---
title: "Biofreeze Menthol Pain Relief Gel — Evidence, Benefits &… | Magellan"
description: "Biofreeze Menthol Pain Relief Gel — Menthol is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from peppermint and other mint oils, or made…"
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/215.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/215.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/215.html"
type: "product"
section: "Topical Pain Relief"
evidence_grade: "Emerging evidence"
evidence_tier: "emerging"
citations: 18
product_id: 215
price_usd: 15.99
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
license: "Educational content — not medical advice"
---

# Biofreeze Menthol Pain Relief Gel

[Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Topical Pain Relief](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/7.md) › Biofreeze Menthol Pain Relief Gel

**HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/215.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/215

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Product | Biofreeze Menthol Pain Relief Gel |
| Category | [Topical Pain Relief](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/7.md) |
| Evidence grade | Emerging evidence (C) |
| Peer-reviewed citations | 18 |
| Typical listed price | $15.99 (check the live price) |
| Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Biofreeze%20Menthol%20Pain%20Relief%20Gel&tag=magellanlong-20) |
| Catalog ID | 215 |

## What it is

Menthol is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from peppermint and other mint oils, or made synthetically, that is widely used in over-the-counter topical analgesic gels, creams, and patches. When applied to the skin it activates the cold-sensing TRPM8 receptor on sensory nerves, producing a cooling sensation, and acts as a counterirritant. Evidence also indicates menthol can block voltage-gated sodium channels on nociceptors and increases blood flow in the treated skin, both of which may further contribute to local analgesia.

## Its role in longevity

Menthol is used for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, including strains, arthritis, and delayed-onset muscle soreness, and small randomized trials report modest reductions in pain intensity and pressure-pain sensitivity — in one soreness trial menthol gel even outperformed ice — often with a cooling effect users find soothing. A small triple-blind crossover trial also found a 10% menthol solution superior to placebo for aborting migraine attacks. However, most studies are small, short, or combine menthol with other agents, and systematic reviews rate the overall evidence for topical menthol as limited; some knee-osteoarthritis and neuropathic-pain data show within-group improvement but little advantage over placebo. Relief is fast but symptomatic and short-lived. This evidence describes the compound menthol and its cooling/counterirritant mechanism rather than this specific commercial product.

## Evidence grade: Emerging evidence

- **What the grade means:** Curated grade based on the human and mechanistic evidence for this compound.
- **Dose used in studies:** Apply gel to the area up to 3–4×/day as needed
- **What this grade does not say:** Relief is mainly immediate cooling comfort, not disease-modifying; trials are small and short, mostly in acute muscle soreness. Menthol gel beat ice in one soreness trial and helped in a migraine study, but evidence for chronic joint pain is thin. NSAID-free and low-risk.

## In the news

- **Menthol; Methyl Salicylate Cream, Lotion, or Ointment** — Cleveland Clinic 2026 [Read it](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/23757-menthol-methyl-salicylate-cream-lotion-or-ointment)
  > It works by making your skin feel warm or cool, which blocks pain signals going to the brain. It also decreases inflammation.
- **Menthol: Joint Pain Uses, Warnings, Side Effects, Dosage** — MedicineNet 2026 [Read it](https://www.medicinenet.com/menthol_topical/article.htm)
  > Menthol reduces pain by counterirritation of nerve endings under the skin. Menthol initially stimulates the nerve endings, but continued exposure desensitizes the nerve endings and decreases pain sensitivity.

## The research

Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product.

### Cited studies

1. **Comparison of diclofenac gel, ibuprofen gel, and ibuprofen gel with levomenthol for topical treatment of musculoskeletal pain**
   J Int Med Res 2019 · [PMID 31353997](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31353997/) · [DOI 10.1177/0300060519859146](https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060519859146)

   > Both ibuprofen/levomenthol and diclofenac gels provided superior global pain relief compared with ibuprofen gel, with a shorter median time to significant pain relief. Only ibuprofen/levomenthol gel provided cooling for up to 2 hours.

2. **Efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac/menthol gel for ankle sprain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trial**
   J Int Med Res 2017 · [PMID 28345425](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28345425/) · [DOI 10.1177/0300060517700322](https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060517700322)

   > No significant improvement was observed with topical 1% diclofenac/3% menthol gel compared with placebo, 1% diclofenac, or 3% menthol gel in treating pain from ankle sprain.

3. **Efficacy and safety profile of a topical methyl salicylate and menthol patch in adult patients with mild to moderate muscle strain: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.**
   Clin Ther 2010 · [PMID 20171409](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20171409/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.clinthera.2010.01.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2010.01.016)

   > The primary efficacy analysis (SPID8 with movement) indicated that patients receiving the active patch experienced significantly greater pain relief (approximately 40%) than those patients receiving a placebo patch (mean [SD], 182.6 [131.2] vs 130.1 [144.1]; P = 0.005).

4. **Menthol-Based Topical Analgesic Induces Similar Upper and Lower Body Pain Pressure Threshold Values: A Randomized Trial.**
   J Sport Rehabil 2021 · [PMID 34552033](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34552033/) · [DOI 10.1123/jsr.2021-0144](https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2021-0144)

   > A menthol-based topical analgesic increased PPT (decreased pain sensitivity) overall (P = .05; 11.6% [2.4%]; d = 1.05) and PPT was higher (P < .0001; 31.5%-44.2%; d = 1.03-1.8) for lower versus upper body locations.

