New York City 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 in fact be beneficial for memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The whiff of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Rosenberg Wellness Center hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our New York City chiropractic patients that will make their journey to New York City 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 therapies. Essential oils are possibly just such therapies. Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers offer that these work 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 enhancing neuroinflammation involving 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 lowering among other changes that may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease. This experiment also shared 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 Rosenberg Wellness Center found these so fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are associated with the brain, so too is appetite. Issues like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few issues associated with appetite dysregulation. An assessment of published studies, many of which were studies done with mice, regarding essential oils or fragrant compounds that were reported to influence food intake and energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds intenisified appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds diminished appetite. How? Numerous processes engaging the sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They also stated that fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also contribute to appetite regulation. Nonetheless, they exposed 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 beneficial for us, especially not for those of us with New York City back pain even though Rosenberg Wellness Center is very good at managing that!) Rosenberg Wellness Center would think our New York City chiropractic patients may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint this holiday season!
CONTACT Rosenberg Wellness Center
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 mentions the beneficial role chiropractic has in healthcare and back pain management. Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your New York City chiropractic appointment soon. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
