Ashburn and Herndon Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...what lovely childhood memories they arouse! Amazingly, peppermint is being found today to in fact benefit memory and cognition (and appetite control). The aroma of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Ashburn and Herndon 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 welcome effective, simple, safe-to-use-long-term treatments. Essential oils are possibly just such treatments. Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources low in toxicity. Researchers offer that these function by reducing the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, controlling the cholinergic (the part of the nervous system that processes acetylcholine) system, and boosting neuroinflammation that involves microglia (brain and spinal cord immune cells). (1) In a lab experiment with mice, researchers tested how smelling peppermint essential oil enhanced 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 study also shared 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 Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn 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 linked to appetite dysregulation. A review of published studies, many of which were studies done with mice, regarding essential oils or fragrant compounds that were said to influence 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 noted that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also play a role in appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they uncovered hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control using essential oils and fragrant compounds. (3) (We all know that being a bit overweight is not good for us, especially not for those of us with Ashburn and Herndon back pain even though Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is very good at managing that!) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn would think our Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic patients may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint throughout this year’s holiday season!
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
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 many other conditions like inflammation, back surgery, etc. He talks about 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.
Make your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment soon. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
