Peppermint candy canes...don’t these just bring back holiday
memories from youth?! Remarkably, peppermint is being found
today to in fact be good
for memory and cognition (and appetite control). The hint
of peppermint permeates holiday décor, stockings, cocoa,
and more! Hollstrom & Associates Inc hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Largo
chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Largo 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 low in toxicity. Researchers propose
that these perform by lowering the
neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, containing
the cholinergic (the part of the nervous system that processes
acetylcholine) system, and improving
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 evidenced by hippocampal CA1 region neurons reverting
back to normal and Aβ deposition reducing
among other changes that may improve 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 Hollstrom & Associates Inc
found these quite fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are associated with the brain, so too is appetite. Diseases
like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few issues
associated with appetite dysregulation. An assessment of published studies, many of which were mice
studies, regarding 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 diminished
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 uncovered
hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control using
essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all realize that being
a bit overweight is not good
for us, particularly not for those of us with Largo
back pain even though Hollstrom & Associates Inc is very good at managing
that!) Hollstrom & Associates Inc would think our Largo chiropractic patients
may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint this
holiday season!
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
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 talks about the
beneficial role chiropractic has in healthcare and back pain management.
Dr. Kachmann has spoken at conferences on The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Largo chiropractic
appointment today. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!