Evidence supporting the use of: Menthol
For the health condition: Cough (spastic)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Menthol is commonly used in over-the-counter cough remedies, such as lozenges, ointments, and syrups, to alleviate symptoms of spastic (irritative) cough. Its primary mechanism of action is through activation of cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors in the throat, which creates a cooling sensation and can reduce the sensation of irritation that triggers coughing. This sensory modulation provides a soothing effect, making coughs less frequent and less severe.

Scientific evidence supporting menthol's use for cough is moderate. Several clinical studies indicate that menthol can reduce the cough reflex threshold, meaning a higher stimulus is required to trigger a cough after menthol administration. For example, a randomized controlled trial published in Chest (2008) showed that inhaled menthol vapors increase the cough threshold in healthy volunteers. However, the overall efficacy is modest, and other studies suggest that the benefit is primarily in symptomatic relief rather than a cure for underlying conditions. Major medical guidelines generally consider menthol safe and potentially helpful for short-term symptom relief, but they also note a lack of large, high-quality clinical trials demonstrating substantial clinical benefit.

In summary, menthol's use for spastic cough is supported by both its pharmacological action and moderate clinical evidence. It is widely accepted as a symptomatic treatment, though not as a definitive therapy for cough due to underlying disease.

More about Menthol
More about Cough (spastic)

Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)

Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
apple
waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
pear
platycodon root
plum fruit
pomegranate
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
prickly ash
fritillaria
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
juniper berries
dodder
sweet flag
eucalyptus
Abies spectabilis
horehound
soursop
Alcohol
Aralia
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ambergris
Acacia
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Allyl Sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Bayleaf
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Buddha's Hand
Borage
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Cnidium
Cactus
Citron
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cistus
Cubeb
Cowslip
Calamus
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Ephedrine
Fritillary
Fernbush
Flavoglycosides
Glehnia littoralis
Guava
Guaco
gum
Grindelia
Gallesia
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Galangal
Glycyrrhizin
Honey
Honey loquat syrup
Ilex
Ivy
Japanese Kadsura
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
Khella
Loquat
Lactucarium
Linden
Lindera
Large-Leaved Linden
Loranthus
Lungwort
Ligusticum
Mentha haplocalyx
Marsh Tea
Mucilage
Melia
Mace
Madder
Maidenhair Fern
Meadow sage
Nigella Seed
Nymphaea nouchali
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
Piper chaba
Pinellia Ternata
Prepared Aconite Tuber
Polypodium
Platycodon
Paris polyphylla
Pelargonium
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Pimpinella
Poppy
Polygala
Ravinsara
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
Sete sangrias
Stemona
Shogaol
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Tea
Thymoquinone
Varuna
Vasicine
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Yerba buena
Zedoary
Zingerone

Products containing Menthol

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.