The Gut-Brain Connection: Chiropractic Insights

When people hear about chiropractic treatment, they mostly think about musculoskeletal problems. But chiropractic care may also benefit your digestive system and may even help improve your mood. This is due to the gut-brain connection.

What Is the Gut-brain Connection?

The gut-brain connection may sound vague, but it’s as real as it gets. Think about those times when an anxious feeling made you feel nauseous. Or those moments when you have “butterflies in your stomach.” According to Harvard Health, the gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to emotions.

The lining of the human gut contains millions of nerve cells, referred to as the Enteric Nervous System. This cluster of nerves communicates information from the gut to the brain. It is today considered the explanation for “butterflies in the stomach,” “gut-feelings,” “gut instinct,” and similar sensations of thoughts being felt in the belly. Studies show that irritation in the gut may send signals from the Enteric Nervous System to the central nervous system (or CNS). This triggers mood changes and emotional shifts. People with digestive disorders and problems in the gut may experience these sensations more strongly. Conditions where this may be the case include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS

• Diarrhea

• Bloating

• Constipation

• Stomach upset

These findings have led to new treatment possibilities for IBS and bowel disorder treatments. New treatment approaches may possibly include antidepressants, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and medical hypnotherapy. These therapies can help the nervous system communicate information better around the body.

How Chiropractic Care Helps the Gut

Chiropractic care is primarily focused on managing musculoskeletal concerns. But, it may indirectly help with gut health too.

Chiropractic care can help realign the spine and remove pressure on it. This is important because any issue with the spine may affect the communication between the brain and the digestive system.

For instance, a person with a herniated disc in the spine may also experience the following digestive symptoms:

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Increased peristalsis, the muscle movement that brings food down to the stomach

• Tenesmus, a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement even when there’s no more stool to expel

Chiropractic Care May Improve Emotions

Chiropractic care may potentially provide relief to the gut-brain connection in some cases. That means there’s a possibility it can also improve your emotional health.

Furthermore, when you’re in constant pain, it may affect your mood. As chiropractic care helps manage pain from various musculoskeletal concerns, it may also improve your mood.

Consider Chiropractic Care Today

Do you have digestive concerns? Are these concerns affecting your mood lately? If so, you may want to consult a chiropractor to determine whether spine manipulation may help. You may feel that chiropractic adjustments are too intense and painful, but they are actually swift and calculated.

For more information on how chiropractic care can improve your gut-brain connection, visit Kestner Health + Wellness at our Nashville, Tennessee, office. You may also call (615) 646-6700 to schedule an appointment today.