Supplement
Menthol is the cooling compound in peppermint, which activates cold-sensing nerve receptors and can relax smooth muscle. The evidence is strongest for digestive discomfort: across roughly 800 participants, peppermint oil, with menthol as its key active ingredient, eased irritable bowel symptoms including abdominal pain and spasms, and the evidence is moderate. Other uses, such as short-term muscle pain relief, tension headache, and feeling cooler while exercising in heat, have limited evidence from small to moderate studies.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 5
- Graded outcomes
- 0140
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdominal Pain/Spasms Peppermint oil (enteric-coated) is effective for IBS symptoms - menthol is the key active | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 800 people |
Exercise In Heat
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Comfort Menthol mouth rinse improves perceived thermal comfort during exercise in hot conditions | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 200 people | |||
| Endurance Performance Small improvements in time to exhaustion and self-paced performance in heat | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 150 people |
Muscle Pain
- Pain Relief (Topical): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain Relief (Topical) Topical menthol products provide short-term muscle pain relief | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 400 people |
Tension Headache
- Headache Pain: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headache Pain Topical peppermint oil (10% menthol) as effective as acetaminophen for tension headache | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 150 people |
Key findings
- Abdominal Pain/SpasmsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Thermal ComfortImproves (the measure goes up)
- Endurance PerformanceImproves (the measure goes up)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Menthol products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
Links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Fullscript asks for a free account before it shows its catalog and prices. Full disclosure