# Mint is bad???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 22, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209 "2002-07-22T12:47:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leechlord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19b73/32.png) [@Leechlord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechlord)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/1 "2002-07-22T12:47:06Z")

</div>

Ok, I joined this forum cuz i got really important question. I Always eat mint gums which is very strong, The strongest i have ever tasted, 3-4 bites, u can feel the reaction when u breath it went into ur nose, That’s how strong it is. If u want to know what gum it called “Airwave”. I only have seen it in Hong Kong & New Zealand.

Anyway, My mom stopped me from buying them & eating them anymore. She said that too much mint wil cause impotency to guys, i dunno what happen to girls. I used to eat 2 of them everyday. Is it true that it’ll cause impotency? if it is which ingredient? so i can but gums without the “bad” ingredients.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/2 "2002-07-22T13:08:37Z")

</div>

This does seem to be an asian belief. I am sure it is wrong

[http://www.newasiawoman.com.sg/health/health\_011109.shtml](http://www.newasiawoman.com.sg/health/health_011109.shtml)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/3 "2002-07-22T13:20:19Z")

</div>

:eek:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leechlord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19b73/32.png) [@Leechlord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechlord)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/4 "2002-07-22T13:24:33Z")

</div>

Wow, what reliefing… It sure is a good site that explain it but y some ppl said it’s dangerous? There might be some other reason on other site. If anyone know, plz reply. Thanks scm1001

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/5 "2002-07-22T14:26:45Z")

</div>

“Airwaves” chewing gum is fairly common in the UK too.  
I know of no reason to worry about your health due to mint. (unless you are a gardener and mint has taken over your planting - its a bugger to remove :😉 )

People say a lot of _silly_ things **Leechlord**. You came to the right place to counteract those acts of ignorance other people perpetuate. Welcome to the **SDMB.**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/6 "2002-07-22T14:42:47Z")

</div>

I recall a similar urban myth at school in England about [polo mints](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A32068).

Nonsense.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/7 "2002-07-22T15:33:21Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Aro \*  
> \*\*“Airwaves” chewing gum is fairly common in the UK too.  
> I know of no reason to worry about your health due to mint. (unless you are a gardener and mint has taken over your planting - its a bugger to remove :😉 ) \*\*

In which case it’s time to make mojitos! As long as you can find some rum and lime, that is.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Amfet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Amfet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amfet)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/8 "2002-07-22T15:54:31Z")

</div>

This \<a href=“[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002673.htm](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002673.htm)” target="\_blank"\>link\</a\> gives an overview of menthol posioning. I know you asked about impotence (which btw is not listed as an effect of menthol poisoning) unfortunately the site mentioned didn’t seem to differentiate between an acute or chronic overdose. Kind of interesting that it was listed though.  
This \<a href=“[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002673.htm](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002673.htm)” target="\_blank"\>link\</a\> gives an overview of menthol posioning. I know you asked about impotence (which btw is not listed as an effect of menthol poisoning) unfortunately the site mentioned didn’t seem to differentiate between an acute or chronic overdose. Kind of interesting that it was listed though.  
FWIW th e Merck lists menthol’s LD50 (orally in rats) as 3180mg/kg  
From what I read \<a href=“[http://www.avera.org/adam/ency/article/002583.htm"target="\_blank](http://www.avera.org/adam/ency/article/002583.htm%22target=%22_blank)”\>here\</a\> you are more at risk of experiencing problems when the menthol (or methyl salicylate) gets in the blood through the skin.

IMO menthol is one of the last things in your food to be concerned with.  
(couldnt get preview to go through…hope my link is ok.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Amfet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Amfet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amfet)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/9 "2002-07-22T16:00:39Z")

</div>

:smack:  
SOB!!

This [link](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002673.htm) gives an overview of menthol posioning. I know you asked about impotence (which btw is not listed as an effect of menthol poisoning) unfortunately the site mentioned didn’t seem to differentiate between an acute or chronic overdose. Kind of interesting that it was listed though.

FWIW the Merck lists menthol’s LD50 (orally in rats) as 3180mg/kg  
From what I read [here](http://www.avera.org/adam/ency/article/002583.htm) you are more at risk of experiencing problems when the menthol (or methyl salicylate) gets in the blood through the skin.

IMO menthol is one of the last things in your food to be concerned with.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leechlord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19b73/32.png) [@Leechlord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechlord)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/10 "2002-07-23T01:25:17Z")

</div>

Thanks, both site help. But it said for treatment is like “wash it off from skin”. What if it’s from gum??? Is 1-2 gums per day an overdoze?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/11 "2002-07-23T11:46:06Z")

</div>

**Leechlord** : You couldn’t eat enough gum to get that much menthol in your system. You’d die of thirst first. Or hyperglycemia (the gum probably has more sugar than menthol).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/12 "2002-07-25T01:48:51Z")

</div>

Hey **Leechlord** welcome to the SDMB.

To completely hijack your thread I have come here to advise you that all posters representing the name leech must make reference to boobies or chocolates at least once in every 10 posts.

For an example of how to do this see [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2298618#post2298618).

And have a good time at the SDMB  
leechbabe

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/13 "2002-07-25T02:14:36Z")

</div>

(minor hijack)

I have heard, although not having a current girlfriend or love buddy, yet not been able to do an empirical test.

Impotency? I have heard that direct application of mint to your love cannon (or nookie) can have a quite erotic effect. By having your lady, or man, suck or bite into an Altoids mint, then applying it to the desired area.

I do not yet plan on sucking on a mint and spitting on my hand.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint-is-bad/120209/14 "2002-07-25T04:26:24Z")

</div>

Wonder if thats why the most popular condom flavour was mint 😛