Can Your Gut, Hormones & Spine Really Be Interconnected? Here’s What Every Woman Should Know

December 15, 2025

By Dr. Paige Enwright | The Wellness Way – Lake Forest

Most people think of their gut, hormones, and spine as three completely separate systems.

You have digestive symptoms? “It must be your gut.”
Hormone issues? “That’s something different.”
Back pain? “Go see a chiropractor.”

But the truth is this: these systems are never separate — they’re constantly communicating.
And when one of them becomes stressed or inflamed, the others react.  

Your gut influences your hormones.
Your spine influences your nervous system — which influences everything.
And your hormones respond to the level of stress, inflammation, and communication happening in the body. 

This interconnectedness is one of the biggest reasons why so many people never get answers. They’ve only ever had one part of the puzzle looked at instead of all three pieces together.

At The Wellness Way, we compare the body to a Swiss watch: every gear impacts the next. You cannot change one part without influencing the whole. This is exactly why so many people struggle to get lasting results — they’re only addressing one piece of the puzzle.

Let’s break down how these systems are connected and why healing requires looking at all three.

1. How Does Your Gut Influence Your Hormones?

Most people think of gut health as “digestion,” but your gut does far more than break down food.

Your gut influences:

When your gut is inflamed or when you’re eating foods your body is reacting to, several things happen:

1) Your body becomes more inflamed — and inflammation is the hallmark of nearly every chronic hormone and immune problem we see.
2) Hormone clearance becomes impaired — estrogens, cortisol, thyroid hormones all rely on the gut and liver to break them down.
3) Stress signals increase — your gut communicates constantly with the brain through the vagus nerve, and irritation can tell  your nervous system something is wrong.

This is why food intolerances and gut imbalances often underlie symptoms such as PMS, irregular cycles, thyroid dysfunction, infertility, fatigue, anxiety, skin issues, constipation, and bloating.

You cannot balance hormones in an inflamed gut — you must address both.

2. How Does Your Spine and Nervous System Affect Hormone Regulation?

Here’s the part most people never hear in a medical office: Your spine protects the nervous system — the system that communicates with every hormone, every organ, and every cell.

When spinal joints become restricted or aren’t functioning well, it can change how the brain processes information and how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds.⁹ ¹⁰

This matters because the ANS influences stress hormones, digestion, heart rate, blood sugar regulation, sleep, reproductive function, and immune balance.

Some studies suggest that chiropractic adjustments can influence how the brain and nervous system respond to the body. This may include:

  • Helping the brain better recognize and process signals coming from the body
  • Encouraging a shift toward a calmer “rest-and-digest” state
  • Creating small, natural changes in how the nervous system adapts to everyday stress

Does that mean one adjustment “fixes” hormones?

No. But it does mean:

  • A spine that’s functioning well can support clearer communication between your brain and body.
  • Clearer communication can support better regulation of hormone systems.
  • Reduced sympathetic (stress) output can support digestion, sleep, adrenal health, and overall balance.

When your spine is functioning well, your nervous system can communicate clearly.
When it’s not functioning well, it adds stress — and your hormones feel that.

3. Why Do Hormone Symptoms Happen When the Gut or Nervous System Is Stressed?

Hormones do not act alone — they respond to the internal environment.

When your gut is inflamed; when your nervous system is overwhelmed or under chronic stress¹²; when your body is exposed to inflammation or toxicity — your hormones can shift.

Many of the symptoms that patients struggle with daily — anxiety, insomnia, PMS, skin issues, cravings, weight gain, fatigue, “tired but wired,” constipation, low libido — are not random.

They are messages. Signals. Clues.

They’re telling you that a system (or multiple systems) is overwhelmed and in need of support.

This is why labs (thyroid + hormone panels), gut testing, food-allergy testing, and chiropractic care complement each other so beautifully.

Together, they help reveal why symptoms exist, not just treat them.

4. How Does Stress Tie the Gut, Hormones, and Spine Together?

At The Wellness Way, we teach the Three T’s:

  • Traumas — physical stress
  • Toxins — inflammatory foods, environmental exposures
  • Thoughts — emotional stress

All three influence gut health, hormone balance, and nervous system functioning.

Physical stress affects the spine.
Emotional stress affects cortisol and immune regulation.
Toxic stress affects gut integrity and inflammation.

You cannot separate them — healing requires addressing all three T’s together.

This is why:

  • People who “eat perfectly” but never address spinal function can still feel stuck
  • People who get adjusted but continue eating inflammatory foods can also feel stuck

Healing is never about one system. Remember, your body is like a Swiss Watch.
It’s about how your systems interact.

5. What Does a Whole-Body, Root-Cause Wellness Approach Look Like?

Every patient plan is individualized, but most include some combination of:

  • Gut testing (stool analysis, food sensitivities, inflammation markers)
  • Bloodwork–maybe a full thyroid and hormone panel not just basic labs
  • Chiropractic adjustments to support nervous-system communication
  • Nutrition and supplements based on your body
  • Addressing stress, sleep, and lifestyle factors

When gut, spine, hormones, and lifestyle are supported together — that’s when real healing begins.

I’ve seen it time and again: energy improves, cycles regulate, digestion calms, moods lift, and patients begin to feel like themselves again.

6. How Can You Support the Gut–Hormone–Spine Connection at Home?

Here are simple steps anyone can begin:

  • Remove inflammatory or reactive foods
  • Eat whole, nutrient-dense meals
  • Hydrate well
  • Get adjusted regularly
  • Support digestion with mindful eating
  • Prioritize restorative sleep
  • Move your body gently each day
  • Build a stress ritual that works for you
  • Reduce refined sugar
  • Support detox pathways

Small, consistent steps create meaningful shifts in gut health, nervous-system regulation, and hormone balance.

Final Thoughts

Your gut, spine, and hormones are not separate stories — they are chapters in the same story.

When one system is overwhelmed, the others compensate.
When all three are supported, the body finally has space to heal.

If you’ve been dealing with chronic symptoms — PMS, thyroid dysfunction, irregular cycles, digestive problems, fatigue, mood changes, or autoimmune symptoms — you don’t have to guess anymore.

There is a roadmap.
There are root causes.
And there is hope when you support your whole system — gut, spine, hormones, and lifestyle.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. It’s not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your Wellness Way clinic or personal physician, especially if currently taking prescription or over-the-counter medications. Pregnant women, in particular, should seek the advice of a physician before trying any herb or supplement listed on this website. Always speak with your individual clinic before adding any medication, herb, or nutritional supplement to your health protocol. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Paige Enwright D.C.