The Science of Minty Cold

Mint feels cold even though it is not. Your tongue is basically getting tricked

in the coolest way. Your nerves have temperature sensors, tiny gates that

open when things feel cold. One famous cold sensor is TRPM8. Menthol can activate

that cold sensor even at normal temperatures. So your brain receives the message

cold air, even when nothing got colder. That is why mint gum can

feel icy. And why menthol creams feel cool on skin. But it is

not magic, your thermometer stays the same. If you use a lot,

TRPM8 can desensitize, so the cooling feels weaker. At high doses, menthol can even