Digestive health is more than just what you eat, it’s about how your body processes, regulates, and communicates. In today’s natural healthcare landscape, more people are beginning to understand that digestion is deeply connected to the nervous system, spinal alignment, and overall physiological balance. Here at Meridian Health Center, we approach digestion from an alternative, integrative perspective that combines chiropractic care and advanced Bi-Scan technology to address the root cause of digestive dysfunction.
What is the Digestive System?
The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), also known as your digestive tract. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisted tube from the mouth to the anus. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs that also aid in digestion. Bacteria in your GI tract, called your gut flora or microbiome, help with digestion. Parts of your nervous and circulatory systems also help. Your nerves, hormones, bacteria, blood, and organs of your digestive system break down the foods and liquids you eat or drink daily.
How Common are Digestive Problems?
Digestive dysfunctions are far more common than most people realize. In the United States alone, digestive diseases account for over 126 million outpatient visits and tens of millions of emergency room visits. Dysfunctional disorders such as IBS affect 10-15% of US adults. Some surveys show that digestive symptoms are nearly universal, with 73% of people reporting gas and 52% of people reporting bloating.
Despite how common digestive dysfunction is, many people normalize it, assuming discomfort is just part of life. This normalization delays intervention and allows underlying digestive dysfunction to worsen over time.
One main reason digestive issues are so widespread is due to lifestyle factors and physiological stress. Chronic stress plays a major role in the disruption of gut function. The gut and brain are connected via the gut-brain axis, mediated by the vagus nerve. A high, sustained sympathetic response (chronic stress) alters digestive patterns, mobility, and enzyme production. Disruption in this communication pathway is a major contributor to IBS and similar conditions.
Another common reason is exposure to environmental toxins and processed foods. Additives, preservatives, and other chemicals disrupt the microbiome. The bacterial ecosystem is essential for proper digestion. Add a sedentary lifestyle, and this slows metabolism and impairs digestive efficiency.
The often overlooked problem is the role of the nervous system. Most people don’t think of the communication aspect of the nervous system to the body, in this case, the digestive tract. Without 100% nerve impulse of the vagus nerve and the nerve roots that directly function the digestive tract, dysfunction will occur, creating symptoms and even disease.
What Are the Top Symptoms of Digestive Problems?
Digestive dysfunction can present in many ways, and symptoms often vary from person to person. The most common signs of poor digestion are:
- Bloating and abdominal distention
- Gas and discomfort
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Acid reflux or heartburn
- Food sensitivities
- Fatigue after eating
- Brain fog
These may seem mild and very common because they are, but they are signs that the digestive system is not functioning properly. Over time, they can evolve into chronic conditions.
Research shows that the digestive conditions often overlap. For example, up to 60% of people with GERD also experience IBS symptoms. This overlap shows how interconnected digestion pathways are.
What Are the Main Causes of Digestion Problems?
Digestion problems rarely have a single cause. They are multifactorial, involving structural, neurological, biochemical, and environmental factors.
Nervous system interference: The digestive system is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The part of the nervous system that you can’t control. It’s automatic. This comes from your vagus nerve, also known as vagal tone. If there is interference, often caused by upper cervical misalignment, communication between the brain and gut is distorted, leading to improper digestion.
Poor Diet: Highly processed foods, sugar, and inflammatory ingredients disrupt gut bacteria and impair digestion efficiency.
Stress and Emotional Load: Chronic stress shifts your body into a sympathetic “fight or flight” mode, shutting down optimal digestion.
Microbiome Imbalance: Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria, can lead to bloating, inflammation, and malabsorption.
Toxins: Environmental toxins from food, water, and air that accumulate and place additional stress on digestive pathways
Structural Imbalance: Spinal subluxation from the upper cervical spine affects vagal tone to thoracic and lumbar subluxations, affecting the main nerve roots to the digestive system.
This is why simply treating the symptoms, like taking antacids or laxatives, often doesn’t take care of the root problem. The underlying dysfunction remains.
What Are the Implications of Gut Health on Overall Health?
Digestion health is foundational to overall health. When digestion is compromised, the entire body is affected. Here are 5 main areas affected.
Immune System: Approximately 70% of the immune system resides in the gut. Poor digestion weakens the immune defense.
