Can’t search right now (I blame Sampiro) but the title says it all. A York Peppermint Patty or an Andes Candy tastes distinctly cool in my mouth.
What’s the mechanism behind this?
The herb mint contains a molecule called menthol that binds to receptors in the toungue or skin to produce a feeling of cold. Just like the molecule capcaiscin in chillies produces a feeling of hot.
Menthol is a natural product that has been used for millenia, so is generally regarded as safe. It’s the ingredient that produces a cold sensation in a lot of candies, chewing gums etc.
So the essence of the matter is that the body has receptors that sense temperature and provoke a response in the brain, but it also contains receptors that do the same thing by binding molecules (such as menthol).
A related question (I assume), which I have asked on here before but without much success, is how menthol acts to clear your nasal passages. It’s used in all sorts of vapour-rubs and lozenges, but why should breathing in menthol fumes clear your airways?
Or wasabi, for that matter. (Youtube link.)
Decongestants normally act through vasoconstriction, they shrink the blood vessels in your nose which are responsible for swelling and feeling blocked up. So menthol could be a vasoconstrictor - don’t know if it is or not myself. It is described as such in random google hits. This link http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MveCDib3DAwC&pg=PA305&lpg=PA305&dq=menthol+as+vasoconstrictor+decongestant&source=web&ots=T6MJvVmoGD&sig=l83ipdd-w-PLfehnGeu7I5NvIz0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result however, reckons there is no real evidence for menthol acting as a decongestant, it’s more of a subjective ‘feeling of breathing easier’ rather than actually breathing easier:confused:
Interesting, thanks!