Stress Affects Both Brains

By Dr. Laura Thompson

Did you ever wonder where the expression “gut feelings” or butterflies in my stomach” originated from?  As with most sayings there is a legitimate source of the cliché.  According to new research, the body has two brains; one in the head and the other in the intestines or the “the gut”. 

Dr. Michael Gershon, a professor of anatomy at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, says that the brain in the gut plays a major role in human happiness and misery. Thus the expressions!  Well, this is one subject no one likes to talk about --  How are your bowels?  Moving at least twice daily?  Diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, bloating, flatulence, spastic colon?  But what the heck – I’m used to it.  Asking about the bowel movements is a normal part of my day and to some extent; it should be natural for you too.  After all, one cannot ignore the GI tract or the second brain. 

So checking in and monitoring the health of the intestines, number and quality of bowel movements per day, etc. is vital to stress management.  The more we focus on the health of the intestinal tract, the more control over emotional, mental and physical stress we’ll have.  Believe it.  The connection is quite profound.  

Ever had diarrhea when you felt frightened? Had a stomach cramp or nausea before an important exam? Seen a snake barf a beetle meal when surprised? If you've answered 'yes' to any of these questions you have already noticed the handiwork of an obscure piece of neurological networking called the enteric nervous system which includes neurons that house and communicate with the same neurotransmitters that are found in the brain.

The major neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, histamine, nitric oxide, enkephalins, and norepinephrine, as well as immune cells are found in the digestive tract between the esophagus and the colon. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that has natural calming, sleep-inducing and anti-depressant activity.  95% of the body’s serotonin is made in the intestinal tract. Can digestive problems lead to depression?  You bet. Can depression lead to digestive problems?  Ditto.

When eating a meal or snack under normal circumstances, the enteric nervous system directs the muscles surrounding the small intestine to contract in an organized manner. This action moves food down the pipe and gives the signal for the digestive chemicals need to do their normal activity to decompose the food.  The nervous system also tells glands in the intestines to secrete chemicals needed to make amino acids from the food just eaten

But if you happen to see a swarm of killer bees or are threatened or in traffic while gobbling down a burrito and someone cut you off and almost caused an accident your gut is going to get a stress signal from the brain through the vagus nerve connecting them. The result in some people is a gush of diarrhea, or vomiting as a way of the enteric system protection from external threats also known as the ‘fight flight “scenario. The danger signal from the brain causes the small intestines to release chemicals that trigger an inflammatory response attracting immune cell sin the bloodstream area.  The body is now set for trauma which results in many nasty scenes, infections, irritable colon, spasms, gas, constipation, colitis, chronic abdominal pain and more.
Of course, there are other factors that cause stress in the second brain:

• Food allergies – gluten in wheat and casein in dairy
• Low fiber diet (common in the American diet)
• Dietary factors - including excess dietary fats and refined foods
• Candidiasis – overgrowth of yeast in the body, causes gas, bloating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Laxative and antibiotic abuse
• Environmental toxins

The resulting factors of the physiological stress causes psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and fatigue. Hans Selye, who is best known for his research on stress in the 50s, said that, "a painful blow and a passionate kiss can be equally as stressful". Selye also coined the definitions for the three stages of stress, which are: the alarm stage; the resistance stage; and the exhaustive stage.

The alarm stage is the "fight or flight" reaction. The resistance stage, the body is in a mode where the endocrine system stays activated with elevated levels of substances such as cortisol, to deal with the stress. The exhaustive stage, the body loses the ability to cope with stress in a normal manner.

The GOOD NEWS is that there is hope -- and better than that, there can be reversal of symptoms and body rejuvenation.  One way to tell for certain what your stress hormone levels are is by taking a simple saliva test.  Evaluating the entire 24-hour pattern helps establish the overall level of stress and how well the body deals with it. 

From these results, proper nutritional supplementation coupled with customized creams containing nutrients and plant-based bio-identical hormones are recommended.  These support your adrenal glands and intestinal organs, and get you back on track to a more vibrant and youthful you.

Dr. Laura Thompson, Family Nutritionist and Naturopathic Endocrinologist has a nationwide practice by phone, and locally in Carlsbad, California. Call for in-home testing info, 800-608-5602.  

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products suggested, are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please check with your health care practitioner for your best health options.

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