The Vagus nerve is the tenth and the longest cranial nerve in the body. Vagus comes from the Latin word for “wandering” and when you see a chart of this nerve you can see why.
It runs from the base of our brain to our ear, down the side of the neck, throat, chest, heart & lungs, stomach, and digestive system, touching and influencing all of our internal organs. It is responsible for a vast array of messages from all over or bodies. It is the vagus nerves extensive reach that makes it our body`s superhighway.
The connection between the gut and the brain is called the “gut-brain” axis and the vagus nerve is responsible for the slower response of the parasympathetic nervous system “rest & digest” as opposed to the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system.
This extensive nerve carries sensory and motor information to many organ systems of the body, including;
Cardiovascular system, including heart & major blood vessels
Respiratory system, including lungs & airways
Digestive system, including the throat, oesophagus, stomach & intestines.
The nerve will then transport nerve signals to the brain to regulate heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and peristalsis (contraction of muscles to move food through the digestive system)
It can help you rest and digest, but when imbalanced, is thought to trigger anxiety, digestive disruptions, inflammation and many other chronic health issues.
There are many complementary therapies that can help with vagal tone and stress relief which will have positive health benefits for the entire body. These include breathwork, sound therapy, massage, meditation, cold therapy, yoga, mindfulness & qui gong.
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