Bad Breath from Meds? Try These
Can’t stand the sting of mouthwash, but want sweeter breath? Set down the Scope, and pick up a pinch of one of these herbs instead: parsley, basil, or cilantro.
They all contain the green plant pigment chlorophyll, which is a powerful breath freshener, writes James Duke — a PhD and botanist — in his book, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook.
More Fresheners for Your Mouth
In addition to parsley, basil, and cilantro, Duke recommends these easy-to-find breath fresheners:
Dill: It’s also rich in chlorophyll. Chew the seeds, or make dill tea by adding the leaves or mashed seeds to boiling water.
Cardamom: It contains cineole, a potent antiseptic that kills bad-breath bacteria. You can chew the seeds and then spit them out.
Anise: The seeds of this licorice-flavored herb have been used for thousands of years to freshen breath. Boil the seeds in a cup of water. Strain, and then drink or use as a mouthwash.
Peppermint tea, a strong antiseptic, fights halitosis.
Other good Peppermint news:
The scent of peppermint is like a drill sergeant, telling your brain to “Wake up and focus!” New research shows that you pay better attention to dull-but-must-do jobs when this scent is around. So the next time you’re mentally sluggish, grab a candy cane, chew a stick of peppermint gum, or inhale the scent of mint-infused oil, and then listen to your brain say, “Can do!”
Science has confirmed it: When there’s a hint of mint wafting through the room, workers perform better on jobs that demand accuracy. In a study, participants made fewer typing mistakes and alphabetized things faster when under the influence of peppermint’s aroma compared to tasks performed in a scent-free zone.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I was very delighted to find this site. I needed to thank you for this special read. I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.