Gut health 101: A guide for DCs to share with patients

Patients turn to doctors of chiropractic for a variety of reasons, from aches and pains to injury recovery.

And your role in helping patients overcome musculoskeletal issues is well-known. However, chiropractic care can benefit patients beyond alleviating back pain and restoring mobility. Digestive health is a complex issue profoundly affecting overall well-being. The importance of a healthy digestive system is well-known, but the strong link between gut health and the musculoskeletal system is often overlooked.

The digestive system is integral to the body’s overall well-being. When something is amiss, everything from the absorption of nutrients to the mood that shapes your life experience can be affected. Symptoms of poor gut health can include the following (and more), making a healthy gut integral to a healthy life.

• Severe energy deficiency
• Irregular bathroom habits
• Loss of appetite
• The presence of blood in stools
• Abdominal cramping
• Emotional and behavioral changes
• Inflammation

The link between the digestive system and the spine

The body’s elaborate system of nerves allows systems to communicate with each other and function together in harmony. When that communication is disrupted, those systems–individually and collectively–can suffer. The digestive system is no exception–when something is disrupting the relationship between it and the nervous system, your gut health is in jeopardy.

The gastrointestinal tract is related to the enteric nervous system. Outside of the brain, this is the most complex neural network in the body. Because the spine is the primary avenue through which nerves travel throughout the body, any issue related to the spine can cause the digestive system to experience issues (and vice versa). Injuries, imbalances, inflammation and other complications to the spine can lead to gut health problems or exacerbate those that already exist, and gut issues can manifest themselves as musculoskeletal issues.

Improve gut health with chiropractic care

The link between the gastrointestinal system and the rest of the body means that an expert in correcting chiropractic concerns can often improve gut health. You can evaluate a patient who is experiencing gut health problems, ascertain any underlying musculoskeletal or nerve issues and implement a personalized chiropractic adjustment treatment to help address those issues.

There are many ways that chiropractic adjustment can improve gut health, and you can develop a strategy and regular adjustment schedule for each patient’s unique needs and situation. No matter what the exact approach is, there are a few primary goals in mind when gut health is the main concern.

Reducing inflammation is one of the biggest benefits of chiropractic adjustment. While this benefit is noteworthy in all scenarios, it is particularly potent when addressing digestive health. Regular adjustment can help alleviate inflammation–a main culprit in many cases of digestive problems.

Stress, both emotional and physical, can also lead to gut health concerns. This is due to a number of factors, including reduced blood flow to the digestive system. Chiropractic adjustments help promote relaxation and reduce stress. When performed regularly, this can translate to healthier, more regulated stress levels, which translates to fewer digestive issues.

Gut motility refers to the ability of the digestive system to move food throughout the digestive tract in a normal way and at a regular pace. For patients suffering from bloating, constipation or diarrhea, motility is an issue. These problems can often be corrected by addressing the nerve disruption occurring between the brain and the gut. Chiropractic adjustment can reopen this line of communication, helping the digestive system function properly again.

Nutrient absorption is one of the most important roles the digestive system plays. Its ability to perform this task efficiently can greatly affect the rest of the body. By ensuring gut health is optimal, chiropractic treatment benefits the entirety of health and well-being.

Final thoughts

Gut health is integral to overall well-being, affecting nutrient absorption and mood. Poor gut health symptoms can include energy deficiency, irregular bathroom habits, appetite loss, blood in stools, abdominal cramping, emotional/behavioral changes and inflammation.

Chiropractic care can address personalized treatment plans to improve gut health while continually improving musculoskeletal and nerve issues, such as reducing inflammation, alleviating stress, improving gut motility and enhancing nutrient absorption.

For more insights into the benefits of chiropractic treatment and the link to gut health, subscribe to Chiropractic Economics.