conception in women as well.
==Health Benefits and Uses of Calamintha officinalis==
Diaphoretic, expectorant, aromatic. The whole herb has a sweet, aromatic odour and an infusion of the dried leaves, collected about July, when in their best condition and dried in the same way as Catmint tops, makes a pleasant cordial tea
* Tea was formerly much taken for weaknesses of the stomach and flatulent colic.
* It is useful in hysterical complaints, and a conserve made of the young fresh tops has been used, for this purpose.
* Culpepper says that it 'is very efficacious in all afflictions of the brain* It relieves convulsions Leaves and cramps, shortness of breath or choleric pains in the stomach or bowels,' flowers make a pleasant tea to treat colic wind and that 'it cures the yellow jaundiceindigestion.' * He also recommends it, taken with salt and honey, for killing worms: 'It relieves those who have the leprosy, taken inwardly, drinking whey after it, or the green herb outwardly applied, and that it taketh away black and blue marks in the face, and maketh black scars become well coloured, if the green herb (not the dry) Can be boiled in wine and laid given to the place or the place washed therewith.'* He also considers it 'helpful to them that have a tertian ague,' and beneficial in all disorders of the gall and spleen.* Gerard says, 'the seede cureth the infirmities of the hart, taketh away sorrowfulnesse which commeth of melancholie, and maketh a man merrie and gladbabies.'
[[Category:Treatments]]
[[Category:Herbal medicine]]
[[Category:Diaphoretic]]
[[Category:Expectorant]]