Chiropractic & The Digestive System
Last updated on June 20, 2023
Chiropractic care primarily focuses on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments can have a positive impact on digestion by addressing nerve interference and subluxations. Here’s an overview of how chiropractic care can influence and improve digestion:
The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating digestion. Nerves originating from the spinal cord control the functioning of the digestive organs. If there is any interference in the nerves’ communication due to misalignments or subluxations in the spine, it may affect the normal nerve signals to the digestive system. Chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper spinal alignment, reducing nerve interference and enhancing nerve function.
2. Correcting Subluxation:
Subluxation refers to a misalignment of the vertebrae in the spine. These misalignments can potentially exert pressure on the surrounding nerves, including those related to digestion. By applying manual adjustments or gentle spinal manipulations, chiropractors aim to correct subluxations, relieve nerve pressure, and restore proper spinal alignment. This helps to facilitate optimal nerve signalling to the digestive system.
3. Stress Reduction:
Stress can have a significant impact on digestion. When the body is under stress, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the “fight-or-flight” response. This response can disrupt normal digestion, leading to symptoms like indigestion, bloating, and altered bowel movements. Chiropractic care, particularly spinal adjustments, can help to reduce stress levels by promoting relaxation and activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest-and-digest” response. By alleviating stress, chiropractic care can support better digestion.
It’s important we look at our body as a whole and not just the symptoms we experience. Often the symptoms of one thing are caused by another. Chiropractic works with the body’s systems including digestion and how gut issues can be affecting other areas of a person’s health. Please let us know if you have any further questions regarding the gut and chiropractic care!
This information is general in nature and does not substitute tailored advice to you and your circumstances. Please book an assessment to see if chiropractic care may be able to help youÂ