Relax by resetting the Vagus Nerve
Sometime ago I saw an ad on how to manage everyday stress by focusing on the vagus nerve. I decided to look more into the functions of this very important nerve and to share it with a close friend whom I know was having quite a stressful time. She had never heard about it before and I had limited knowledge beyond the fact that it is part of the autonomic nervous system - in other words how our body automatically react to stressors by increasing the heart rate or speeding up our breathing.
I learned first hand how powerful this nerve is when I was told I suffered from what is called vasovagal syncope whereby severe stress (or pain), in my case from a local anesthetic, can trigger an exaggerated response from the nervous system causing nausea, dizziness and fainting.
What is the vagus nerve and why is it so important?
The vagus nerve starts in the brain roughly where the neck meets the skull and goes down all the way to the intestine passing through the aorta, the big vein which carries blood through the throat, and the heart. It regulates many critical bodily functions like digestion, heart rate and breathing.
For example, at the heart level, when one of the parts of the vagus nerve is damaged it can cause problems such as bradycardia when the vagus nerve is overstimulated or tachycardia if it slows down due to a disease.
Studies have found that damages to the vagus nerve can also be one of the reasons behind serious digestive tract issues such as gastroparesis in which the stomach muscles contract involuntarily causing indigestion, acid reflux and frequent changes in blood sugar levels.
This nerve is very much of interest for neurologists which experiment by stimulating it with electrical impulses to send specific messages to the brain with the scope of curing cluster headaches, depression and even Althzehimer.
As a yoga practitioner I often engage in breathing practices to reset the vagus nerve; in fact, as stress affects breathing it is also possible to regulate the autonomic nervous system by performing specific pranayamas and meditating. There are various diaphragmatic breathing techniques that can greatly boost mood and increase a sense of happiness and lower inflammation.
When I am particularly stressed, one of the first things I do is to sit down and do some breathing exercises. Just 10 minutes can make a big difference and melt stress away: here is one from my favorite yoga website Glo. There are also some yoga poses that can help reset the vagus nerve: here is one which I think is very calming and soothing.
After my practice I usually indulge in a cup of calming latte with ashwagandha and reishi which further regulates my nervous system.
Try it and let us know what you think!
