Why peppermint makes us feel cold

Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
From candy canes to special flavored coffees to any number of seasonal products, peppermint is all over the place during the holiday season. And no matter how cold and snowy it gets, we can’t seem to get enough of its unique, cool and refreshing flavor.
As it turns out, there’s a scientific reason for that, according to University of Southern California neurobiologist David McKemy. In a new video, McKemy explains how the chemical menthol in peppermint tricks our brains into this sensation by activating the same receptor on nerve endings that is involved in sensing cold, said Maanvi Singh of National Public Radio (NPR).
McKemy and his colleagues used menthol to conduct research on how the human brain detects the difference between hot and cold, and how it reacts to each of those sensations, according to a Tech Times story published Friday. In their findings, they found a protein in the chemical that sends an electrical signal to the brain indicating coldness, causing the brain to respond to nerve receptors in the mount with that information.
“For some reason, we seem to be hard-wired to enjoy the refreshing, cooling sensation of menthol in our mouths,” Singh explained. “Research shows that menthol’s effects on cold receptors may satiate thirst, ease breathing and help us feel alert – which helps explain why it’s so popular not just in candy but also in cigarettes and cold medicine.”
McKemy told NPR that cold drinks quench thirst more quickly than room-temperature beverages, and people typically find it easier to breath when the air is cool. Furthermore, research by psychologists that was published in 1990 found that peppermint can actually cause people to feel more alert and focused.
As for why people got hooked on candy canes and other peppermint products during the holidays, the answer is more historical than scientific in nature. Prior to air conditioning, candy makers created hard candy during the winter months, when sugary creatures were less likely to melt during their creation or have their texture spoiled due to summertime humidity.
Somewhere along the way, candy makers began adding peppermint to candy canes, which themselves were fashioned by a German choirmaster who wanted to create a sweet treat in the shape of a shepherd’s cane to commemorate the Christian Nativity.
“Peppermint is also thought to have health benefits,” Singh said. “Although scientific research is still lacking in this area, most experts believe it relieves indigestion, soothes certain skin conditions and that the menthol in it helps relieve congestion caused by colds. There is also current research investigating the potential anti-cancer effects of peppermint.”
Menthol has previously been linked to increased alertness and reduced fatigue among drivers by researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. In addition, Dr. Bryan Raudenbush and his colleagues reported that it and cinnamon can both reduce their anxiety and frustration.
That study built on previous work by Raudenbush’s team that suggested that stimulating the nervous system using peppermint and cinnamon odors enhanced motivation and performance, increase alertness, and decrease fatigue among athletes and clerical office workers.
The researchers tested the effects of those smells on drivers by having 25 undergraduate students sniff peppermint, cinnamon, or a non-odor control for 30 seconds every 15 minutes in the midst of a driving simulation. While prolonged driving typically led to increased anger and fatigue, driver frustration ratings fell significantly when peppermint or one of the other scents were used.
—–
Follow redOrbit on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.