Did you know there are more microbia in your gut than there are cells in your body? Your gut keeps a constant communication with your brain regarding both the quality and quantity of this bacteria. For example, if there is an overgrowth of one particular bacteria in your colon, the digestive tract senses this overgrowth and sends a message directly to your brain to interpret and diagnose this message. The brain determines the appropriate response and sends messages to your immune system, endocrine system (your hormones), cardiovascular system, and digestive system. This entire communication process takes place every single day in our bodies. This 2-way communication axis occurs mostly via the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve or cranial nerve 10 (X) is the longest cranial nerve stretching from your brain stem through the atlas bone at the base of the skull all the way into your abdomen. The close proximity of the vagus nerve to your atlas bone means that the slightest subluxation or misaligment of the atlas bone can potentially have huge implications for disease or disruption of the body.
Current research is shedding light on how important this 2-way communication between the gut and brain is. In Frontiers of Neuroscience, a detailed research article explained the possible effects of interference of the vagus nerve may have on all areas of the body. Specifically they looked at how abnormal function and flow of the vagus nerve can result in various types of digestive dysfunction such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease, crohn's disease, chronic diarrhea and chronic constipation. Furthermore, the article shed light on the fact that because the vagus nerve controls anti-inflammatory responses that when someone experiences emotional stress with a dysfunctioning vagus nerve it can result in full body inflammation!
Chiropractic care influences the health and wellness of the vagus nerve by removing structural interference of the vertebrae. Specifically, upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the all important atlas bone and its alignment. Gentle, specific, upper cervical adjustments focus to keep the nervous system functioning at its fullest potential. The key to healing your gut abnormalities may lie in the health and wellness of your spine! Chiropractic adjustments along with diet and exercise could be the combination to never dealing with gut issues again. Want to learn more about the gut-brain axis? Call or schedule online for a consultation. We can help!
Yours in Health,
Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson
Owner/Doctor
MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC
10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101
Charlotte, NC 28214
Tel (704) 394-8556
Fax (704) 395-8556
"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV
Bonaz B, Bazin T and Pellissier S., (2018) The Vagus Nerve at the Interface of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Front. Neurosc. 12:49. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00049
Nice post. Well what can I say is that these is an interesting and very informative topic on in your gut
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