5. **A randomized, double-blind comparison shows the addition of oxygenated glycerol triesters to topical mentholated cream for the treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain demonstrates incremental benefit over time.**
   Pain Pract 2012 · [PMID 22304620](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22304620/) · [DOI 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2012.00529.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-2500.2012.00529.x)

   > Patients in both groups experienced statistically significant pain relief on Day 8 over baseline, with the MC plus OGT-treated group reporting statistically significantly greater pain relief than the MC group (P = 0.016).

6. **Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness and Topical Analgesic Alter Corticospinal Excitability of the Biceps Brachii.**
   Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019 · [PMID 31157708](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31157708/) · [DOI 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002055](https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002055)

   > These findings suggest that DOMS reduced corticospinal excitability and after the administration of menthol-based topical analgesic, there was a reduction in pain, which was accompanied by increased corticospinal inhibition.

7. **The effect of either topical menthol or a placebo on functioning and knee pain among patients with knee OA.**
   J Geriatr Phys Ther 2013 · [PMID 22976810](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22976810/) · [DOI 10.1519/JPT.0b013e318268dde1](https://doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0b013e318268dde1)

   > The menthol intervention resulted in significant reductions in pain during the TUG, TCS, Up stairs, and Down stairs tasks. The placebo condition did not result in any significant changes in pain during the functional tasks.

8. **A comparison of topical menthol to ice on pain, evoked tetanic and voluntary force during delayed onset muscle soreness.**
   Int J Sports Phys Ther 2012 · [PMID 22666646](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22666646/)

   > Compared to ice, the topical menthol-based analgesic decreased perceived discomfort to a greater extent and permitted greater tetanic forces to be produced.

9. **A cetylated fatty acid topical cream with menthol reduces pain and improves functional performance in individuals with arthritis.**
   J Strength Cond Res 2005 · [PMID 15903393](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15903393/) · [DOI 10.1519/R-505059.1](https://doi.org/10.1519/R-505059.1)

   > One week of treatment with a topical cream consisting of cetylated fatty acids and menthol was similarly effective for reducing pain and improving functional performance in individuals with arthritis of the knee, elbow, and wrist.

10. **The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.**
    J Clin Pharm Ther 2018 · [PMID 29524352](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29524352/) · [DOI 10.1111/jcpt.12679](https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.12679)

    > Menthol is a selective activator of transient receptor potential melastatin-8 (TRPM8) channels and is also a vasoactive compound. As a topical agent, it acts as a counter-irritant by imparting a cooling effect and by initially stimulating nociceptors and then desensitizing them.

11. **The distinctive role of menthol in pain and analgesia: Mechanisms, practices, and advances.**
    Front Mol Neurosci 2022 · [PMID 36277488](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36277488/) · [DOI 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1006908](https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2022.1006908)

    > Under pathological situation, menthol activates TRPM8 to attenuate mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia following nerve injury or chemical stimuli.

12. **Menthol pain relief through cumulative inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels.**
    Pain 2011 · [PMID 22172548](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22172548/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.pain.2011.11.014](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2011.11.014)

    > We found that low concentrations of menthol cause analgesia in mice, relieving pain produced by a Na(+) channel-targeting toxin. We conclude that menthol is a state-selective blocker of Nav1.8, Nav1.9, and TTX-sensitive Na(+) channels, indicating a role for Na(+) channel blockade in the efficacy of menthol as topical analgesic compound.

13. **Topical analgesics in the management of acute and chronic pain.**
    Mayo Clin Proc 2013 · [PMID 23374622](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23374622/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.11.015](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.11.015)

    > Currently, limited evidence is available to support the use of other topical analgesics in acute and chronic pain.

14. **Topical Treatments and Their Molecular/Cellular Mechanisms in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain-Narrative Review.**
    Pharmaceutics 2021 · [PMID 33810493](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33810493/) · [DOI 10.3390/pharmaceutics13040450](https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13040450)

    > For topical amitriptyline, menthol, and gabapentin, evidence comes from case reports and case series.

15. **Topical therapies for knee osteoarthritis.**
    Postgrad Med 2018 · [PMID 30156934](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30156934/) · [DOI 10.1080/00325481.2018.1505182](https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2018.1505182)

    > Many studies with a low level of evidence have reported some pain mitigation using the rest of aforementioned topical therapies.

16. **Topical Analgesic Improved or Maintained Ballistic Hip Flexion Range of Motion with Treated and Untreated Legs.**
    J Sports Sci Med 2019 · [PMID 31427878](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31427878/)

    > Since menthol-based topical analgesics (TopAnalg) suppress pain, they may increase stretch thresholds improving ROM.

17. **Cutaneous application of menthol 10% solution as an abortive treatment of migraine without aura: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossed-over study.**
    International journal of clinical practice 2010 · [PMID 20456191](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20456191/)

    > Randomized triple-blind crossover trial (n=35, 118 attacks): a 10% menthol solution applied to the head and neck beat placebo on 2-hour pain-free and pain-relief endpoints.

18. **Topical menthol increases cutaneous blood flow.**
    Microvascular research 2016 · [PMID 27131832](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27131832/)

    > Human randomized physiology study showing topical menthol dose-dependently increases skin blood flow across the treated area, a plausible contributor to its analgesic effect.

## Where to buy

[Search Amazon for Biofreeze Menthol Pain Relief Gel](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Biofreeze%20Menthol%20Pain%20Relief%20Gel&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link.

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## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).