Menthol has medicinal uses.
Menthol is a compound found in mint plants. Medicinal menthol is derived from peppermint oil or may be made synthetically. Menthol can soothe skin ailments, sore throats and indigestion. Users should avoid menthol contact with the eyes. Pure menthol is poisonous; it is diluted as a medical treatment.
Skin Ailments and Muscle Pain
Menthol, which is used to treat a variety of skin aliments, stimulates the skin's cold receptors. The subsequent cooling effect provides relief from pain or irritation. Menthol medicines treat the itching from poison ivy, canker sore pain and minor burns. Products containing menthol treat blemishes and acne. Menthol products also provide relief from muscle inflammation and soreness.
Sore Throats and Congestion
Menthol medicinal products treat sore mouths and throats. The menthol provides an anesthetic action that numbs the painful area in the mouth or throat. To treat sore throat pain, menthol is usually mixed with benzocaine and sold in lozenge form. Benzocaine also is a numbing agent that treats mouth pain by making it difficult to feel. Those using benzocaine and menthol lozenges should be careful not to bite their tongues or cheeks. Menthol applied topically can relieve nasal congestion.
Digestive Problems
The Asian medicine tradition uses menthol products such as peppermint oil to treat indigestion, nausea and diarrhea. In 2007, researchers at the University of Maryland conducted a study on the efficacy of peppermint oil in treating digestive problems, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Those in the study took capsules that were enteric-coated to dissolve in the intestines not the stomach. Seventy-five percent of the 57 people in the study reported improvement. They had significantly less pain and fewer spasms.
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