Energy Levels: If digestion is ineffective, nutrients are not properly absorbed, leading to fatigue.
Mental Health: The gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin. Dysfunction in digestion can contribute to anxiety and depression.
Inflammation: Poor digestion leads to systemic inflammation, which is linked to chronic disease.
Hormonal Balance: The gut plays a role in hormone regulation. Dysfunction can disrupt hormonal health.
“I Thought Chiropractic Only Treats Back Pain.” How are the spine and digestive tract connected?
Chiropractic is not about the spine itself; it’s about the nervous system that runs through the spine. The brain communicates with every organ through the spinal cord and nerves. If there are misalignments in the spine (subluxations), they can interfere with the signals they are communicating.
For example, the thoracic and lumbar spines are directly connected to the digestive organs, such as the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Subluxation in these regions can disrupt nerve signals to those organs. When communication is impaired, chiropractic care restores proper nerve flow. Allowing digestion to function as intended.
Why is Chiropractic the Best Choice for Digestion Problems?
Chiropractic addresses the root causes rather than masking the symptoms. Restoring nervous system function optimizes nerve communication, improving digestion at its core. Using a drug-free approach avoids dependency on medications that only manage symptoms. We like to view the person with a whole body approach rather than with an isolation approach.
Research shows that spinal adjustments can influence autonomic nervous system activity by correcting the underlying dysfunction, creating long-term results.
How We Improve Digestion in Southwest Denver, CO
Here at Meridian Health Center, we focus on getting to the root cause of your digestive issues. We start our search with our nervous system. Because the nervous system controls all functions, it is the first place we need to examine to determine whether spinal subluxations are causing or contributing to digestive dysfunction. Our care specializes in identifying subluxations and correcting communication through spinal corrective care. We are trained to assess and analyze the spine and its posture. We use cutting-edge techniques to correct any subluxation affecting the body, enabling it to heal and function.
How We Treat Poor Digestion in Southwest Denver, CO
We offer a conservative, non-invasive approach to addressing the entire body by focusing on exactly where the problem is, how it is affecting your quality of life, and a detailed plan designed to get to the core issue. Because your nervous system is the lifeline to YOUR entire body, it makes sense to start with it.
The first step from a chiropractic perspective is assessing the integrity of the nervous system. This involves a detailed spinal examination to identify subluxations that interfere with communication to the digestive tract. We focus on the thoracic and upper lumbar region as these areas house the nerve pathways that directly influence the digestive organs. We use techniques such as posture analysis, range of motion, palpation, and neurological scans to detect stress or dysfunction.
Once it is determined whether a neurological component is contributing, we schedule a Bio-Scan assessment. The Bio-Scan technology provides a deep-level functional analysis of digestion. Bio-Scans evaluate the body’s energetic and physiological responses to identify stress in organs, nutrient deficiencies, toxic burdens, and imbalances within the microbiome. When combined with both chiropractic findings, the Bio-Scan provides a comprehensive picture of both the neurological and biochemical factors affecting digestion. This technology helps detect subtle dysfunctions that may not appear in traditional lab tests but are already impacting digestion efficiency.
How Do the Results Influence the Type of Care You Provide?
The results from both the chiropractic assessment and Bio-Scan directly shape the care plan, ensuring it is highly individualized. If spinal subluxations are identified as the main contributor, the care plan will be designed to restore proper signals between the brain and digestive tract. Improved function leads to more efficient digestion, better mobility, and reduces symptoms such as bloating or reflux.
At the same time, Bio-Scan findings guide supportive interventions that address the biochemical sides of digestion. For example, if the scan reveals enzyme deficiencies, microbiome imbalance, or toxic stress, targeted nutritional strategies and lifestyle recommendations are incorporated. This dual approach ensures that digestion is supported structurally and functionally.
$99 New Patient Special
– Day 1: History review, consultation, nerve scan, exam, and x-rays –
– Day 2: Review exam and x-rays, and adjustment –
– Day 3: Dr’s report of findings, review recommended treatment plan –
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Finally Be Heard
We dedicate time to listen, ensuring we understand the complete picture of your health struggles, lifestyle history, specific goals, and the challenges that have left you feeling limited. We move past the limitations of rushed appointments and generic solutions to build a genuine connection, making sure your unique needs and experiences are the central focus of your entire care plan.
