Peppermint candy canes...what lovely childhood memories
they bring! Amazingly, peppermint is being found
today to in fact be good
for memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The hint
of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa,
and more! Most Chiropractic Clinic hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Murfreesboro
chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Murfreesboro 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 taken from nature’s herbs of which there are
many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers propose
that these function by reducing the
neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, managing
the cholinergic (the part of the nervous system that processes
acetylcholine) system, and improving
neuroinflammation involving microglia (brain and spinal
cord immune cells). (1) In a lab experiment with mice, researchers
tested how smelling peppermint essential oil improved the
ability to learn as well as retain memory as seen
in hippocampal CA1 region neurons returning to normal and Aβ deposition lowering
among other changes that may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s
disease. This study also shared a new term –
metabolomics, 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 Most Chiropractic Clinic
found these quite fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are associated with the brain, appetite is, too. Issues
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 amplified
appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds shrank
appetite. How? Several processes involving the sympathetic/parasympathetic
nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They also
noted that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they revealed
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, particularly not for those of us with Murfreesboro
back pain even though Most Chiropractic Clinic is quite good at managing
that!) Most Chiropractic Clinic would think our Murfreesboro chiropractic patients
may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint this
holiday season!
CONTACT Most Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Rudy Kachmann, a neurosurgeon, on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes 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 care.
Dr. Kachmann has spoken at conferences on The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Murfreesboro chiropractic
appointment soon. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!