Williamson Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...don’t these just bring back childhood holiday memories?! Amazingly, peppermint is being found today to actually be beneficial for memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The scent of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Apple Country Chiropractic wishes our Williamson chiropractic patients and their families a peppermint-filled holiday that will make their journey to Williamson back pain relief and neck pain relief more pleasant!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, COGNITION
Researchers and healthcare professionals immersed in the care of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment hope for effective, simple, safe-to-use-long-term therapies. 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 suggest that these work by reducing the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, controlling the cholinergic (the part of the nervous system that processes acetylcholine) system, and boosting neuroinflammation that involves microglia (brain and spinal cord immune cells). (1) In a mice experiment, researchers tested how smelling peppermint essential oil enhanced learning and memory ability as seen in 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 study also shared a new term – metabolomics - which is the study of chemical processes encompassing metabolites (small molecules). In this study, such metabolites involved were arginine, proline, inositol phosphate, cysteine, and methionine. (2) We at Apple Country Chiropractic found these quite fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are linked to the brain, appetite is, too. Diseases like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few issues linked to appetite dysregulation. A review of published studies, many of which were studies done with mice, regarding essential oils or fragrant compounds that were reported to influence food intake and energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds boosted appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds shrank appetite. How? Several processes engaging the sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They also noted that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also play a role in appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they uncovered hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control employing essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all know that being a bit overweight is not beneficial for us, especially not for those of us with Williamson back pain even though Apple Country Chiropractic is very good at managing that!) Apple Country Chiropractic would think our Williamson chiropractic patients may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s holiday season!
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
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 many other conditions like inflammation, back surgery, etc. He talks about the beneficial role chiropractic plays in healthcare and back pain management. Dr. Kachmann has spoken at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Williamson chiropractic appointment soon. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
