By Dr Barry Smith – Karrinyup Wellness Centre
Last Wednesday, 7 October, we welcomed 50 attendees to Karrinyup Wellness Centre for a highly successful presentation on the Gut–Brain Connection.
It was fantastic to see so many people interested in understanding the underlying factors that may contribute to chronic health challenges, including menopause, gut problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia, thyroid and hormonal issues, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions.
One of the key messages from the evening was the significant impact that chronic stress can have on our nervous system, our gut and our overall health, and the role chiropractic care can play in supporting nervous system function.
Stress: Are You Stuck in Fight-or-Flight Mode?
Most people associate stress with feeling overwhelmed or anxious. However, stress can also be physical, chemical or emotional, and our bodies are constantly responding to these challenges.
Our autonomic nervous system regulates many functions we don’t consciously control, including heart rate, digestion and aspects of our immune response.
It has two main divisions:
- Sympathetic – Fight or Flight: Our body’s survival response, preparing us to deal with stress or danger.
- Parasympathetic – Rest and Digest: Helps regulate digestion, recovery and other restorative functions.
Both are essential. However, when stress becomes chronic, our nervous system can remain in a heightened state of alertness, which suppresses immune function, digestion, sleep, muscle tension and our ability to recover.
The Vagus Nerve: Connecting Stress, the Brain and the Gut
One of the most important connections between the brain and digestive system is the vagus nerve.
This nerve is a major part of our ‘rest-and-digest’ nervous system and helps regulate digestion, heart rate and inflammatory signalling.
Research has shown that chronic stress can disrupt communication along the gut–brain axis, which can contribute to digestive symptoms and other health challenges.
This helps explain why stress isn’t simply something we feel mentally, it can have very real physical effects throughout the body.
How Can Chiropractic Help?
At Karrinyup Wellness Centre, our chiropractic approach places considerable emphasis on the relationship between the spine and nervous system.
The spine contains sensory receptors that constantly send information to the brain. Chiropractic adjustments can influence this sensory input, and research has shown that they also improve nervous system activity.
Studies published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics and the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine have reported changes in measures such as heart rate variability (HRV) and other physiological indicators following chiropractic adjustments.
These findings show that chiropractic care can influence aspects of the body’s stress regulation. Chiropractic care can also help manage spinal pain and movement problems, which themselves can contribute to physical stress.
The bigger picture is that managing stress isn’t just about what happens in our minds. It’s also about understanding and supporting the way our bodies respond to it.
Another Gut–Brain Connection Seminar Coming Soon!
Due to the fantastic response and popular demand, I’m planning another Gut–Brain Connection presentation at Karrinyup Wellness Centre, most likely around mid-November.
We’ll explore how stress influences the nervous system, its relationship with gut health and chronic conditions, and the research examining chiropractic care and nervous system regulation.
If you missed the first presentation, or know someone who may benefit from attending, keep an eye on our emails, website and social media for the confirmed date and booking details.
Thank you again to everyone who attended. It was a pleasure sharing this information with such an enthusiastic audience.
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