Why Your Digestive Issues Might Start in Your Spine

Most people dealing with ongoing digestive problems have tried everything. They’ve eliminated foods, changed their diet, taken supplements, and maybe even tried medications. Yet the bloating persists. The heartburn comes back. The constipation continues. What many don’t realize is that their digestive struggles might not be starting in their gut at all.

Your digestive system is constantly receiving signals from your brain through nerves that travel directly through your spine. When those pathways become compromised through misalignment, tension, or stress, communication breaks down. Your gut stops getting the clear instructions it needs to digest food properly, absorb nutrients, and move waste through your system efficiently.

The Stress Connection You Might Be Missing

Chronic stress does more than make you feel anxious or overwhelmed. It changes how your digestive system operates. When your body perceives stress, whether from a demanding job, a difficult relationship, or even an old injury, it shifts into survival mode. Blood flow moves away from digestion. Inflammation rises. Your gut slows down or speeds up unpredictably.

Tension in the mid or lower back can signal to your nervous system that something’s wrong, keeping your body in that stressed state even when you’re trying to relax. The muscles tighten, the nerves get irritated, and your digestive system pays the price.

At Breathe Chiropractic, we use gentle adjustments to release tension and restore proper nerve flow. We also use techniques like NET and BEST to help reset old stress patterns your body has been holding onto. It’s about giving your entire system permission to stop defending and start healing.

What Healing Really Looks Like

True digestive wellness isn’t about managing symptoms or avoiding certain foods forever. It’s about restoring the natural rhythm your body was designed to have. When the nervous system functions clearly, your gut knows what to do. Digestion happens smoothly. Nutrients get absorbed. Energy improves. Even mood and sleep can lift because everything is connected.

“The body has an incredible capacity to heal itself when we remove interference,” Dr. Carla explains. “Sometimes people think their digestive issues are too complicated or have gone on too long. But remarkable changes can happen when we support the body the way it’s designed to work.”