The Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve regulates heart rate, blood pressure, lungs, airways, sweat, digestion, and even our ability to speak. Think of your vagus nerve as the captain of your parasympathetic nervous system (your calming rest and digest state).

It is the major mind-body pathway because it starts in the brain stem and extends down through the neck and into the chest and abdomen, making it a major factor in mood regulation.

THE VAGUS NERVE

• Major parasympathetic nerve regulator

• Controls the gut-brain axis confirming that diet does play a major role in mental health.

• Plays a major role in stress response and its relief.

The Vagus Nerve is involved in the activation of inflammatory chemicals such as cytokines by the immune system and is a response to stress. If stress is prolonged- the cytokines can break down the lining in our gut.

Once a state of stress or immediate danger has passed, it is the vagus nerve’s role to bring the body back to homeostasis and calm the mind-body pathway. 

Even a bad memory can activate the stress response in our body. 

Since the vocal cords stimulate the vagus nerve, singing and humming have been known to decrease anxiety and depression. 

The lungs and vagus nerve are also connected- so deep breathing and working with a breathwork practitioner can influence the vagus nerve, calming the nervous system and even decreasing anxiety and depression. 

In addition to breathwork, there are other noninvasive ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and experience benefits.

• Ice cold water on the face or place ice bags on the face

• Move the body

• Gargle 

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5859128/