Elgin Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...what lovely childhood memories they bring! Amazingly, peppermint is being found today to in fact benefit memory and cognition (and appetite control). The aroma of peppermint fills holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Connected Chiropractic wishes our Elgin chiropractic patients and their families a peppermint-filled holiday that will make their journey to Elgin 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 hope for effective, simple, safe-to-use-long-term treatments. Essential oils are possibly just such therapies. Essential oils are taken from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers suggest 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 that involves microglia (brain and spinal cord immune cells). (1) In a mice experiment, researchers tested how smelling peppermint essential oil improved the ability to learn as well as retain memory as seen in hippocampal CA1 region neurons going back to normal and Aβ deposition falling 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 Connected Chiropractic found these quite 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 associated with appetite dysregulation. An assessment of published studies, many of which were studies done with mice, concerning essential oils or fragrant compounds that were reported to control food intake and energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds amplified appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds reduced appetite. How? Numerous processes engaging the sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They also stated that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they uncovered hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control using essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all realize that being a bit overweight isn’t beneficial for us, particularly not for those of us with Elgin back pain even though Connected Chiropractic is quite good at managing that!) Connected Chiropractic would think our Elgin chiropractic patients may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s holiday season!
CONTACT Connected 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 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.
Schedule your Elgin chiropractic appointment now. Want to share a peppermint candy cane at your next appointment?!
