WIN THIS Sized Jar
At the risk of putting a dampener on your sunny days, I am going to be dealing with the cold, not cold weather I hasten to add, before I get strung up
But the common cold, sniffles, coughing and genrally feeling under the weather. I have spoken to friends and twitter friends this week who are all suffering with a bug or the start of hayfever, feel so much worse in the sunshine I think.
Don't worry I have a little sweetener to entice you, this comes from the nice people at Jakemans who have offered my readers prizes, there see, knew that would make you linger longer hopefully than the sniffles!
Jakemans have put together a lovely Q and A about why Menthol (the main ingredient in their sweets) works well to cure all these spring sniffles. Have a read then see below for the chance to win a jar of Jakemans Blackcurrant Menthol Sweets
Q&A with the Jakemans Mentholologist, Steve Pearce
Steve Pearce, BSc, CSci, CChem, FRSC, MIoD
The Jakemans Mentholologist
Steve Pearce, BSc, CSci, CChem, FRSC, MIoD
The Jakemans Mentholologist
Steve Pearce is a Biochemist, a Chartered Scientist and former president of The British Society of Flavourists. He is an expert in flavours, aromas and fragrances.
Steve has been working with Jakemans traditional menthol confectionary to explore the science of Mentholology and menthol’s effect upon the senses, body and mind. Steve is known for recreating the smell of space, the smell of Cleopatra’s hair and features in the BBC 2 food science series ‘E numbers – An Edible Adventure.’
When was menthol first used?
The properties of peppermint oil and consequently menthol are believed to have been recognised for some time with reports of use in Japan about 2,000 years ago, although first recorded use in Europe only occurs around 1771.
How is menthol made?
Menthol can be produced naturally from mint but can also be synthetically produced, most commonly from citronella oil. When produced naturally fresh mint is air-dried to create mint oil which is filtered to remove any solid particles and impurities.
The mint oil then cooled to -40°c to cause the menthol in the oil to form flakes and separate from it. The solid flakes are then collected and heated to 50°c which creates a liquid solution of menthol which is then cooled to room temperature resulting in crystallisation.
Once crystallation is complete it is poured into decanting trays where the large clumps of crystals are broken down and form smaller crystals, fine needles and powder.
How much menthol is made?
The current annual world production is estimated to be in excess of 32,000 metric tons.
Why is Menthol so good at easing coughs and sore throats?
- Menthol is unique for the cooling sensations it imparts to the skin, stuffy noses and sore throats. It works very cleverly to create a cooling sensation which numbs nerve sensations creating the soothing effect found in Jakemans menthol confectionary. The science that generates this effect is a result of the molecule interacting with specific receptor sites in cell membranes
- Menthol helps ease runny noses and it stimulates bronchial opening making breathing easier
- Menthol has powerful anti-bacterial properties so can naturally kill off micro-organisms that may lead to a throat infection
What else is menthol used for?
Menthol is included in many products for a variety of reasons. Here is a list of just a fraction of them:
- Lip balms
- Products to reduce itching
- Gels and creams that reduce minor aches and pains like muscle cramps, sprains and headaches
- In sunburn treatments
- In toothpastes and mouthwash products as well as chewing gum
- As a pesticide to protect bees against mites
- By perfumers to enhance floral notes like rose
- In treatments for indigestion
- In first aid products to produce a cooling affect in place of ice
- and of course menthol is a very important ingredient in Jakemans!
Jakemans range of traditional cough and throat sweets is available in six flavours, Throat & Chest, Honey & Lemon Menthol, Cherry Menthol, Menthol & Eucalyptus, Blueberry Menthol and the NEW Blackcurrant Menthol.
Jakemans are available from a number of retailers including major supermarkets (Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Tesco), key health retailers (Boots, Superdrug) the convenience sector and many independent stores.
For more information, please visit www.jakemans.com.
Now for the giveaway, Jakemans are giving away one jar of Blackcurrant Menthol Sweets (approx 2.75kg) and a pack of Blackcurrant Menthol Sweets for two runners-up.
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My best tip for avoiding coughs and colds is take echinacea - seems to work well for our family (touch wood!)
ReplyDeleteGreat to read all the info on menthol too - thanks!
A quote: “Being ill is one of the greatest pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work until one is better.” Samuel Butler
ReplyDeleteI hate colds.Especially when my husband gets one as it always turns into flu!!!
ReplyDeletesomeone in my house has always got a cold between me and the kids we just pass it between us all!! :(
ReplyDeleteNow that my son has started school he seems to bring home bug after bug!
ReplyDeleteIf a doctor treats your cold, it will go away in fourteen days. If you leave it alone, it will go away in two weeks.
ReplyDeleteMy gripe is that my son gets cold after cold. It seems at though he's had a cough since he went back to school after Christmas. It's horrible.
ReplyDeleteHoney, lemon and hot water is a great relief for coughs and colds
ReplyDeleteColds are just horrible. We go to great lengths to avoid people who have them, and use antibacterial hand wipes and hand wash. We also take extra zinc as a precaution! @WrightyH
ReplyDeleteI decided years ago that having more than one cold a year was an unnecessary self indulgence.
