A research review of human and relevant scientific studies on Mentha spicata.
Last reviewed: August 2026
🔬 Research Summary
- Androgen levels: Small randomized trials have investigated spearmint tea in women with androgen-related symptoms and reported reductions in free and total testosterone.
- Hirsutism: Clinical studies in women with hirsutism have reported changes in androgen measures and subjective hirsutism outcomes.
- PCOS-related research: Spearmint tea has been studied in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or features of hyperandrogenism, but studies are small and should not be interpreted as proof of disease treatment.
- Antioxidant and metabolic markers: Some human studies have measured oxidative-stress or metabolic biomarkers.
- Digestive/traditional uses: Spearmint is traditionally consumed for digestive purposes, but robust human clinical evidence for these effects is limited.
The sections below summarize the principal health areas investigated in the literature. Evidence strength is not uniform, and studies using extracts, oils, capsules or combination products are identified conceptually rather than treated as interchangeable with tea.
Androgen levels
What researchers found
Small randomized trials have investigated spearmint tea in women with androgen-related symptoms and reported reductions in free and total testosterone.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Hirsutism
What researchers found
Clinical studies in women with hirsutism have reported changes in androgen measures and subjective hirsutism outcomes.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
PCOS-related research
What researchers found
Spearmint tea has been studied in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or features of hyperandrogenism, but studies are small and should not be interpreted as proof of disease treatment.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Antioxidant and metabolic markers
What researchers found
Some human studies have measured oxidative-stress or metabolic biomarkers.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Digestive/traditional uses
What researchers found
Spearmint is traditionally consumed for digestive purposes, but robust human clinical evidence for these effects is limited.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Overall Assessment
Spearmint has unusually relevant tea-specific human research around androgen-related outcomes, but the clinical evidence is small and population-specific. It is much less developed for broad claims about general health or digestion.
References
- Akdoğan M, Tamer MN, Cüre E, et al. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):444-447. PMID: 17310494. doi:10.1002/ptr.2074.
- Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2010;24:186-188. PMID: 19585478.
Reference note: References were selected to represent the principal human clinical and systematic-review evidence discussed in this article. Where direct tea-infusion evidence is limited, the article explicitly identifies that limitation.
Publication version: August 2026
Our Pure Spearmint is hand collected and shade dried, nothing else added.
These statements have not been evaluated by Medsafe. This tea is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition, check with your healthcare provider before making it a regular habit.
