Manahawkin 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 be beneficial for memory and cognition (and appetite control). The scent of peppermint fills holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Manahawkin Chiropractic Center wishes our Manahawkin chiropractic patients and their families a peppermint-filled holiday that will make their journey to Manahawkin 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 welcome effective, simple, safe-to-use-long-term treatments. Essential oils are potentially just such therapies. Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources low in 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 improving 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 evidenced by 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 study also inserted a new term – metabolomics, the study of chemical processes involving metabolites (small molecules). In this study, such metabolites involved were arginine, proline, inositol phosphate, cysteine, and methionine. (2) We at Manahawkin Chiropractic Center found these so fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are linked to the brain, appetite is, too. Issues like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few diseases associated with appetite dysregulation. A review of published studies, many of which were mice studies, regarding essential oils or fragrant compounds that were said to influence food intake and energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds intenisified 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 said that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they exposed hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control employing essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all know that being a bit overweight isn’t beneficial for us, especially not for those of us with Manahawkin back pain even though Manahawkin Chiropractic Center is very good at managing that!) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center would think our Manahawkin chiropractic patients may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s holiday season!
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
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 many other conditions like inflammation, back surgery, etc. He mentions the beneficial role chiropractic plays in healthcare and back pain care. Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Manahawkin chiropractic appointment soon. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
