Can Chiropractic Care Improve Digestive Issues Like IBS?
By Dr. Tim Fargo, Chiropractor
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, which means that the bowel looks normal on tests, but doesn’t work normally. It causes a pattern of recurrent abdominal pain associated with changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both). When I hear that a person has been diagnosed with IBS I kind of roll my eyes because it’s probably one of the biggest wastebasket diagnoses in medicine. What I mean by that is that it is used as a default diagnosis when they can’t figure out what else is wrong with the person’s digestion. “Oh, you have diarrhea, constipation, or a mix of diarrhea and constipation, and we can’t figure out what the heck is causing it. You must have IBS”. In the same way that IBS presents with a mix of different symptoms, it can be related to gut-brain interaction differences, intestinal nerve sensitivity, motility changes, stress or anxiety, food triggers, gut micro biome disturbances, or post- infectious changes (after food poisoning). In other words, it is caused by a lot of different things.
Chiropractic care can improve and sometimes altogether resolve IBS because we influence a part of the nervous system that regulates digestive function. Digestive function is regulated by the “autonomic” nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system that tells your organs what to do without you thinking about it. Because of spinal misalignments (subluxations) in the upper neck, lower back, and mid back, people can experience activation or inhibition of the nerves that are emanating from each of those areas. For example, we often see babies and little children with constipation who, when their low back and pelvis is adjusted, are no longer constipated, sometimes in dramatic fashion. The pelvis and lower back influence the colon. The upper neck influences the bulk of the digestive system as far down as the middle of the large intestine. The mid back influences the stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. In addition, when people get adjusted, the stress response in the brain is quelled and they begin to digest and eliminate properly. Anything that calms the stress response will improve digestion and elimination patterns because stress activates a part of the autonomic nervous system that is critical for fight and flight and deactivates the part responsible for digestion and elimination.
As chiropractors, we also do a tremendous amount of work with nutrition. The doctors at Chiropractic Health and Wellness are trained to identify food sensitivities. Food sensitivity/allergy identification and elimination plays a huge role in resolving IBS. Finally, the use of nutritional supplementation like digestive enzymes and supplements to improve the micro biome of the gut and allow it to heal are critical for resolving IBS. If you are a family member suffers with IBS and make sure to contact the doctors at Chiropractic Health and Wellness. We are here to help you with this vexing and ill-defined problem
Find Real Relief from IBS — Schedule Your Visit Today
If digestive issues are disrupting your life, you don’t have to navigate them alone. Our chiropractors take a whole-body approach to improve nervous system function, reduce stress, and support healthier digestion. Book an appointment today and take the first step toward calmer, more consistent gut health.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can chiropractic care really help improve digestive issues like IBS?
Yes. Chiropractic adjustments can influence the autonomic nervous system, which regulates digestion, helping reduce IBS symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
2. How does spinal alignment affect IBS symptoms?
Misalignments in the upper neck, mid-back, and lower back can disrupt nerve signals that control digestive organs. Correcting these areas may improve gut motility and reduce IBS flare-ups.
3. What foods commonly trigger IBS symptoms?
Many people with IBS react to specific foods. Chiropractors trained in nutrition can help identify food sensitivities and guide elimination strategies to calm digestive irritation.
4. Can stress make IBS worse, and can chiropractic care help?
Absolutely. Stress activates the fight-or-flight response, which suppresses healthy digestion. Chiropractic adjustments help calm the nervous system, allowing the body to shift into better digestive function.
5. Do chiropractors recommend supplements for IBS relief?
Yes. Digestive enzymes, probiotics, and supplements that support the gut microbiome are often part of a comprehensive plan to help heal the digestive tract and reduce IBS symptoms.
