• When the stomach or any organ is stressed, the back muscles spasm where the nerve to that organ leaves the spine. The spasm can pinch a nerve via a bone or soft tissue.

Digestive disorders are common because our cultural lifestyle habits cause stress to our digestive systems and create an imbalance. A “simple” problem, constipation, can cause the muscles of the low back to spasm. And massage can alleviate constipation; clearing the colon can relieve back pain.

Another common digestive problem is the “leaky gut syndrome,” or increased intestinal permeability. This occurs when the wall of the small intestine is damaged. A healthy intestine allows only nutrients to pass into the bloodstream; when it is damaged, larger molecules — such as incompletely digested fats, proteins and starches—slip through, as well as bacteria. These “foreign” substances can trigger an immune response in other organs.

• One 21-year-old had an irritable bowel, muscle spasms and spinal pain, as well as a weird body odor and excessive sweating. After completing a 35-day program which cleansed his organs, added healthy bacteria and healed the intestinal lining, all symptoms disappeared.