Digestive health is typically a health struggle that isn’t often brought up by clients seeking chiropractic care. They may put it on their intake form as an area that struggle with but it isn’t a primary reason for their visit. Many times, after being under care, clients communicate that they notice their digestion had improved. Coincidence? Can chiropractic adjustments really improve your digestive health?
Chiropractic adjustments don’t just ease joint and muscle pain, alleviate headaches, and improve posture. They may also offer an effective treatment option if you have frequent stomach aches, acid reflux (GERD), constipation, IBS and other gastrointestinal conditions.
Improving Nervous System Function
Your nervous system controls every part of your body, including your gastrointestinal system. A collection of nerves branches out from the lower part of your spinal cord and travels to your stomach and intestines. Nerves carry messages from one part of the body to another and play an essential role in digestion, movement of food through the gastrointestinal system (peristalsis), absorption of nutrients and minerals, and removal of waste products via the intestines.
How Misalignments Affect Digestion
Misalignments of your vertebrae, known as “subluxations,” interfere with the way nerves function. When the vertebrae misaligned, bones or spinal discs can press against nerves, pinching or compressing them. This can cause the organs to malfunction, resulting in heartburn, gas, cramping, diarrhea, constipation or other symptoms. Muscle tension in your abdomen can also contribute to digestive problems, whether it occurs due to stress or as a result of sitting for hours every day.
Chiropractic adjustments are aimed at relieving pressure on your nerves, joints, and muscles by realigning the vertebrae in your spine. When the spine is in proper alignment the nerves that innervate your gastrointestinal tract can function properly.
Other Digestive Health Conditions
Stomach aches, constipation, acid reflux, and IBS are more common gastrointestinal dysfunctions we know about but there are also things like leaky gut, food allergies/intolerances (coeliac’s disease), and many autoimmune disorders that are associated with a gastrointestinal malfunction. Our immune system is controlled by our nervous system first but is also affected by the function of our gastrointestinal system. Some autoimmune diseases associated with poor immune and gastrointestinal function are chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, allergies, asthma and even acne.
Chiropractic adjustments are an excellent choice no matter what type of gastrointestinal issue or autoimmune disease you have. It may reduce inflammation flare-ups, help relieve chronic constipation, decrease abdominal pain and bloating, and even ease colic in infants.
Don’t let digestive issues affect your quality of life. Chiropractic adjustments can help you control your symptoms and may even allow you to reduce your dependence on medications. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Philip Afghani and Dr. Yahaira Roman, Chiropractic and Gut Health. Atlantic Chiropractic and Wellness Center 06/20/22 http://www.atlanticchirofl.com/blog/172877-chiropractic-and-gut-health
