Improved Digestion
This article will give you an overview of how the nervous system affects the digestive system.
Our digestive system is controlled by the unconscious part of our nervous system called the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls our vital functions—it keeps us breathing and it regulates our heartbeat, blood pressure, and digestive system. It has two parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic nervous system gets us ready for action, ready for fight or flight. When the sympathetic system is active it sends blood to the muscles and away from the digestive system. On the other hand, the parasympathetic system promotes digestion and relaxation.
Nerves from the face, head, inner ear and neck all send messages to areas in the base of the brain that control the parasympathetic nervous system. Treatments that affect nerve messages from the head, neck, jaw, and balance centers of the inner ear can all be helpful for improving digestion.
It is often important to investigate and treat the physical mobility of the digestive system. Muscular tension in the diaphragm (the big breathing muscle between the chest and stomach) makes it hard for the esophagus and stomach to work efficiently. Similar patterns of tissue tension can affect the small and large intestines.
One part of the parasympathetic nervous system is located in the pelvis, and it is influenced by nerve messages from joints and muscles in the low back. Treatments that affect nerve messages from the muscles and joints of the low back can have a profound affect on the digestive system.
