The vagus nerve is finally getting some attention!
I’m seeing lots of articles recently that are talking about this amazing and important part of the body.
A lot of people haven’t heard of their vagus nerve and what it actually does. Hopefully today you will have the information you need to bring health back to this important nerve that will affect your whole body and well-being.
Let’s keep it simple and get to know the vagus nerve!
What is your vagus nerve?
It’s the longest one of two cranial nerves in the body. It starts at the base of the brain and runs down both sides of the neck. It’s a major part of the parasympathetic nervous system which controls the body’s rest and digestion function. It travels through the body networking with the brain and every major organ including your stomach, gut, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, lungs, throat, and heart.
Also, it’s the major nerve in communication for sending messages to and from the brain and back to the body. When communication along this nerve gets disrupted in either the delivery or receiving of messages, everything gets out of balance. If there are health issues in the body, the vagus nerve is most likely affected.
Toxins which can result from a stagnant or congested lymph flow also play a part. This is why doing some lymph drainage on a regular basis is so important.
Here are some issues you can experience when the vagus nerve is affected
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Auto-Immune conditions
- Digestive issues (IBS, Acid Reflux, Crohn’s, Leaky Gut, etc.)
- Brain fog and memory problems
- Migraines
- Fibromyalgia or Chronic pain
Ok, try this
Deep slow belly breathing – Expand your abdomen when you inhale, and then exhale long and slow with the abdomen deflating. Try to do at least 6 breaths per minute for deep relaxation. Doing this every day for 5 minutes or less is powerful!
Humming – Have a favorite song? Hum along!
Exercise – Moving your body strengthens the vagus nerve and brings health to your whole body.
Foot massage – Love your feet! Gentle or firm pressure works. Not only feels great but makes you healthier.
Meditation – Any time you can rest your mind and body you are bringing peace and health to your innermost being. Prayer is great for calming your soul and giving you spiritual rest.
Eating Fiber – This talks to the vagus nerve which talks to the brain slowing the gut movements which is healthy.
Coldwater immersion – Immerse your face in cold water, or end your shower with a blast of cold water. This stimulates the vagus nerve, which slows down the heartbeat which then strengthens the immune system
Loud gargling with water – It’s ok to make some noise!
Loud singing – Activates the vocal cords which activates the nerve.
Laughter – This makes you feel better, but it also boosts the immune system. Time to watch some comedies!
Vagus nerve exercises – They are simple, quick, and take less than 5 minutes. Doing these regularly will strengthen the nerve and bring wholeness and wellness to your entire body. There are plenty on youtube, so follow along and see how much better you feel!
Essential oils – Calming oils are powerful for stress reduction and health. I use a vagus nerve oil at night that is magical for sleep and calming. Even my husband is hooked on it!
The vagus nerve. It’s amazing how powerful it is. Hopefully, now you can incorporate some of these suggestions and work them into your daily routines. A few minutes here and there has the power to change your health and the way you feel. So the next time you hear your favorite song, make your vagus nerve happy and get singing!
Until next time,
~pat
