The Vagus Nerve
Hello my dear friend,
There has been a lot of talk lately about the Vagus Nerve. For those of you who may not be familiar with the vagus nerve, it is one of our cranial nerves that connects the brain with the body, so they know what is going on with each other. The reason you may be hearing so much about it right now is because it also helps calm our organs after a fight and flight response. It can also be the cause behind chronic pain and inflammation.
If your vagus nerve is functioning at its best, your body will relax faster after feeling stressed. But, if it is not functioning its best, it has a more difficult time regulating inflammation. If you ever experience fatigue, anxiety, digestive issues, food sensitivities, depression, brain fog, or a sense of despondency–the vagus nerve is always affected.
Here are a few recommendations that may help you feel better.
1- Take a Cold Shower – I personally do not like to do this, but this will help stimulate the vagus nerve. Even better is swapping from hot water to cold water in 5-minute increments. I would probably start at 15 seconds of cold and see if I could work up to a minute myself. If you cannot handle the thought of a cold shower, lowering your face into ice water (as long as you can stand it) and holding your breath for five reps will also have a positive effect.
2- Sing, Laugh, and Hug – Each one of these releases oxytocin and serotonin which are hormones that boost your mood and relieve stress. Research gives us reason to believe that the vagus nerve and emotions are linked. I believe that every physical ailment we experience has an emotional foundation so why would they not be linked? Sing, laugh, and hug as much as you can every day!
3- Gut Health – What we put in our mouth is the one thing that we have control over. Make good choices when it comes to food, beverages and supplements. Your digestive tract has its own nervous system which is called the enteric nervous system and that connects to the brain through the vagus nerve. Being aware of what you are feeding your body is so important. Intermittent fasting or reducing calories will also support the health of the vagus nerve.
4- Jaw Tension – Be aware of the amount of tension you are holding or creating in your jaw. Relax it, or just smile! You might even need an appliance to assist you in not clenching your jaw while you are sleeping.
5- Treat your Hands and Feet – There are many self-massage techniques you can do for your hands and feet; better yet have someone else do it for you and be even more relaxed. A few minutes a day is all you need.
6- Microcurrent Therapy – This is my personal favorite. Microcurrent therapy specifically reduces inflammation, calms stress centers, and supports emotional factors to help you experience Beeing Well.
If you think you may need Vagus Nerve support, we offer several homeopathic remedies and supplements that help support a calmer mind, a calmer body, and a healthy vagus nerve.
With much love and gratitude – Janalee