The Gut-Brain Fix: How Chiropractic Helps Babies, Adults & Everyone In Between

Let’s talk guts. Literally.

At Sol Chiropractic, we’re always looking under the surface, and when it comes to digestion, there’s a lot more going on than just what you ate for lunch. Whether it’s an infant dealing with reflux, a toddler with tummy troubles, or an adult navigating IBS, GERD, or chronic constipation, there’s one common thread we see over and over again: the nervous system.

The Gut-Brain Connection: It’s Not Just a Buzzword

You may have heard the term gut-brain connection, but what does that actually mean? At the center of it all is the vagus nerve, the main player in your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as your rest and digest mode. This powerhouse nerve runs from your brainstem all the way down through your organs, including your digestive tract, and helps regulate everything from heart rate to bowel movements.

When stress is high (hello, modern life!) or the nervous system is out of balance, digestion often takes the hit. And guess what? That stress doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be physical (birth trauma, poor posture, repetitive movement), chemical (toxins, poor diet), or emotional (hello, anxiety). Chiropractors refer to these as the 3 T’s: Thoughts, Toxins, and Traumas.

So Where Does Chiropractic Come In?

Chiropractic care doesn’t “treat” digestive issues directly. Instead, it focuses on optimizing nervous system function through precise, gentle adjustments that allow the brain and body to communicate more clearly. When the communication line between the brain and the gut is open and clear, the body has a better chance of regulating and healing on its own.

In fact, research like Reality Check by Heidi Haavik has shown that specific chiropractic adjustments can influence the way the brain processes information from the body, supporting better overall regulation of body systems, including digestion.

Babies and Digestion: Reflux, Constipation & Colic, Oh My!

Yes, we see babies! And no, it’s not because they have back pain.

Babies often come to us for help with reflux, constipation, and colic. These aren’t just inconvenient symptoms, they’re signs that the gut-brain connection may need support. Birth, even the most beautiful and gentle birth, is a big deal for a tiny nervous system. When the upper neck or lower spine is under stress, it can impact vagus nerve function and digestion.

We’ve seen countless babies finally poop after a week of being backed up. Sometimes even right on the table (yep, we’re used to it). Parents report better sleep, less spitting up, and happier babies all around. It's not magic, it’s nervous system regulation.

Adults Aren’t Immune Either

We hear it all the time: “I had no idea chiropractic could help with this.”

Adults often come to us for low back or neck pain and start noticing unexpected (but welcome) changes like less bloating, more regular bowel movements, less reflux, and fewer digestive flare-ups. We've seen improvement in conditions like IBS, GERD, acid reflux, constipation, and even unexplained nausea.

Why? Because once the nervous system is supported, the body can begin to regulate, adapt, and heal more effectively.

When Pain Isn’t What It Seems

One of our more eye-opening patient stories involved a person with severe right rib and shoulder pain. They had already been through the rounds, nerve blocks, pain injections, and still no relief. During our chiropractic assessment, we started to suspect there was more going on. The pain patterns matched up with gallbladder referral pain, and sure enough, imaging revealed their gallbladder was full of gallstones.

It’s a perfect example of how pain isn’t always musculoskeletal. The nervous system gives us clues, and chiropractic helps us listen more deeply to what the body is trying to say.

Our Secret Weapon? CLA Insight Scans

At Sol, we use state-of-the-art CLA Insight scans to look at what’s going on beneath the surface. These scans give us real-time data about how your nervous system is adapting (or not adapting) to stress. Whether it’s pain, digestive issues, or emotional overwhelm, our scans help us uncover the why so we can create a care plan that supports true healing, not just symptom relief.

Dr. Sabrina’s Story: From Constipation to Clarity

This topic hits close to home for Dr. Sabrina. She grew up dealing with chronic constipation, trying every remedy under the sun. It wasn’t until she began chiropractic care in her twenties that her digestion finally started to regulate, along with her sleep, energy, mood, and overall resilience.

It’s a reminder that when we support the nervous system, the whole body changes.

Final Thoughts

Digestion isn’t just about food. It’s about how your brain and gut are communicating. If your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight, digestion is one of the first things to go offline.

Chiropractic care helps reconnect that brain-gut communication, bringing your body back into balance whether you’re 6 weeks or 60 years old.

If you or your kiddos are dealing with digestion issues, or even mystery pain that won’t go away, we’d love to take a look under the surface with our CLA Insight scans. At Sol Chiropractic, we don’t just chase symptoms. We get to the root so you can shine from the inside out.

xo Dr. Sabrina Livingston