ReplyDeleteIve just got a really sad little cough that wont go away! Not even worth moaning about, but I will!
ReplyDeleteI love black currant menthol. Having a cold is a great excuse to indulge, but with a jar that size why wait to feel sick?!!
ReplyDeletemy daughter brings loads of colds home from school, then it does the rounds, why cant we all have the cold at the same time and get it over with, but no. she will give it to the baby, husband will then get it and then myself.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we have colds in the house I add a few drops of rosemary oil to my dish cloth for wiping down the surfaces and in an oil burner add some lavender, eucalyptus or rosemary. These are great to steam a bunged up head too added to a bowl of hot water!
ReplyDeleteWe all seem to have a cold or cough at the same time in our house so I end up with a house full of moaning kids, me and the husband included!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't the jar would last long in my house !!!!
Everytime I get a cold or flu it seems to transform itself into something far,far worse so I NEED Blackcurrant Menthol to help me fight the dreaded lurgy!!!
ReplyDeleteOlbas Oil is our go-to when anyone starts sniffing. A touch on the kids pjs keep them from sniffing all night
ReplyDeleteThere are so many bugs around at the moment a little menthol healing would go a long way.
ReplyDeleteHot milk and honey - helps me sleep which is impossible when you have a cold!
ReplyDeleteI seemed to have a cough and cold all winter and eventually went to the GP. He said a chest infection at the end of the summer had affected my asthma.Once he changed my inhaler, I was much better. So for once it was well worth going to the doctors about a cough and a cold
ReplyDeleteI am a bit of a vitamin junkie and so far so good @MummyFever
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I have no tips for the tips for the eradication of germs, unless it's man flu. Invite your mother round to look after him whilst he's ill - it cuts the recovery time in half.
ReplyDeleteI seem to catch everything going, even though I drink sooo much orange juice and echinacea! So some of these would be useful :-)
ReplyDeleteTo avoid germs always wash your hands and face when getting home especially after being on public transport.
ReplyDeleteWith a 1 year old who attends baby groups three times a wekk, two teenage girls and a boyfriend who works in a busy office I don't know atime where someone hasn't had or been getting over a cold in my family. But fortunately we haven't all had one at the same time so there's always omeone around to make hot water bottles, hot chocolates and give loads of cuddles.. My little baby has one now so im waiting to see whos second on the list :/ x x
ReplyDeleteI subscribe with google reader x
ReplyDeletemy daughter keeps bring home bug after bug!
ReplyDeleteSterimar blocked nose - fabulous
ReplyDelete@littleboo_21
I seem to get a cold on the 4th of every month like clockwork - ugh!
ReplyDeleteto get rid of a cold, drink hot lemons and sweat it out!
ReplyDeleteMy tip to fight a cold is a warm drink with a teaspoon of honey in it.
ReplyDeletemy son has started school he seems to bring home bugs
ReplyDeleteSubscribed via Google Reader
ReplyDeletehot whisky toddy by time youve had a couple you dont care about the cold!
ReplyDeleteThe only bugs we have (at the moment!) are ladybugs in the garden! A nice glass of Glayva keeps the chills away when a cold/cough stikes!
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to keep away from my daughter. I can,t believe anybody can get so many colds. She,s a walking bug, but I love her.
ReplyDeleteAvoid teaching in elementary schools. Full of disease.
ReplyDeleteI've been quite lucky lately and have managed to avoid any coughs or sneezes, my tip is to stay away from big crowds of people:P my worst ever bug was when I started uni, 'Fresher's flu' it lasted for about 3 months.
ReplyDeleteWho has time to be ill.
ReplyDeletei have two toddlers there always picking up cold from school then pass them on to me and there dad :( x
ReplyDeletestill recovering frm a chest infection however some of the tips on hee are useful
ReplyDeleteMy mum suffers from copd - to stop her couching in church she sucks on a cough drop - it really works! xoxo
ReplyDeletehot honey and lemon, its better than proper medicine
ReplyDeleteHot water with honey and lemon juice soothes a sore throat.
ReplyDeleteI always seem to catch more colds than most people and I find that steam inhalation helps
ReplyDeleteMenthol Crystals and heather honey! brilliant for stuffy noses and sore throats :)
ReplyDeleteI went 3 years without a sick day, I never got ill, but since my son started nursery in January I've had an almost permanent cold!!!
ReplyDeleteI always make sure that i put my hands over my nose and mouth when sneezing
ReplyDeletei always hope the men in my house don't get a cold, my god, all 4 of them with man-flu!!! heaven help me
ReplyDeleteKeep washing your hands and cleaning places where germs are easily caught i.e door handles, light switches
ReplyDeleteJust a joke -
ReplyDeleteI Have Kleptomania, but when it gets bad, I take something for it.
keep your vitamin C levels up, people who have ahigher vitamin C intake do get less colds
ReplyDeleteI am deaf, never thought I'd hear myself say that....
ReplyDeletethese are my partners fav ! hes always giving me a bug this may shut him up
ReplyDeleteDrinking peppermint tea always makes me feel better
ReplyDeleteEat lots of kiwi and oranges to keep up vitamin C.