2. Get To The Root Cause Of The Problem
Our team moves beyond temporary symptom management to systematically identify and correct the underlying interferences affecting your body’s ability to heal. We use our three-pillar system—Specific Spinal Correction, Customized Nutrition and Neuro-Feedback Principles—to target the physical, chemical, and neurological issues that are preventing you from thriving and limiting your life.
3. Take Back Control Of Your Health
This step is about implementing the personalized plan and teaching you the principles of lifelong wellness. Through corrective care and educational guidance, we give you the knowledge, tools, and lasting body changes needed to maintain optimal function. This comprehensive approach ensures you feel great now and have the foundation for sustained health and vitality, allowing you to live a full life without limits.
How We Improve Digestion In Southwest Denver, CO
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
The new patient process is designed to be thorough, educational, and personalizable from the very beginning. It starts with an in-depth consultation and health history, during which we take the time to understand your digestive concerns, lifestyle, stress levels, and overall health goals. This is followed by a comprehensive chiropractic examination to assess spinal subluxations, posture, and nervous system function. The goal is not to just identify symptoms, but to begin uncovering the underlying cause of your digestive issues.
If needed, a Bio-Scan is scheduled and performed to gather additional information on organ function, nutritional status, and internal stressors affecting digestion. Once all findings are collected, we analyze and review. We then explain exactly what is happening in your body, how it is affecting your digestion, and the steps needed to correct it. A customized care plan is created, combining chiropractic adjustments to help restore optimal digestion and long-term health.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Southwest Denver, CO
The nervous system is central to gut health because digestion is not just a chemical reaction but is neurologically regulated. Every function involved is coordinated through communication between the brain and the digestive organs. This communication. occurs through the autonomic nervous system. When the nervous system is functioning properly, digestion is efficient and coordinated. However, when that communication is disrupted, digestion can begin to function poorly, causing dysfunctional symptoms.
A subluxation refers to a misalignment or dysfunction in the spine that interferes with. With the proper nerve communication. It’s not just a structural issue; it’s a neurological one. When the vertebra is out of proper alignment, it creates stress on the nerves, altering the signal between the brain and the body.
Symptoms of a subluxation can vary widely. When subluxation occurs in areas of the spine that influence digestive organs, it can impair the body’s ability to regulate digestion effectively.
To identify subluxation, a detailed chiropractic assessment is performed, including posture analysis, palpation, range of motion, and neurological screening. These tools help pinpoint areas where nerve interference is occurring. Once identified, specific chiropractic adjustments are used to correct these dysfunctions. The impact of an adjustment is significant, as it helps the overall improvement of the body.
What makes our care different is the focus on the root cause and the whole body function rather than symptom management. Instead of addressing digestive discomfort, the approach integrates nervous system correction with functional insight using the Bio-Scan technology to assess internal imbalances. This allows care to be highly individualized. Our goals are not temporary relief but long-term restoration of digestive health and overall wellness.
Nutritional Guidance
There are many advertisements and marketing campaigns promoting their supplements, vitamins, nutrition plans, and detoxes if you are suffering from a digestive or other health condition. Through our Bio-Scan technology, it is rooted in precision rather than assumption, or what we like to say, “We test, not guess”. The Bio-Scan identifies specific imbalances affecting digestion, such as nutrient deficiencies, microbiome disruption, stress on digestive organs, or inflammatory patterns. From there, we provide recommendations tailored to that individual, which may include macronutrient balance, improved hydration, or specific supplementation to address the deficiency. The goal is remove the guess work and give a clear and precise plan based on how their body is actually functioning.
Based on the scan findings, certain foods may be temporarily avoided. Food that causes an increase in inflammation, disrupting the gut lining, or impairing digestion. Common culprits include excess sugar, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and, in some cases, dairy and gluten. Each recommendation is tailored to the patient’s scan results, ensuring supplementation is targeted to improve digestion.
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Common Digestion Problems We Treat in Southwest Denver, CO
GERD
A chronic condition where the stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. Common symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, bloating, nausea, chronic cough, irritated throat, and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms can worsen after eating, after lying down, or during stressful situations. Gerd is caused by a combination of factors such as poor diet, overeating, excess abdominal pressure, chronic stress, and even low stomach acid.
