Can Chiropractic Care Improve Your Gut Health?

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Digestive problems may not be something you talk much about, but that doesn’t mean these issues aren’t common. In fact, every year, more than 60 million Americans are diagnosed with a digestive disorder. And it’s believed that the number of people who experience GI symptoms is even higher, as not everyone seeks treatment. But there’s no question that gut health issues affect your quality of life. If you’re suffering discomfort, pain, or embarrassment because of your digestive health, you deserve treatment that can help you manage your symptoms and feel better on a daily basis. But can chiropractic care really improve your gut health?

Yes! Because chiropractic treatment is holistic, our practitioners take every aspect of your wellness into account. And that’s important, because digestive problems can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Diet
• Bacterial Imbalance in the Digestive System
• Stress
• Chronic Medical Conditions
• Subluxations in the Spine

Chiropractic is about more than relieving aches and pains in your joints. It’s about helping all the systems of your body work in harmony. When one system is out of balance, it can affect your overall health—sometimes in ways you wouldn’t expect.

Here are a few of the ways in which chiropractic care can improve your gut health:

Chiropractic Reduces Inflammation

Chiropractic treatment has long been valued for its ability to reduce inflammation in the body. Some gastrointestinal symptoms, such as GERD or reflux, are linked to inflammation and may be lessened by chiropractic care as nerves are restored to their proper function.

Chiropractic Relieves Stress

Whether we actually feel stressed or not, hectic daily schedules and the pace of life can cause us to experience chronic stress, where the body produces high levels of cortisol over an extended period. In the right amount, cortisol helps us deal with intense situations—but when we carry stress around with us daily, it can start to cause problems throughout our body, including in our digestive tract. Untreated, chronic stress can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation, and can worsen digestive diseases like ulcers or IBS. Chiropractic treatment has been shown to bring cortisol down to a healthier level, which may help your digestion if your stomach pain springs from stress.

Chiropractic Brings Your Nervous System into Alignment

The nervous system is your body’s communication center. Nerves connect every part of your body, including your stomach and intestines, back to the central nervous system in your brain and spine. Your nervous system helps to regulate digestion, and when misalignments of the vertebrae in your spine occur, they can cause compression or pinching in the nerves—thereby interfering with that regulation and causing digestive problems. With regular alignments, a chiropractor can improve the alignment of your vertebrae and discs, ensuring that the nerves are able to communicate properly and alleviating some of the causes of GI discomfort.

Chiropractic can Balance Your Gut Flora

In addition to your nervous system, bacteria in your GI tract also play an important role in digestion, such as breaking down foods and manufacturing vitamins. Imbalances in these important gut bacteria can lead to problems with digestion and unpleasant symptoms like heartburn and reflux. Medications are often prescribed for these types of issues—but many of them come with their own side effects. A chiropractor, on the other hand, can provide a more natural route to relief, with supplements and dietary changes to get your gut’s microbiome back in balance.

Issues with your gut health can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but they’re often very treatable, and chiropractic care can go a long way to not only alleviate your symptoms, but potentially remove some of the underlying causes. If you suffer from GI problems, our team of practitioners is here to help. Call us today at 541-689-0935 to schedule an appointment, and let us support you on the road to wellness.

References

1. https://www.endo-world.com/resources/e-learning-patient-education/general-guides/overview-of-digestive-diseases/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6453579/
3. https://www.atlanticchirofl.com/blog/172877-chiropractic-and-gut-health#:~:text=Can%20Chiropractic%20Treatment%20Improve%20Your,constipation%2C%20and%20other%20gastrointestinal%20conditions.
4. https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/united-states-of-stress/how-stress-affects-digestion/
5. https://www.science.org.au/curious/people-medicine/gut-bacteria

Posted In: Chiropractic Stress Relief General Health Gut Health