Menthol

I thought about something one day as I sucked on a Ricola Sugar-Free Lemon Honey Herb lozenge to alleviate a brief spell of coughing.

What’s the active ingredient in many over-the-counter cough drops and lozenges? Menthol – primarily manufactured from peppermint, a hybrid cross between watermint and spearmint.

You’ll find menthol listed in a bunch of off-the-shelf brands – e.g., Vicks, Burt’s bees, Ricola, CVS, Hall’s, Ludens.

What is it that makes some cigarette smoke cool to the throat and lungs when you inhale? Menthol. Which, by the way, does inhibit nicotine metabolism, believe it or not.

No wonder menthol cigarettes were touted and advertised as healthier than regular cigarettes in the 1950s. Remember Salem? Newports? Marboro Menthol? Surely you’ve heard of Kool.

It’s funny that what’s good for the throat is also bad for the throat.