From Digestive Collapse to Autonomic Hyperarousal: A Conceptual Model Linking Bile Flow, Intestinal Barrier Failure, and Systemic Inflammation

This paper proposes a conceptual model describing how chronic physiological stress and autonomic dysregulation may originate from upstream digestive dysfunction. When bile flow and digestive enzymes are insufficient, dietary fats and proteins are not fully processed. Undigested residues enter the small intestine and irritate the intestinal mucosa, gradually damaging the intestinal barrier. Because the small intestine has a massive mucosal surface—often compared to the size of a tennis court—failure to maintain this barrier can lead to increased permeability and systemic inflammatory signaling. This model outlines a four-stage cascade: Digestive collapse → mucosal barrier breakdown → inflammatory activation → autonomic hyperarousal. Within this framework, symptoms often attributed to autonomic nervous system dysfunction may represent downstream consequences of digestive failure and intestinal barrier disruption.