The Gut, Your Second Brain, Keep It Healthy!
The Gut, Your Second Brain, Keep It Healthy!
Anger can cause stomachaches, sadness can lead to a loss of appetite, and stress can trigger diarrhea. Nearly everyone has experienced these connections between emotions and bodily sensations. When we delve into the reasons behind this, it becomes clear that emotions like joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, and surprise are not only related to the brain but also to the gastrointestinal system.
Research by Dr. Michael Gershon, a neurologist at Columbia University in the United States, has shown that within the folds of the human gastrointestinal tissues lies a structure known as the "enteric nervous system," essentially the nervous system within the intestines. This system can perceive, receive signals independently of the brain, and respond, generating feelings of pleasure and discomfort in individuals. It can even participate in intellectual activities, much like the brain. As a result, he coined the term "second brain" for this system, which is located in the gut, hence also referred to as the "abdominal brain" or "intestinal brain."
The "intestinal brain" primarily functions independently. For example, the action of the anal sphincter muscle is not under the control of the brain; it operates under the influence of the "intestinal brain." Moreover, the entire process of digestion, absorption, and excretion is conducted independently under the regulation of the "intestinal brain."
Although the "intestinal brain" can act independently, it is also connected to the brain. At times, these two "brains" operate like twins. They communicate, and when one experiences discomfort due to stimulation, the other may respond similarly. The most common example is when pain in one area is alleviated by painkillers, but it may result in dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Dizziness is a reaction of the brain, while nausea and vomiting are responses from the gastrointestinal system.
In clinical practice, it has also been observed that many digestive system disorders are closely related to psychological factors, such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. These conditions can severely impact people's quality of life and work efficiency. Symptoms of ulcer patients worsening, bleeding, or complications like perforation often occur after emotional stress. Therefore, when treating these gastrointestinal problems, it is essential to understand the patient's emotional state. Sometimes, as emotional burdens are lifted, diseases tend to fade away. Clinically, it has been noticed that individuals with cheerful, open, and tolerant personalities have a lower incidence of gastrointestinal diseases.
Anger can cause stomachaches, sadness can lead to a loss of appetite, and stress can trigger diarrhea. Nearly everyone has experienced these connections between emotions and bodily sensations. When we delve into the reasons behind this, it becomes clear that emotions like joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, and surprise are not only related to the brain but also to the gastrointestinal system.
Research by Dr. Michael Gershon, a neurologist at Columbia University in the United States, has shown that within the folds of the human gastrointestinal tissues lies a structure known as the "enteric nervous system," essentially the nervous system within the intestines. This system can perceive, receive signals independently of the brain, and respond, generating feelings of pleasure and discomfort in individuals. It can even participate in intellectual activities, much like the brain. As a result, he coined the term "second brain" for this system, which is located in the gut, hence also referred to as the "abdominal brain" or "intestinal brain."
The "intestinal brain" primarily functions independently. For example, the action of the anal sphincter muscle is not under the control of the brain; it operates under the influence of the "intestinal brain." Moreover, the entire process of digestion, absorption, and excretion is conducted independently under the regulation of the "intestinal brain."
Although the "intestinal brain" can act independently, it is also connected to the brain. At times, these two "brains" operate like twins. They communicate, and when one experiences discomfort due to stimulation, the other may respond similarly. The most common example is when pain in one area is alleviated by painkillers, but it may result in dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Dizziness is a reaction of the brain, while nausea and vomiting are responses from the gastrointestinal system.
In clinical practice, it has also been observed that many digestive system disorders are closely related to psychological factors, such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. These conditions can severely impact people's quality of life and work efficiency. Symptoms of ulcer patients worsening, bleeding, or complications like perforation often occur after emotional stress. Therefore, when treating these gastrointestinal problems, it is essential to understand the patient's emotional state. Sometimes, as emotional burdens are lifted, diseases tend to fade away. Clinically, it has been noticed that individuals with cheerful, open, and tolerant personalities have a lower incidence of gastrointestinal diseases.
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