San Jose Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...what lovely childhood memories they arouse! Remarkably, peppermint is being found today to in fact benefit memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The hint of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Chiropractic Solutions wishes our San Jose chiropractic patients and their families a peppermint-filled holiday that will make their journey to San Jose 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 therapies. Essential oils are potentially just such treatments. Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers offer that these work by reducing the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, controlling the cholinergic (acetylcholine processing in the nervous system) 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 the ability to learn as well as retain memory as evidenced by hippocampal CA1 region neurons reverting back to normal and Aβ deposition decreasing 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 involving metabolites (small molecules). In this study, such metabolites involved were arginine, proline, inositol phosphate, cysteine, and methionine. (2) We at Chiropractic Solutions 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. 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 intenisified appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds decreased appetite. How? Several processes engaging the sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They also said that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they uncovered hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control employing essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all realize that being a bit overweight is not good for us, especially not for those of us with San Jose back pain even though Chiropractic Solutions is quite good at managing that!) Chiropractic Solutions would think our San Jose chiropractic patients may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint this holiday season!
CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions
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 talks about the beneficial role chiropractic has in healthcare and back pain management. Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your San Jose chiropractic appointment today. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
