Richmond Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...what lovely childhood memories they arouse! Remarkably, peppermint is being shown in today’s research to actually be good for memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The scent of peppermint fills holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Johnson Chiropractic hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Richmond chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Richmond 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 possibly just such therapies. Essential oils are taken from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers offer that these function by lowering the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, managing the cholinergic (the part of the nervous system that processes acetylcholine) system, and enhancing neuroinflammation that involves 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 going back to normal and Aβ deposition decreasing among other changes that may enhance cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease. This experiment also inserted a new term – metabolomics - which is 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 Johnson Chiropractic 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. 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 boosted appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds reduced 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 realize that carrying extra weight around isn’t good for us, especially not for those of us with Richmond back pain even though Johnson Chiropractic is very good at managing that!) Johnson Chiropractic would think our Richmond chiropractic patients may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s holiday season!
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
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 a variety of other conditions like inflammation, back surgery, etc. He mentions the beneficial role chiropractic plays in healthcare and back pain management. Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Richmond chiropractic appointment today. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
