If this were not so it would violate Physics as we know it, because all things flow both ways. This is a concept that has been questioned by those who correctly point out that most, if not all, physical problems stem from our belief systems, or mind-spirit issues. I have agreed with them wholeheartedly, while at the same time pointing out that the body influences the mind. Dichotomies, opposing concepts, dualism have often troubled people throughout the ages. Masculinity-Femininity polarization, the mind-body connection, and the brain-gut axis are examples of this common conundrum.
The answer is in INTEGRATION, BALANCE, HARMONY, BEAUTY, HOMEOSTASIS. The latter is a synonym of HEALTH.
One of the first clues I found that the gut influences the brain was dissecting the Vagus nerve. I was taught it is a cranial nerve that goes from the brain to the gut. Yet, when examining its constituting neuron tails, researchers found that 1/3 of them go from the brain to the gut, while 2/3 go the other way. After graduating, I reviewed thousands of studies showing how the gut influences the brain; they convinced me that I had not been taught an INTEGRATIVE, BALANCED approach to HEALTH.
This is why I was delighted to find this issue:
I hope you read the titles of the articles therein.
References
The Gut and Its Microbiome as Related to Central Nervous System Functioning and Psychological Well-being: Introduction to the Special Issue of Psychosomatic Medicine J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):844-846, October 2017.
Understanding the Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory and Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases, J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):857-867, October 2017.
A Perspective on Brain–Gut Communication: The American Gastroenterology Association and American Psychosomatic Society Joint Symposium on Brain–Gut Interactions, J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):847-856, October 2017.
Gut Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis: New Insights in the Pathophysiology of Metabolic Syndrome J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):874-879, October 2017.
The Association Between Temperament and Microbiota in Healthy Individuals: A Pilot Study J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):898-904, October 2017.
Brain Structure and Response to Emotional Stimuli as Related to Gut Microbial Profiles in Healthy Women J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):905-913, October 2017.
Influence of Acute Multispecies and Multistrain Probiotic Supplementation on Cardiovascular Function and Reactivity to Psychological Stress in Young Adults, J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):914-919, October 2017.
Chronic Psychosocial Stress and Gut Health in Children: Associations With Calprotectin and Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):927-935, October 2017.
The Microbiome in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Exposed Controls,Study J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):936-946, October 2017.
Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis and Mental Health J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):920-926, October 2017.
Toward a Biopsychosocial Ecology of the Human Microbiome, Brain-Gut Axis, and Health J. Psychosomatic Medicine. 79(8):947-957, October 2017.