ReplyDeletePlenty of hot drinks
ReplyDeleteHot honey and lemon works far better than over the counter drugs
ReplyDeleteLots of vitamin c and long hot baths helps me xx
ReplyDeleteStart the day with a short run (every day!)and follow that with a mug of boiled water and lemon, and then a bowl of porridge with sultanas and cinnamon. Works for me....I haven't had a day off sick in 12 years!!
ReplyDeleteJoke for you: Question: What do you call a three legged Donkey? Answer: A Wonkey!!
So far these Easter holidays both my girls have had really bad coughs and colds, with my eldest daughter ending up with a throat infection and my youngest little girl with a severe ear infection which resulted in us having to spend Easter Sunday in our local community hospital waiting for a doctor to prescribe her anti-biotics! I've woken up this morning with a raging sore throat so it looks like I'm next in line....
ReplyDeleteChocolate fixes any illness.... alright maybe it doesn't, but it definitely makes me feel better!!
ReplyDeleteI constantly suffer from colds during winter, and hayfever during summer! Have to say, a few of the tips that people have added look really good, and I will definitely be trying them out!
ReplyDeleteSomeone in our house always has a runny nose, either colds in winter or hayfever in summer, with kids its an occupational hazzard
ReplyDeleteI just had a cold, it sucked. @nootashey
ReplyDeleteI jsut had a cold, it sucked @nootashey
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't have a cold you wouldn't appreciate how good you feel when you dont !
ReplyDeleteA shot of whisky - or brandy - dont know if it really works but it sure makes me feel better
ReplyDeleteTo stop a cough at night when in bed, put vics vapour rub all over the soles of your feet and then out socks on, wont be coughing any more!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI hate having a cold - it makes you forget what being able to breathe easily is like!!
ReplyDeleteThe older I get the less colds I seem to get, perhaps you become immune.
ReplyDelete@gholmes724
Menthol Crystals are amazing for a cold! Sniff away and it will blow those germs off!!!
ReplyDeletehubby had a sniffle for 6 weeks now, and its awful as 1 -side of his nose got broke years ago and reset wrong so he cant blow it . So all i hear is him sniff sniff does my head in lol
ReplyDeleteI am 40 weeks pregnant (really!) and I'm just getting over a horrid chest infection. Coughing with a full-term baby on board has not been fun. I thought it might evict him early but no! (Moan over...that's better!)
ReplyDeleteMy colds never seem to quite get it together - they threaten to start, and then fizzle out
ReplyDeleteMy best tip for coughs and colds is plain old paracetamol and buttercup syrup x
ReplyDeletehoney is good for sore throats x
ReplyDeleteIt's not the cough that carries you off, it's the coffin they carry you off in!
ReplyDeletei suffer alot from sore throats and find warm squash helps
ReplyDeleteMy wife is always picking up colds from the kids, but finds if she continues with her normal exercise routine of cycling, jogging, etc., not only do you feel better in yourself, but you get over it quicker.
ReplyDeleteblackcurrant and vinegar was my gran's cure
ReplyDeleteI hate coughs and colds and flu and bugs. I find the best way is to drink plenty of water and paracetemol cheaper and more effective that all the brand names!
ReplyDeletethe best thing to do about a cold is not moan about it and get on with things as normal
ReplyDeleteNight Nurse is the best remedy of all for coughs and colds, and plenty of sleep!
ReplyDeleteAlways have honey tea, not keen on the taste but can help soothe - for sore throats :)
ReplyDeleteMy first line of defence against coughs and colds is 10+ Manuka honey straight off the spoon (heat kills the anti-viral/anti-bacterial property).
ReplyDelete@beachrambler - Hazel Rea
coughs sniffles and a cold makes me feel so old - and perhaps a little bit blue.
ReplyDeleteGod forbid the hubby should suffer, or it's a full on case of Man Flu!
@carsonsmummy
partner had a cold which turned into manflu, 5 days later rushed into hospital with heart failure, 2 weeks later had open heart surgery, is now home recouperating this was 5 weeks ago, beware the common cold!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I definitely need these, since my son started school in September I seem to have a cold every couple of weeks!
ReplyDeleteDrink Lemon juice, to relieve your colds and cough..
ReplyDeletecan feel my passageways clearing up already
ReplyDeletezinc, echinacea, olive leaf and most importantly... garlic!
ReplyDeleteAntibac hand wash, use it all the time to prevent nasty bugs!!! which makes me hardly every ill!! but when i am jakemans does the trick
ReplyDeleteA good strong curry usually kills off most germs but I also have to rely on medicines also.
ReplyDeleteHATE getting ill!
ReplyDeleteI hate the aches and pains in my knees.... when I've been out partying all night :) .. never let it get you down
ReplyDeleteWhenever I've got cold/flu, more recent one was swine flu have a plastic bag to hand to put your used tissues in their straight after you blow/wipe your nose so they are not hanging around or holding on to them as that's the worst way to keep cold/flu alive!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for my lovely sweets which have just arrived. They taste lovely!
ReplyDelete