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Mint Can Be a Problem
for Some
Dr. Norman F.
Childers
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My hip ache disappeared when daily consumption of a small sugar/mint stick after
dinner was stopped (1994). Sugar did not seem to be a factor.
Several years ago a lady from Indiana complained of peppermint giving her
arthritic pains. Recently, we have had other complaints so we consulted a
reference, "Toxicants Occurring Naturally in Foods", National Academy
of Science, Washington, D.C. 1973. Peppermint oil is 40% menthol which is
also found in small amounts in chocolate, yarrow, and eucalyptus. The oil
is widely used as a perfume ingredient and flavoring in candies, cough drops,
mouthwash, cigarettes, pills, space deodorants, chewing gum, liquors, tooth
paste, etc. This more or less insures sensitizing some people. Cases
of uratica (hives) have been reported, eczema-like skin irritations, heart
fibrillation (long intake of 225+ grams of peppermint candy daily), reduction of
loss of ability to smell, and toxic psychosis of a 58-yr. woman addicted to
menthol cigarettes. Symptoms disappear when the source is stopped or
greatly reduced.
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