How Menthol Works as a Pain Reliever

Menthol is a natural pain reliever, in fact it is the strongest natural analgesic. That's why you can find it in many lotions, creams, gels, rubs, pastes, medicines, the list goes on and on.

Menthol is made from the oils of mint and peppermint plants. Since menthol is in so many products, the demand is too high for natural sources. Thankfully it can be synthesized in labs.

Pain relief comes through a number of processes menthol creates. It blocks pain receptors from feeling pain. It also stimulates those same pain receptors into releasing natural pain-relieving substances your body produces. Since menthol feels cold, it tricks the body into constricting blood-flow to the area. Menthol also allows other medicinal ingredients in the topical analgesic to penetrate quicker and easier, which aids in pain relief.

Other chemicals are vital to how a topical pain reliever works but for the most part, menthol is the main active ingredient in the most popular topical analgesics.

	Active Ingredient(s)
Tylenol Precise	10% Menthol, 30% Methyl salicylate
Tiger Balm	8% Menthol, 11% Camphor
China Gel	5% Menthol, 3% Camphor
Biofreeze	4% Menthol
Sub Zero	3.9% Menthol
Perform	3.5% Menthol, 0.2% Camphor
Kool 'N Fit	1.25% Menthol, 0.2% Camphor
MyoNatural	1.25% Menthol

Personal preference for a certain product can come from other ingredients like Ilex in Biofreeze and Sub Zero. Or how strong a balm smell verses how the analgesic is applied. Test a few out and see which one you like the most.