Most of us know someone who suffers or has suffered from digestive discomfort. They are not alone. Millions of others across the nation share in their discomfort. A lot of money is spent on drugs, over-the-counter medications and homeopathic remedies to find relief from conditions like heartburn, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation and many more.What I’ve seen is that eventually many of these people who suffer will finish up seeing a specialist and undergo many tests and exams and often rely on medication to ‘just feel normal’. I find this astounding! Are we not designed to function without medication? Sometimes we need medication to help us for a short period, but not for a lifetime.Ask yourself; what is the daily dose Paracetamol that one should take? Right?! There is not one, as one should not take such things daily for the rest of their lives. Yet many do?Many fail to recognise that the body sometimes just needs some help to heal and resolve the problem at the core without the need of adding a lifetime commitment to drugs.[x_video_embed type="16:9"][/x_video_embed]Your body’s digestion and digestive systems rely on the brain and the nervous system to function properly. As a matter of fact, there are millions of nerve cells placed throughout the oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine and colon. They are in constant communication with the spine and the brain.Here is a quick overview of the most common digestive disorders:Acid Reflux (Heartburn): In this condition contents of the stomach backs up into the oesophagus resulting in a burning sensation. The discomfort can sometimes be relieved by taking antacids or in severe cases having surgery. If not addressed this can lead to long term damage to the oesophagus.Crohn’s Disease: This is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and symptoms often include diarrhoea, abdominal cramping and weight loss. Chiropractic was found to help some Crohn’s patients with long-term improvements following adjustments as research suggests.Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS affects the large intestine and the colon. The symptoms can have a vast range (diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating etc). It is hard to diagnose due to the various ways it can manifest and it can be difficult to treat. Studies suggest that chiropractic care does not only benefit people to improve IBS symptoms, but also other conditions that go in conjunction with it, such as fibromyalgia and migraines.These disorders only represent a few conditions that affect normal digestive system function. Often chronic, bothersome symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation or abdominal pain with no formal diagnosis can be related to the nervous system. A dysfunction of the bowels is often a sign of a larger malfunction in the body and can lead to severe consequences if ignored as your gut will not take up nutrients as it should.Stress, both physical, mental and emotional can and will affect how your body functions. Many people get worried and this turns into a loop, which can go on for years.Break the habit and stop ignoring those signs that your body gives you. Health is simple. It was made to be simple and easy!Maybe becoming a healthier you by keeping it simple could be a better goal for 2017??Let us help you and your family start 2017 on a positive foot. If you do not know where to start – start here!This article was written by Dr. Michael Lezuo (Chiropractor) - @drmichaelchiro.