La Grande Peppermint Comes to the Aid of Cognition & Appetite Regulation!
Peppermint candy canes...what lovely childhood memories they arouse! Amazingly, peppermint is being shown in today’s research to actually benefit memory and cognition (as well as appetite control). The aroma of peppermint pervades holiday décor, stockings, cocoa, and more! Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC wishes our La Grande chiropractic patients and their families a peppermint-filled holiday that will make their journey to La Grande 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 potentially just such therapies. Essential oils are extracted from nature’s herbs of which there are many sources low in toxicity. Researchers offer that these act by reducing the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta (Aβ), anti-oxidative stress, managing the cholinergic (acetylcholine processing in the nervous system) 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 enhanced the ability to learn as well as retain memory as evidenced by hippocampal CA1 region neurons reverting 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 - 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC found these so fascinating!
PEPPERMINT, BRAIN, APPETITE
Much like cognition and memory are linked to the brain, so too is appetite. 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 boosted appetite; 12 essential oils and 7 fragrant compounds diminished appetite. How? Several processes engaging 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 exposed hope for appetite regulation and eating disorders control using 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 La Grande back pain even though Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is very good at managing that!) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC would think our La Grande chiropractic patients may be more motivated to enjoy peppermint this holiday season!
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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 care. Dr. Kachmann has spoken at conferences on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your La Grande chiropractic appointment today. Share a peppermint candy cane with us at your next visit!
