Vancouver Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...don’t these just bring back childhood holiday memories?! Amazingly, peppermint is being shown in today’s research to actually be good for memory and cognition (and appetite control). The hint of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Vancouver Disc Centers hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Vancouver chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Vancouver 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 potentially just such therapies. Essential oils are taken from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers propose that these perform by reducing the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, controlling the cholinergic (acetylcholine processing in the nervous system) system, and enhancing neuroinflammation involving microglia (brain and spinal cord immune cells). (1) In a mice experiment, researchers tested how smelling peppermint essential oil improved learning and memory ability as seen in hippocampal CA1 region neurons returning 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 involved were arginine, proline, inositol phosphate, cysteine, and methionine. (2) We at Vancouver Disc Centers found these quite interesting!
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, concerning essential oils or fragrant compounds that were reported to influence food intake and energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds increased 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 noted that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they revealed hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control employing essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all realize that carrying extra weight around is not beneficial for us, particularly not for those of us with Vancouver back pain even though Vancouver Disc Centers is very good at managing that!) Vancouver Disc Centers would think our Vancouver chiropractic patients may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s holiday season!
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
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 plays in healthcare and back pain management. Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Vancouver chiropractic appointment soon. Want to share a peppermint candy cane at your next appointment?!
