Health Blog

The cause of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome might be overgrowth of Candida in one person, a toxic colon in another. Another cause is one that many sufferers stubbornly refuse to acknowledge – an exhausted nervous system. They search and search for something ‘physical’ when the cause of the trouble is right under their noses, but what could be more physical than overstimulated nerves? They are part of the body too. In order to understand how tired nerves affect the bowel it is necessary to have some idea of how the nervous system works.

Understanding the Nervous System

The nervous system can be compared to a railway network; it provides lines of communication between various parts of the body, with the brain as the central station, the spine as the main line and the supply to the hands and feet as the branch lines. It is divided into the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

The Central Nervous System

This controls voluntary movement and is responsible for all sensations in muscles, bones and joints. It is under the control of the will – you want to pick up a cup, you reach out your hand and do so. This system works well unless it is neurologically impaired or, in times of terror, paralysed with fear.

The Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system controls all involuntary muscles, including internal organs, and blood vessels. This system is under the control of the emotions, for example, anger will cause your blood pressure to rise, fear will make the stomach churn. It has two parts: the sympathetic nervous system, which has a stimulating effect, and the parasympathetic, which has a calming effect. When your parasympathetic nervous system does not work properly you become overanxious.

Think of the sympathetic nervous system as the express trains speeding along and the parasympathetic nervous system as the slow trains pottering along, taking time and enjoying the view. All the internal organs have two sets of nerves, one stimulating, the other quietening – remember this important point when you are arguing with your bowel.

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