18/07/2025
Summary of “Brain-gut connection explains why integrative treatments can help relieve digestive ailments”
Modern medicine has historically separated body systems for better understanding, but growing evidence shows these systems are deeply interconnected especially the brain and gut. The brain communicates with the gastrointestinal (GI) system through both the sympathetic (“fight or flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous systems. Meanwhile, the gut has its own neural network the enteric nervous system containing around 100 million nerve cells, which also communicates directly with the brain and immune system.
Stress and negative emotions like anxiety, fear, or depression can disrupt gut function, altering motility, sensitivity, inflammation, and microbiota. This can worsen conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, GERD, and food sensitivities. These gut changes can, in turn, impact the brain, creating a harmful feedback loop contributing to fatigue, depression, and cardiovascular issues.
Mind-body therapies such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and hypnotherapy have shown benefits by calming the nervous system and reducing inflammation. Dietary changes, especially plant-based or low-FODMAP diets, can also help restore balance by nurturing a healthy gut microbiome.
Overall, combining these integrative approaches can significantly relieve digestive symptoms and support mental well-being.
Source: Dossett, M. (2019). Harvard Health Blog, “Brain-gut connection explains why integrative treatments can help.”
🌿 Did you know your gut and brain are in constant conversation?
What you feel emotionally can have a direct impact on your digestive health — and vice versa! That's why integrative therapies like Visceral Manipulation are making such a difference for people struggling with digestive issues.
🧠➡️💚 The brain-gut connection explains how stress, emotions, and even trauma influence gut function, contributing to issues like IBS, GERD, and inflammation. Manual Therapy approaches support this connection, helping to bring balance to both mind and body.
✨ Want to learn more?
Check out this insightful article from Harvard Health: https://www.iahe.com/storage/docs/articles/Brain-gut_connection_explains_why_integrative_treatments_can_he.pdf? Or dive deeper into visceral health through the Barral Institute’s Searchable Article Database.
👉 Empower your clients with knowledge — their health is not just physical; it’s emotional and integrative too.
