Peppermint candy canes...don’t these just bring back holiday
memories from youth?! Amazingly, peppermint is being found
today to actually be good
for memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The whiff
of peppermint fills holiday décor, stockings, cocoa,
and more! Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation wishes our Carrolltown chiropractic patients and their
families a peppermint-filled holiday that will make their journey to Carrolltown back pain relief and neck pain relief more pleasant!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, COGNITION
Researchers and healthcare professionals involved
in the care of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment welcome
effective, simple, safe-to-use-long-term therapies. Essential
oils are possibly just such treatments.
Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are
many sources low in toxicity. Researchers offer
that these act by lowering the
neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, managing
the cholinergic (acetylcholine processing in the nervous system) system, and boosting
neuroinflammation involving microglia (brain and spinal
cord immune cells). (1) In a lab experiment with mice, researchers
tested how smelling peppermint essential oil improved learning and memory ability as evidenced by hippocampal CA1 region neurons reverting
back to normal and Aβ deposition reducing
among other changes that may enhance 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 included
arginine, proline, inositol phosphate, cysteine, and methionine. (2). We at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
found these quite interesting!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are linked
to the brain, so too is appetite. Diseases
like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few diseases
linked to appetite dysregulation. An assessment of published studies, many of which were mice
studies, concerning essential oils or fragrant compounds
that were reported to influence food intake and
energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds amplified
appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds decreased
appetite. How? Several processes involving the sympathetic/parasympathetic
nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They added that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also play a role
in appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they exposed
hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control using
essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all know that being
a bit overweight isn’t good
for us, especially not for those of us with Carrolltown
back pain even though Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is very good at managing
that!) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation would think our Carrolltown chiropractic patients
may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s
holiday season!
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
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 spoken at conferences on The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Carrolltown chiropractic
appointment soon. Want to share a peppermint candy cane at
your next appointment?!