Alternatives to peppermint tea? - Endometriosis UK

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Alternatives to peppermint tea?

Lofty1589 profile image
40 Replies

Evening ladies! So, my diagnostic laparoscopy date is finally through - I will hopefully have an answer on 4th June! Now, I know they’ll pump my tummy up with gas and that the best thing to help it is peppermint tea.

Now, I can’t stand mint. Brushing my teeth every day I can just about cope with but I really don’t like mint. Does anyone know of any alternatives I could take instead of drinking the tea?

Thank you in advance 💛

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Lofty1589
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40 Replies
Faith27 profile image
Faith27

Trebor soft mints - peppermint!

To be honest, other than a bit of gas movement today, and a minor shoulder ache for 10 mins yesterday, I was fine! So you may get away lucky xx

Faith27 profile image
Faith27

Looks like you can also buy peppermint capsules!? Perhaps they would be worth looking into - tablet form.. have to check you can take them with other meds but shouldn't see this being a huge problem! X

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Faith27

I may go for that! Less chance of tasting mint.... hopefully! 😅 xx

Faith27 profile image
Faith27 in reply to Lofty1589

Haha yeah! I realised afterwards that it was the taste you didn't like so tablets would be great I'd say!! I cant stand peppermint tea UCH!!! x

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Faith27

All tea in general for me is just eww 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m a terrible Brit 😂 xx

Faith27 profile image
Faith27 in reply to Lofty1589

I'm a tea belly but it has to be a good ole cuppa with 2 sugars :P not any fancy pants rubbish!!

Faybee87 profile image
Faybee87 in reply to Faith27

I take the capsules but they do leaves bit of a taste, like they repeat on me a little bit. I do happen to like mint tea, but I also had ginger tea which helped a lot and activated charcoal tablets, too. Heat and painkillers are the main help though! Good luck for your surgery, I'm having an op the same day (not endo related) so I'll be thinking of you!

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Faybee87

Oh, thank you so much! Good luck for your op too! Xx

Faybee87 profile image
Faybee87 in reply to Lofty1589

Thank you! X

SarahMia227 profile image
SarahMia227

I also hated the taste of mint before I was diagnosed - I drink it like water now though cause it really does help, so you never know!

In terms of alternatives, fennel has similar properties. I also like camomile and cinnamon tea, but I think fennel is the closest to peppermint for effectiveness :)

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to SarahMia227

In the run up, I might try chewing some gum or something to see if I can get used to it xx

SarahMia227 profile image
SarahMia227 in reply to Lofty1589

Haha, I still hate chewing gum - the tea is much less strong than gum :) x

justmai profile image
justmai

I know you don’t like mint but the only thing that worked for me (had at least 10 laparoscopies) was extra strong mint in hot water, peppermint or spearmint is really the only thing that helps with gas pain

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to justmai

Damn 😂 Thank you for your reply xx

Puddl667 profile image
Puddl667

Spearmint and camomile isn't very minty

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Puddl667

I can give it a try. I have very sensitive tastebuds so even the slightest hint of something can be tasted. I’m weird 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ Xx

Fati8451 profile image
Fati8451

I really dislike peppermint - especially the tea. I bought a box for after my surgery and I had to dump the very first cup and the box is still sitting in my cupboard! What I find much much better is green tea with mint, especially if it's Moroccan mint tea as that's green tea with spear mint. It's much more subtle and the mix of green tea with mint really helps ease gas. Only steep it in water for about 2 mins and make sure the water is only about 80 degrees and not boiled all the way. I swear its this tea and my hot water bottle that have got me through the worst of times!

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Fati8451

Thanks for your reply. I might give that a go and see how I do! Xx

I found windeeze tablets very effective. I hate peppermint tea and anything to do with mint too!

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to

I’ve heard of those! I might see if I can pick some up. Thank you xx

logit profile image
logit

I found drinking hot chocolate helped. I also find drinking coke really quickly helps to move trapped gas.

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to logit

That is something I’ll definitely give a try! Alrhough lemonade instead of Coke for me - I haven’t drunk that in about 15 months now xx

Chinaxo profile image
Chinaxo in reply to Lofty1589

As someone that drinks a fair amount of coke I would say that was the worst thing for me! If you really cannot tolerate peppermint tea then warm water may help, but putting a hot water bottle or heatpad on the area will help, I had my heatpad on my shoulder for a few days and it helped with the gas pain but didn’t get rid of it. You really do have to move around as much as you can.

Good luck with your surgery :)

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Chinaxo

I have one of thise wheat bags I might try as they can be quite hot and easy to manipulate. Thank you 💛 xx

wanwood profile image
wanwood

Look for wind relief remedies in your chemist. Windeeze, or anything with simethicone / simeticone in it. It helps you to expel the air faster 😊

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to wanwood

Ah great! Thank you so much! Xx

kate24601 profile image
kate24601

I was in sooooo much pain until I discovered hot peppermint cordial. Like you I despised the taste but I was so desperate to stop being in pain I did anything. I ended up having a large swig of the peppermint cordial and then following it straight down with orange lucozade before I gagged! I tried peppermint capsules but didn't find they did a lot and when I burped it still tasted like mint haha!

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to kate24601

That doesn’t sound like fun at all xx

MrsDash profile image
MrsDash

Peppermint capsules and also I’ve recently been recommended Windeeze tablets. Going to try them for my next lap as I did have really bad pain after my diagnostic lap. Good luck.

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to MrsDash

I’ll see if I can get some of the capsules and hope for the best. Thank you! Xx

Koryu profile image
Koryu

I haven't needed peppermint after laps. That said I have some trouble this time round (surgery three weeks ago now) and will be chewing some fennel and cumin seeds when I need to and maybe pick up some probiotics as the antibiotics hit me hard this time, I think. I detest fennel and cumin tea, but a quarter to half a teaspoon full of seeds I can chew and swallow and get on with things. As and when needed. You can add some sugar if you prefer. We used to get this at an Indian restaurant and I find it really helpful.

Otherwise: Get your gut moving again, that will help enormously. So healthy eating for the win.

Chamomile can also be an alternative to mint. Mint is pretty cool though, I admit. And I am lucky that I don't mind the flavour too much.

You can get stuff at the pharmacy, it didn't help me much, but maybe it does the trick for you as others suggest.

Also: Psst...you can get pomegranate and similar toothpastes at health food shops. ;) When it is 2 for 1 the price works and you can stop using mint for brushing your teeth.

All the best for your lap!

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to Koryu

Thank you so much for your reply. I’ll try a few different things and see what works xz

nadie profile image
nadie

I found gasease tablets worked for me. Or any product with simethicone.

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to nadie

Ah, great! Thank you xx

StefaniaJW profile image
StefaniaJW

Fennel is used in my country for gas in the intestines

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to StefaniaJW

Oh right! I’ll have to see if it’s something that helps me. Thank you xx

giget40 profile image
giget40

I have had 6 surgeries and the best thing I found was "gas pills" over the counter meds. Hope this helps!

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589 in reply to giget40

Ah, great! Thank you so much! Xx

alpacamadness profile image
alpacamadness

GAS X GAS X GAS X!

Peebles2sarah profile image
Peebles2sarah

I used tumeric and ginger tea. I think the thing that helped me the most with gas pain was actually gas x and activated charcoal tabs. HIGHLY recommend. Made a huge difference in recovery from my first to second surgeries.

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