Why do mints feel cold

It also activates in the presence of menthol, a waxy, crystalline organic compound found in peppermint and other mint oils. Why, exactly, is unknown; menthol just happens to fit the cellular "lock.

The same "hey it's cold in here! And just like that, the wondrous human brain is tricked by a piece of Doublemint. Even after you spit the gum out, a little menthol will remain and the sensory neurons will stay sensitized. Drinking anything cold or even taking in a big breath of cool air will cause the neurons to fire again, and the double whammy of the cool temperature and the menthol will make your mouth seem extra cold. TRPM8 is an ion channel, meaning it regulates the flow of ions between cellular membranes much as an aquatic channel regulates transit between bodies of water.

Mint contains an organic compound called menthol that binds to TRPM8, making the ion channel open as if the receptor was exposed to cold and signaling this information to your brain. In fact, menthol sensitizes the neurons to the effect that doesn't wear off as soon as you spit out mint toothpaste or stop chewing a breath mint. If you take a sip of cold water right afterward, the cool temperature will feel especially cold.

Other chemicals affect temperature receptors, too. For example, capsaicin in hot peppers causes a sensation of heat. What do you think would happen if you combined the heat of peppers with the cold of mint? Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Healing happens a lot faster because of this. Lastly menthol takes away the bad effects of inflammation. Menthol gives a sensation of cooling by activating TRPM8 without any actual fall in temperature in that area.

This brings down the inflammation in the area. Of course that is why cooling the injury with ice works as well. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Two cool. Africa Studio. Anwesha Ghosh , University of Rochester. The ion channels stay closed until the receptor protein detects the stimulus it's looking for. Those fresh ions from the outside world trigger a tiny electrical signal, called an action potential, that neurons relay to the brain.

The action potential is like an electrochemical telegram that reads "some of the coldness receptors on the tongue were triggered. Most receptor proteins are designed to open their ion channels when they detect a particular stimulus. For example, the protein scientists call TRPM8 pronounced "trip M 8" is mostly associated with coldness — it goes wild when you lick an ice cream cone.