Peppermint candy canes...don’t these just bring back holiday
memories from youth?! Amazingly, peppermint is being found
today to actually benefit memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The hint
of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa,
and more! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Groton
chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Groton back pain relief and neck pain relief more pleasant!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, COGNITION
Researchers and healthcare professionals taking care of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment hope for
effective, simple, safe-to-use-long-term treatments. Essential
oils are potentially just such therapies.
Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are
many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers propose
that these act by reducing the
neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, containing
the cholinergic (the part of the nervous system that processes
acetylcholine) system, and enhancing
neuroinflammation that involves microglia (brain and spinal
cord immune cells). (1) In a lab experiment with mice, researchers
tested how smelling peppermint essential oil enhanced learning and memory ability as evidenced by hippocampal CA1 region neurons reverting
back to normal and Aβ deposition falling
among other changes that may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s
disease. This experiment also shared a new term –
metabolomics - which is the study of chemical processes involving
metabolites (small molecules). In this study, such metabolites included
arginine, proline, inositol phosphate, cysteine, and methionine. (2). We at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
found these so fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are associated with the brain, appetite is, too. Diseases
like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few issues
linked to appetite dysregulation. An assessment of published studies, many of which were mice
studies, regarding essential oils or fragrant compounds
that were said to control food intake and
energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds increased
appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds diminished
appetite. How? Several processes involving the sympathetic/parasympathetic
nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They added that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they revealed
hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control employing
essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all know that carrying extra weight around is not good
for us, particularly not for those of us with Groton
back pain even though Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is very good at managing
that!) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office would think our Groton chiropractic patients
may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint this
holiday season!
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Rudy Kachmann, a neurosurgeon, on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the connection
between diabetes and back pain as well as a variety of other
conditions like inflammation, back surgery, etc. He mentions the
beneficial role chiropractic has in healthcare and back pain care.
Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Groton chiropractic
appointment soon. Want to share a peppermint candy cane at
your next appointment?!