Pain Relief from Mint

We commonly use mint an an herb in cooking or as garnishing in desserts, but we also find it in liniments and palliative ointments and massage oils. It’s pain relieving powers have been long known particularly to those who practive traditional chinese medicine, but there have also been anecdotes that even Hippocrates, the Greek scholar, has used it to treat sprains, join pains and inflammation.

“Swellings and pains in the joints, ulceration, those of a gouty nature, and sprains, are generally improved by a copious affusion of cold water, which reduces the swelling, and removes the pain; for a moderate degree of numbness removes pain.”

But what is it in mint that relieves pain? I used to think it’s just a sort of diversion, a trick to make the mind focus on the cooling sensation instead of the pain. Well, it turns out I’m partially correct.

Scientists from the Universtiy of Edinburgh have identified chemical compounds in mint oil and relatd compounds that act on a nerve receptor on the skin, called TRPM8, which is activated by the cooling chemicals or cool temperatures. When activated, it inhibits the ‘pain messages’ being sent from the locality of the pain to the brain.

The researchers are optimistic that these compounds may one day offer relief for those who suffer from chronic pain, including those with arthritis or those who have had nerve damage or spinal injury following major accidents.

Quite a feat, eh? Now who says herbal medicine is pure quack?

Er, Mojitos, anyone?

[Photo: Matchstick]