Muña

Native to South America, the muña herb, also known as Andean mint, muna, and munya, grows naturally across Andean regions and is highly valued for its medicinal properties. From alleviating stomach discomfort to treating respiratory diseases, muña has found many popular applications, some of which have been studied and validated by modern science.

Benefits of Muña

Muña has been historically used in a medicinal capacity by local communities across South America. Its antimicrobial and digestive properties have led to a variety of applications, some of which have been validated by modern science. The most remarkable muña's benefits are:

• Treating gastrointestinal symptoms. The muña plant has been traditionally used to treat digestive disorders, such as indigestion, stomachache, diarrhea, and colic.

• Alleviating respiratory diseases. Due to its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial properties, muña is popularly used to relieve cough, headache, cold, flu, asthma, and bronchitis.

Other traditional uses of muña include eliminating parasites, flea infestations, and fungal infections as well as calming muscle spasms.

How It Works

The most important active compounds in muña are monoterpenes, which have been suggested to be responsible for the main benefits of this Andean herb. Two monoterpenes stand out for their high concentrations: pulegone and menthone, both of which have been shown effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.^1,2

These compounds are not only antimicrobial and antifungal but also have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and digestive properties. While muña's mechanisms of action are still under study, pulegone has been shown to influence the nervous system, inhibiting the detection of irritating, painful stimuli, which may explain its efficacy in relieving respiratory problems and gastrointestinal discomfort.³

On the other hand, menthone not only has strong antibacterial effects but also anti-inflammatory properties that bring relief to the symptoms of respiratory diseases.⁴

Other herbs that are commonly used for treating respiratory problems are eucalyptus, thyme, coltsfoot, and myrtle, whereas cardamom, dill, marjoram, and peppermint are well-known for their digestive, carminative effects.

Side Effects & Cautions

In medicinal doses, muña is generally safe; however, excessive intake can cause liver toxicity. Since further studies are needed to determine the safety of muña during pregnancy and lactation, women going through these stages should avoid consumption.

Since ancient times, the muña plant has been used in some culinary capacity to flavor soups and stews, but mostly as a healing herb.

Natural Forms

• Fresh. In high-altitude Andean communities, where the plant naturally grows, muña is often consumed fresh, in culinary and medicinal ways.

• Dried. This is the most popular way to preserve muña and obtain its benefits in different preparations.

• Infusion. Muña tea is taken to extract the medicinal properties of the herb in order to alleviate stomachache, cough, diarrhea, indigestion, asthma, and many other health conditions.

• Decoction. A decoction requires the leaves to be boiled in water for a bit more time than an infusion, in order to concentrate muña's healing properties.

• Poultice. Due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, a warm poultice of muña leaves is used to disinfect superficial wounds and for treating and preventing infections.

Herbal Remedies & Supplements

• Essential oil. A few drops of muña essential oil, diluted in a glass of water, can be enough to reap the antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and carminative properties of the herb.

• Liquid extract. Extracts of muña concentrate the health benefits of the herb and can be consumed diluted in water as an alternative treatment for colic, indigestion, and common respiratory problems.

• Capsules. Widely available, muña capsules contain the pulverized leaves of the Andean herb in practical, easy-to-take standardized doses.

The muña plant is a perennial woody shrub that grows exclusively in the arid highlands of the Andes, with temperate to cold temperate climates, and it needs very specific conditions to thrive.

Muña Growing Guidelines

• The muña plant grows better in loamy-sandy-stony soils, with a lifespan of up to 20 years; however, in clay-loamy soils, it can reach a lifespan of 10 years. It does not tolerate saline soils.

• This herbaceous shrub is highly tolerant of low temperatures; however, cold burns can appear in the aerial parts below 23°F (-5°C).

• The rainy season is the best time to cultivate muña in the Andes, between November and March.

Taxonomy of Muña

Muña, also known as Andean mint, is a perennial woody shrub that naturally grows on rocky, stony slopes, 8,350 to 12,467 feet (2,600 to 3,800 meters) above sea level. The muña plant can reach 31-47 inches (80-120 cm) tall, with divergent branches turning into smooth internodes 4 cm long, from which inconspicuous white flowers grow. The stalks that support the leaves are 0.4 inches (1 cm) long, and the leaves are oval-shaped, rounded at the base, softly serrated, about 0.9 inches (2.5 cm) long and 0.6 inches (17 mm) wide.

• Classification

  The muña plant belongs to the Lamiaceae, or mint family, which comprises over 7,200 species, mostly aromatic, flowering herbs and shrubs of quick growth. Other popular members of the mint family are basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), sage (Salvia officinalis), oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and lavender (Lavandula officinalis).

• Related species

  The genus Minthostachys is indigenous to South America, growing freely through the Andean region, and includes up to 12 species of aromatic herbs with similar medicinal properties, all of them traditionally used in the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. However, Minthostachys mollis, most commonly known as muña, native to Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, has been shown to have a particularly higher concentration of beneficial compounds.

Historical Information

There are few historical records of muña before the arrival of the first European explorers; however, it is mentioned by some Spaniard chroniclers, like Bernabé Cobo, who wrote in the 17th century that the muña "is the bush with the sharpest and most penetrating fragrance of any I have encountered in these Indies."

Economic Data

The worldwide trade of muña is very recent, and there are no specific numbers about it; however, the main producers and exporters are currently Bolivia and Peru.

Other Uses

• Preservative. Due to their potent antifungal and antimicrobial properties, muña leaves have been traditionally used to inhibit pests and post-harvest growth in stored potatoes.