The Vagus Nerve: The superhighway your brain uses to keep you healthy
THREAD
THREAD
Your nervous system is made up of over 100 billion nerve cells
The vagus nerve is one of the longest branches that these nerves use to communicate
Itβs made up of two parts
Left
Right
Each of these branch off to innervate various parts of your body
The vagus nerve is one of the longest branches that these nerves use to communicate
Itβs made up of two parts
Left
Right
Each of these branch off to innervate various parts of your body
Your vagus nerve works is a bidirectional superhighway
This allows your brain to communicate with your body
And vice versa
80-90% of your vagus nerveβs function is to convey sensory information
The rest controls the autopilot functions that keep you alive
This allows your brain to communicate with your body
And vice versa
80-90% of your vagus nerveβs function is to convey sensory information
The rest controls the autopilot functions that keep you alive
The vagus nerve is named after the Latin word Vaga
Which means to wander
It meanders down your body up until your gut
And controls all your involuntary actions
Your sensor & regulator
Which means to wander
It meanders down your body up until your gut
And controls all your involuntary actions
Your sensor & regulator
Your Vagus nerve is responsible for your:
Taste
Fertility
Speech
Orgasm
Hearing
Breathing
Digestion
Heartbeat
Circulation
Gut Health
Swallowing
Blood pressure
Bladder movement
Fascinating
Taste
Fertility
Speech
Orgasm
Hearing
Breathing
Digestion
Heartbeat
Circulation
Gut Health
Swallowing
Blood pressure
Bladder movement
Fascinating
The ancients called it the frontal spinal column
Hindu and Buddhists would call it the chakra system
The rudimentary function of what we call our vagus nerve today was revered & appreciated for millenia
The mind body connection reached public consciousness once again in 1872
Hindu and Buddhists would call it the chakra system
The rudimentary function of what we call our vagus nerve today was revered & appreciated for millenia
The mind body connection reached public consciousness once again in 1872
Your vagus nerve controls your parasympathetic nervous system
The rest & digest mode of your body
You need it healthy to tap into higher cognition & creativity
So you can think straight & make good decisions
The rest & digest mode of your body
You need it healthy to tap into higher cognition & creativity
So you can think straight & make good decisions
When your vagus nerve isnβt healthy
Your body gets stuck on your sympathetic nervous system
The fight or flight mode of your body
This switches on primal instincts like fear
Which wears your health down over time
Your body gets stuck on your sympathetic nervous system
The fight or flight mode of your body
This switches on primal instincts like fear
Which wears your health down over time
There are quite a few bad habits that harm your vagus nerve
Stress/Anxiety
Overworking
No exercise
Toxic Food
Poor sleep
Smoking
Alcohol
Stress/Anxiety
Overworking
No exercise
Toxic Food
Poor sleep
Smoking
Alcohol
When you harm your vagus nerve over time
This leads to dysfunction
Which is followed by various health problems
This leads to dysfunction
Which is followed by various health problems
Research shows that vagal dysfunction can cause:
Obesity
Anxiety
Infertility
Diabetes
Depression
Kidney malfunction
Digestive disorders
High blood pressure
Chronic inflammation
Cardiovascular disease
Itβs serious
frontiersin.org.
Obesity
Anxiety
Infertility
Diabetes
Depression
Kidney malfunction
Digestive disorders
High blood pressure
Chronic inflammation
Cardiovascular disease
Itβs serious
frontiersin.org.
Now
You might be wondering: βHow the hell can I keep my vagus nerve healthy?β
The good news is there are multiple ways to do so
Letβs dive in
You might be wondering: βHow the hell can I keep my vagus nerve healthy?β
The good news is there are multiple ways to do so
Letβs dive in
1)Cold Exposure
As uncomfortable as it may be
The cold is a potent vagus nerve activator
It calms the nervous system
By boosting acetylcholine which lowers your heart rate + lowers inflammation
Take a cold shower/splashwater on your face
As uncomfortable as it may be
The cold is a potent vagus nerve activator
It calms the nervous system
By boosting acetylcholine which lowers your heart rate + lowers inflammation
Take a cold shower/splashwater on your face
2)Massage
The anatomy of your vagus nerve allows you to massage it at home
Behind your ears and along the side of your neck
You can find multiple videos on Youtube showing you different ways to do so
Heres one:
youtube.com
The anatomy of your vagus nerve allows you to massage it at home
Behind your ears and along the side of your neck
You can find multiple videos on Youtube showing you different ways to do so
Heres one:
youtube.com
3)Singing/Chanting/Gargling
Your voice heals
Which is why ancient civilizations all sang or chanted
Think of the Tibetan monks and their famous Om mantra
Various muscles around your neck activate which stimulate your vagus nerve
Your voice heals
Which is why ancient civilizations all sang or chanted
Think of the Tibetan monks and their famous Om mantra
Various muscles around your neck activate which stimulate your vagus nerve
4)Breathing
Your breath can turn on your vagus nerve
Pranayama and slow deep diaphragmatic breathing let you do this any time you want
Excellent in a pinch where you feel your stress is overwhelming
And you need to calm down asap
Your breath can turn on your vagus nerve
Pranayama and slow deep diaphragmatic breathing let you do this any time you want
Excellent in a pinch where you feel your stress is overwhelming
And you need to calm down asap
5)Probiotics
Your vagus nerve communicates with your gut
The bacteria that live there enhance or slow down your brain function
That's how important your microbiome is for mental health
Your vagus nerve communicates with your gut
The bacteria that live there enhance or slow down your brain function
That's how important your microbiome is for mental health
Make sure you eat more fermented foods & particularly Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Research shows its presence boosts GABA production to help you relax
pnas.org
Research shows its presence boosts GABA production to help you relax
pnas.org
6)Minerals
Getting enough amounts of potassium, magnesium and sodium are vital to a healthy vagus nerve
These minerals relax you
And help switch on the parasympathetic nervous system
Can't skip out on this
Getting enough amounts of potassium, magnesium and sodium are vital to a healthy vagus nerve
These minerals relax you
And help switch on the parasympathetic nervous system
Can't skip out on this
7)Vagal Nerve Stimulator Device
New technology allows you to electrostimulate your vagus nerve at home
Relief for Migraines & chronic pain seem to have some evidence behind them
Gammacore is the product from what I've seen
New technology allows you to electrostimulate your vagus nerve at home
Relief for Migraines & chronic pain seem to have some evidence behind them
Gammacore is the product from what I've seen
8)Long walks in Nature
The silence and the greenery stimulate your vagus nerve
The relaxation of a nice stroll in the woods or by the beach are therapeutic
And worth a shot
The silence and the greenery stimulate your vagus nerve
The relaxation of a nice stroll in the woods or by the beach are therapeutic
And worth a shot
9)Sleep on your right side
Since the vagus nerve drops down the right side of your body
Sleeping on it switches on your parasympathetic nervous system
And can potentially provide better sleep
frontiersin.org
Since the vagus nerve drops down the right side of your body
Sleeping on it switches on your parasympathetic nervous system
And can potentially provide better sleep
frontiersin.org
Thanks for reading!
If you found this Thread helpful
Give it a RT so we can share it far and wide:
If you found this Thread helpful
Give it a RT so we can share it far and wide:
Loading suggestions...