We, as healthcare professionals, look at the body as a whole and address neurological communication and internal dysfunction. By adjusting the thoracic vertebra and providing a Bio-Scan on an individual, we can restore proper nerve flow and reduce the body’s dysfunction.
IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition that affects the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include cramping, belly pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or both. IBS can be an ongoing condition that needs long-term care if not taken care of sooner rather than later. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle, and stress.
Here at Meridian Health Center, we always check the nervous system to clear any miscommunication to the organs, and we test with a Bio-Scan to determine any internal dysfunctions.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and inflammation of the tissue. This can lead to stomach pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. Crohn’s most commonly affects the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. It can be both painful and debilitating. Though there’s no cure for the disease, many types of therapies can greatly reduce its symptoms.
Here at Meridian Health Center, a Bio-Scan and reduced inflammation management help the patient manage this condition much easier than the given medication.
Constipation & Diarrhea
The cause of both is multifactorial and often tied to imbalances in digestion and nervous system regulation. Diarrhea may be triggered by infection, food intolerances, stress, inflammation, or microbiome disruption. Where constipation is commonly linked to lower fiber intake, dehydration, sedentary lifestyle, medication use, or impaired nerve signaling to the colon. In both cases, chronic stress and dysfunction in the gut-brain connection can play a significant role, either speeding up or slowing down the digestive process. Chiropractic adjustment and Bio-Scan testing allow us to stop guessing why you have these conditions and pinpoint what is going on, so we can address it accordingly.
Bloating & Gas
Bloating occurs when excess gas builds up in the digestive tract or when food is not properly broken down and absorbed. This can happen for several reasons, such as swallowing air while eating, consuming gas-producing foods, or an imbalance in gut bacteria that leads to intestinal fermentation. Low stomach acid or insufficient digestive enzymes can allow food to sit longer in the gut, creating more gas as it breaks down.
While occasional bloating is normal, frequent or persistent bloating indicates inefficient digestion and may signal underlying issues such as food sensitivities, microbiome imbalances, or impaired gut motility.
Testing, not guessing with the Bio-Scan, is the best way to determine exactly where the dysfunction is.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. The condition typically begins in the rectum and then extends upward through part or all of the colon.
Symptoms usually develop over time, rather than suddenly. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, often with blood or mucus, abdominal pain, rectal pain, urgency to pass stool, weight loss, and fatigue. It is a chronic condition that sometimes can lead to life-threatening complications if not properly treated.
While there is no current medical cure, healing the tissue and reducing inflammation can lead to long-term remission.
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2750 S Wadsworth Blvd suite c 109, Denver, CO 80227
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractors in Southwest Denver, CO, help digestion?
Yes! We look at the body as a whole unit. When you have digestive problems, you must address the brain-gut connection and the underlying internal dysfunction. Masking the symptoms only makes the problem worse.
Can a misalignment of the spine cause digestive problems?
Yes! Misalignment of the spine or subluxations can definitely cause digestive problems. ALL organs are 100% dependent on the nerve communication. When you have a subluxation, communication decreases, and throughout time, the organs weaken and dis-ease. 100% communication is the number one priority for helping with all health conditions.
What part of your spine controls digestion?
The thoracic spine (Mid Back) and upper Lumbar spine are the main vertebrae and nerve roots to the digestive track.
Can chiropractic help with bowel movements?
Yes! Often, slower bowel movements are due to subluxation in the spine. After one or more adjustments to remove the subluxations, the body starts to function normally, and bowel movements tend to improve.
How do I get rid of GERD?
There are many ways to get rid of GERD symptoms, but treating the root cause is the cure. Lifestyle changes and Bio-Scan functional testing are the best ways to determine the cause and correct it.
How do I get fast relief from IBS?
One of the most effective ways is to get yourself out of the stress response. Since IBS is closely tied to the gut-brain connection, deep breathing, light movement like walking, or applying heat to the abdominal area can help.
$99 New Patient Special
– Day 1: History review, consultation, nerve scan, exam, and x-rays –
– Day 2: Review exam and x-rays, and adjustment –
– Day 3: Dr’s report of findings, review recommended treatment plan –
