Menthol

Menthol is an organic compound naturally occurring in mint plants. It is also synthetically manufactured. Menthol is widely used in a number of products and features certain therapeutic qualities. It was first isolated from peppermint oil in 1771 in the West, but it may have been in use in Japan for much longer.
It has a variety of uses and is found in many manufactured products as a perfume, flavoring and even moisturizer. However, menthol also has many medicinal properties and can soothe pain, relieve cold symptoms, aid in digestion and promote oral health. Most of menthol uses are related to its stimulation of the skin's cold receptors. This property makes menthol produce a cooling effect when inhaled or applied to the skin. It has local anesthetic and counter-irritant qualities and is sometimes used for short-term relief of sore throat and mouth irritation. This ingredient is often used in products used for relief of muscle aches, sprains, and similar conditions. The therapeutic effects of menthol include germicidal and tonic effects, but it is the local anesthetic action that is most often used, as well as the fact that it reduces itching and tenderness. Use menthol to soothe sore throats and suppress coughs. There are many commercially available brands of inhalers and cough drops that contain anywhere from 3g to 10g of menthol. Use menthol to maintain oral health and combat gum disease. Menthol is often found in commercial mouth washes. Peppermint oil can be rubbed on swollen gums, mouth ulcers and cavities to soothe discomfort and kill bacteria. Use menthol to treat muscle pain and skin irritation. Menthol has analgesic properties and is often found in mentholated topical creams that can sooth muscle pain. Peppermint oil can also be rubbed directly on the skin to soothe irritation caused by hives, poison oak, poison ivy, or razor burn. Use menthol to aid in digestion and treat bloating, gas, diarrhea or symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.