The GutOBrain Axis

Posted on Aug 16, 2020


How’s your brain connected to your gut? Well, did you know you’ve got a “little brain” in your gut? Scientists call it the “enteric nervous system (ENS)” and it contains some 100 million nerve cells lining your gastrointestinal tract. It goes from your esophagus to your rectum!

Unlike the brain in your head, the ENS controls digestion. It’s in charge of things like swallowing and breaking down food. Meanwhile, it communicates with the brain in your head. It can send out signals to your central nervous system to help trigger mood changes.

Do you or someone you know suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)? For those who do, it means constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, bloating and pain… all things that interfere with normal everyday life. Those with IBS tend to also suffer from depression and anxiety. Perhaps this is due to the link between the ENS and the brain in the head. Because a person’s bowel isn’t working well, the brain tells the body to feel depressed or anxious. It’s an interesting theory, right?

While some people choose pills (antidepressants) to deal with their IBS, there’s an alternative: chiropractic care. A chiropractor manipulates the spine and other parts of a person’s nervous system in order to remove nerve interferences and make sure “everything’s lined up as it should be.” Imagine your insides as being a series of highways. Sometimes there are traffic jams or roadblocks, and you feel pain… A chiropractor uses his or her hands or an instrument to reset those highways so messages can get where they need to go without problems.

So, if you want to improve the communications between the brain in your head and the brain in your gut to help relieve symptoms of IBS and other digestive issues, consider making an appointment at Lakewoods Chiropractic in Forest Lake, MN. Lakewoods Chiropractic is located at 255 Highway 97 (#2A) in Forest Lake. Please call 651-464-0800 or email [email protected] for more info.

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