How Chiropractic Practices Can Enhance Your Gut Health
It surprises many to learn that there is a connection between chiropractic care and gut health. The human body is not made up of parts that work independently. The various systems support one another, sometimes in ways that are not obvious.
For example, there is a unique association between gut health and the nervous system. It is what healthcare professionals call the gut-brain axis. This gut-brain axis makes chiropractic care critical for digestive health.
For instance, the right adjustments in the right place can help improve bowel function. To understand why it works, it’s necessary to explore the connection between the nervous system and gut health.
Nervous System and Gut Health: What’s the Connection?
According to a 2017 study published in Oncotarget, the digestive and central nervous systems communicate with one another. As a result, changes in gut health can affect critical structures like the spine.
The human gut has a population of microorganisms that aid digestion and waste removal. An imbalance in this critical ecosystem can lead to diseases that involve either the brain or the digestive tract. Studies have found a connection between gut health and central nervous system conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
It makes sense that the opposite is true, as well. People with spine misalignments could struggle with digestive issues.
According to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), up to 15 percent of the population has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects how the bowels work. Symptoms of IBS include:
- Stomach pain and cramping
- Changes in bowel habits
- Bloating
- Gas
Chiropractic care may help control the symptoms because this connection exists.
Chiropractic Care for Other Common Digestive Disorders
The American Gastroenterological Association estimates that 60 to 70 percent of people in this country have some type of digestive problem. At the top of the list behind IBS is gastroesophageal reflux disorder or GERD.
GERD
GERD is similar to acid reflux but with more severe symptoms. People with GERD often experience:
- Heartburn
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- The feeling that there is a lump in their throat
- Laryngitis
- Food backwashing into the throat
Some medications provided for GERD can have long-term effects. Chiropractic care may help relieve the irritation on the nerves that manage the stomach and esophagus, helping to relieve symptoms.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis refers to inflammation and ulcers in the colon. This disease has severe symptoms including:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Blood in stool
- Pus in stool
- Increase in bowel movements
- Fever
It can also lead to serious complications such as colon cancer and megacolon. The goal for those with ulcerative colitis focuses on managing symptoms and preventing damage to the colon.
Realigning the spine and pelvis can lessen the symptoms for many. Other conditions with similar symptoms such as Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease can also benefit from chiropractic care.
Constipation
Whether it is an occasional or a regular problem, constipation can be uncomfortable. Special nerve cells stimulate muscles to move stool through the intestinal tract and out of the body. They connect directly to a larger nerve that in turn attaches to the spinal cord.
There are many possible causes for constipation, including pressure on that main nerve. A spinal adjustment by a chiropractor may relieve that pressure and help get things moving again.
Infant Colic
Colic is a condition that affects babies from 3 to 4 months old. The exact cause isn’t clear, but it may be due to digestive immaturity and a lack of healthy bacteria. One 2015 study published in The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association found that 94 percent of participating babies saw improvement in colic symptoms with two weeks of chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractic Techniques for Enhancing Digestive Health
Chiropractic care provides a holistic approach to managing digestive disorders. The goal is to restore the spine to proper alignment. That can reduce nerve issues that might contribute to symptoms.
The treatment may be vertebrae-specific, as well. Chiropractors understand the connection certain vertebrae have with digestive health. For example, vertebrae in the lumbar region impact the colon. Adjustments of thoracic vertebrae would benefit the stomach and intestines.
A chiropractic care plan might also include soft tissue manipulation and massage. This will help you relax the muscles around the digestive system and improve functioning.
Holistic Strategies for Digestive Optimization
The chiropractor will likely add dietary changes for a more whole-body approach to managing the symptoms. A comprehensive strategy can mean a more comfortable lifestyle for you. The care plan can include a referral to a dietitian or nutritionist or the chiropractor may collaborate with one.
The chiropractor will monitor these dietary adjustments plus the therapeutic benefits of your treatment and tweak it as needed. It is the best way to promote long-term wellness for you.
Digestive Health Through Chiropractic Care: Real Stories
If you ask your friends and family or search the internet, you’ll find stories of people with positive outcomes from chiropractic care for digestive illnesses.
Debbie
Debbie first experienced back pain after a fall while still in high school. Twenty-two hours of labor to deliver her baby further aggravated her back issue. Years of taking over-the-counter pain medication turned into irritable bowel syndrome.
After seeing several specialists, Debbie finally went to a chiropractor where she found real relief from both her back pain and stomach issues. Today Debbie is in her 60s and has arthritis in several joints. Continuing her chiropractic care has allowed her to manage her symptoms without taking medication.
The Colicy Baby
A 2015 study tells the story of a newborn baby who had multiple symptoms of colic and a diagnosis of GERD from her pediatrician. The combination of digestive illnesses was leading to other problems for both the parents and the child such as sleep disorder syndrome and musculoskeletal irritable infant syndrome.
As part of the holistic treatment for her condition, the pediatrician brought in a chiropractor who specialized in infant care. The chiropractor developed a plan that included applying pressure to the lower abdomen. Combined with dietary changes and medication, the baby was able to thrive.
Marisa
Marisa’s pain started after she tried to lift something heavy. She eventually saw her chiropractor to get a care plan to help manage the pain and improve her mobility. After a couple of months of treatment, she noticed an improvement in her digestion, as well. She was able to rest better and live more comfortably.
Chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to managing health conditions beyond that stiff back. The central nervous system, which includes the spine and brain, is the control center for every function in your body including your digestive.
Since the 19th century, people have been turning to the chiropractor for help with pain relief. Today’s chiropractic professionals are proficient in manipulative therapy, exercise, nutrition counseling, and state-of-the-art technology such as lasers. Getting adjustments in the right place can help relieve everything from occasional constipation to a serious illness like ulcerative colitis. If you are experiencing stomach discomfort, it might be time to change your approach and see how chiropractic care can help.
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Sources
Microbiota-gut-brain axis and the central nervous system
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
How Chiropractic Hels Patients Who Suffer From Ulcerative Colitis
