Why you've tried everything and still don't feel right
The seven-minute visit, and the one question the system was never built to ask.
upper cervical care · ann arbor, michigan
A gut that won't settle, and tests that say it's fine
The bloating, the nausea, the stomach that never settles. The scope and the blood work came back normal.
what it often looks like
What people with digestive symptoms often describe
- A stomach that never seems to settle
- Nausea or bloating with no clear trigger
- Gut symptoms that flare with stress
- Headaches or poor sleep alongside it
Why it is often missed. Digestive symptoms are usually looked at in the gut. When the scope and the blood work are normal, the answer can become a diet sheet, or "it's stress." How the nervous system that runs digestion is working is seldom measured.
Why the upper neck may be involved. Digestion is run largely by the vagus nerve, which leaves the brainstem near the top of the neck. When the nervous system is stuck in fight or flight, digestion is one of the first things pushed aside. That is why we measure the system that runs the gut, not only the gut.
what the research looked at
Two published studies on digestive symptoms
Published 2010 to 2026. The strongest design among them: case report. Each one is summarized in plain words in our research library: who was studied, what was measured, what was found, and where it falls short.
- An 8-year-old with morning headaches and stomach pain
- A 7-year-old girl with cyclic vomiting
Two children, one case each, and no adult studies. One of the authors says plainly that the improvement can't be told apart from the natural course of the condition. Ongoing digestive symptoms need a medical workup first.
The digestive symptoms studies, by design and year
how we measure
The Lazar Method™ measures first
Everyone else told you what might work. We measure before anything is decided. Heart rate variability shows whether your nervous system is stuck in fight or flight, and the thermal scan reads the part of your nervous system that runs the organs.
Before any correction we measure how your nervous system is regulating your body: heart rate variability, thermal and muscle tone scans, PostureIQ™, and digital X-ray of the upper neck. Dr. Jonathan Lazar, D.C., or someone personally trained by him, will go over your scans and images with you. QSM3, the method used at our office, is a progression of NUCCA, and the correction is gentle and specific: no cracking, no twisting.
If we can help, we'll tell you. If we can't, we'll help you find someone who can.
Please note: Ongoing digestive symptoms need a medical workup first, especially weight loss, blood in the stool, or trouble swallowing.
This page is educational and is not medical advice. Keep the doctors who know you in the loop.
Your doctor. QSM3 Level M Certified. One of eight doctors in the world. In practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan, since 2008. About Dr. Lazar
the dr. lazar show
Hear how Dr. Lazar thinks before you call
Heard for 17 years on WMUZ 103.5 FM, The Dr. Lazar Show is now on YouTube and as a podcast. There is no episode on digestive symptoms on its own yet. These two are where most people start.
The Lazar Method™: how we actually reset the system
The five steps on air for the first time: measure, identify, clarify, correct, restore, and what gets measured before anything else.
traveling for care
Coming from another state, or hours away?
People drive from across Michigan because nothing closer worked. If you live hours away, or in another state, working out the days, the hotel and the records shouldn't be yours to carry alone. Our office is at 203 S. Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Traveling with a child? Families welcome.
- IntensiveIntensive programs
Your assessment, your Report of Findings and a concentrated block of corrections in one stay in Ann Arbor, usually one to two weeks, set at your Report of Findings. We read your records before you travel, so you only make the trip if it makes sense. The prices are itemized on the page.
- StayStaying in Ann Arbor
A negotiated medical rate for patients and their families at the Holiday Inn & Suites Ann Arbor, with breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking included.
- RemoteRemote care
Can't travel to Ann Arbor at all? Dr. Lazar works with a small number of remote patients. The correction itself is hands-on, so when your case needs it, we'll tell you, and help you find a qualified upper cervical provider near you.
questions
Questions people ask about digestive symptoms
Still have a question? Call 734.274.5107, or book a 15-minute Clarity Call, a phone call with our team and no commitment. Cost and insurance are answered plainly on the FAQ page.
Keep reading
Can the nervous system cause digestive problems?
Digestion depends on the nervous system shifting into rest and digest, largely through the vagus nerve. When the system is stuck in fight or flight, digestion gets pushed aside, and the gut can feel unsettled even when scopes and blood work are normal. That pattern can be measured, though digestive symptoms have many causes.
What does research say about upper cervical care and digestive symptoms?
Very little. We found two case reports, both about children, and no adult studies. One author says plainly that the improvement can't be told apart from the natural course of the condition. That is a reason to keep the question open, not a reason to expect a result.
Should I see a gastroenterologist first?
If you haven't had a medical workup, yes. Weight loss, blood in the stool, trouble swallowing or severe pain need a doctor first. If the workup comes back normal and your gut still won't settle, measuring how your nervous system is regulating your body is a reasonable next question to ask.
tried everything
When nothing else has worked, start with clarity.
In about 4 minutes, you'll see whether your symptoms point to nervous system dysfunction, and exactly what to do next. Free. Your answers stay private. No spam, ever.
Prefer to talk first?
or call 734.274.5107 · ready to come in? Book your complimentary consultation
Screening adapted from the autonomic dysfunction screening developed by Bruce Bell, MD.
A member of our team will reach out within one business day.