The vagus nerve is the longest of the cranial nerves.
It transmits information to and from the brain to the body.
With regards to the nervous system, we can break it down into sympathetic and parasympathetic responses.
The sympathetic side is activated under times of stress. Responses to this include fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.
The parasympathetic side, in which the vagus nerve is heavily involved, decreases alertness, blood pressure, and heart rate, and helps with calmness, relaxation, and digestion. As a result, the vagus nerve also helps with defecation, urination, and sexual arousal.
Other vagus nerve effects include:
- Gut/brain communication.
- Relaxation through deep breathing.
- Decreasing inflammation.
- Decreasing heart rate and blood pressure.
- Decreasing inflammation: The vagus nerve sends an anti-inflammatory signal to other parts of the body.
The vagus nerve is the master of the parasympathetic nervous system. If not functionally optimally, it decreases one’s ability to heal.
For healing to take place, you need to be able to shift your nervous system from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic so you can make decisions from a place of inspiration instead of fear.
I will be hosting a FREE webinar on Tuesday, April 26 at 1 pm EST on Zoom. I’ll be discussing the healing mindset and what it takes to heal from chronic illness.
I will dive into the role of unhealed trauma, the vagus nerve and the subconscious mind on your ability to heal.
Register here: https://forms.gle/uyQDAY7tzzfSXF1M7