Groton Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!

Peppermint candy canes...don’t these just bring back holiday memories from youth?! Amazingly, peppermint is being found today to actually benefit memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The hint of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office hopes for a peppermint-filled holiday for our Groton chiropractic patients that will make their journey to Groton 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 treatments. Essential oils are potentially just such therapies. Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources that have low toxicity. Researchers propose that these act by reducing 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 that involves microglia (brain and spinal cord immune cells). (1) In a lab experiment with mice, researchers tested how smelling peppermint essential oil enhanced learning and memory ability as evidenced by hippocampal CA1 region neurons reverting back to normal and Aβ deposition falling among other changes that may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease. This experiment 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office found these so fascinating!

PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE

Much like cognition and memory are associated with the brain, appetite is, too. Diseases like obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia nervosa are a few issues linked to appetite dysregulation. An assessment of published studies, many of which were mice studies, regarding essential oils or fragrant compounds that were said to control food intake and energy. Their findings: 11 essential oils and 22 fragrant compounds increased appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds diminished appetite. How? Several processes involving the sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, leptin protein hormones, and more. They added 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 know that carrying extra weight around is not good for us, particularly not for those of us with Groton back pain even though Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is very good at managing that!) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office would think our Groton chiropractic patients may be more inclined to enjoy peppermint this holiday season!

CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office

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 mentions the beneficial role chiropractic has in healthcare and back pain care. Dr. Kachmann has presented at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Schedule your Groton chiropractic appointment soon. Want to share a peppermint candy cane at your next appointment?!

 
Peppermint for Groton Cognition & Appetite Regulation! 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."