# Mint **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705 "2004-01-04T22:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emacularius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@emacularius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacularius)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/1 "2004-01-04T22:29:08Z")
A question came to me earlier, just after I’d brushed my teeth… What is it in mint that gives us that “cooling” sensation? Is it the same property that makes it good for stomach aches and menstrual cramps? ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/2 "2004-01-04T22:36:09Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/3 "2004-01-04T22:52:26Z")
“It” is CH[sub]3[/sub]C[sub]6[/sub]H[sub]9/subOH – (Menthol.) It has anaesthetic properties. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/4 "2004-01-04T22:57:46Z")
Read [this.](http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/nov98/911017915.Ch.q.html) ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/5 "2004-01-04T23:03:56Z")
Some [info](http://www.italiancookingandliving.com/food/herbs_spices/mint.html) on mints healing properties. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/6 "2004-01-04T23:05:19Z")
Then, read [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=199752). ---
**Author:** ![emacularius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@emacularius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacularius)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/7 "2004-01-04T23:07:44Z")
Cool. I also found this: [http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs\_mints.htm](http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_mints.htm) Apparently it has a LOT of medicinal uses… (peppermint, that is, because of the menthol) ---
**Author:** ![emacularius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@emacularius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacularius)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/8 "2004-01-04T23:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gluteus maximus \* > \*\*Then, read [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=199752). \*\* Thanks for letting me know… this is the 2nd thread I’ve started, I’ll keep it in mind for next time. 😃 (minty fresh) ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/9 "2004-01-04T23:47:15Z")
Is CH3C6H9(C3H7)OH different from C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-O-H (assume all carbons are surrounded by H, except the last hydroxyl…) Or does CH3C6H9(C3H7)OH look more like a methane linked to a hexane linked to a propanol? Although… that is exactly what I drew earlier… ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/10 "2004-01-05T03:26:27Z")
CD, there’s a cyclohexane in the midst of it all. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mint/222705/11 "2004-01-05T11:15:50Z")
[Here](http://www.leffingwell.com/menthol.gif) is the structure of menthol (imagine a carbon at each line junction, and the ends of the lines if no other atom is shown). [Here](http://www.omikron-online.de/cyberchem/aroinfo/gif/0375_3d.gif) is a molecular model. Blue represents carbon atoms, white is hydrogen, red is oxygen.