05 Sep Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Rest & digest
The word “trigger” usually comes with a bad rap…but here’s when and WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TRIGGER THE VAGUS NERVE. As part of the parasympathic nervous system (REST & DIGEST) there are some simple things you can do to help strengthen your response and recovery time from FIGHT & FLIGHT by triggering the vagus nerve.
Here are 6 ways to stimulate the vagus nerve from theheartysoul.com
1) CONTROL YOUR BREATHING
This is a great one to work on while you are receiving services at Tao or while floating. Slow, rhythmic diaphragmatic breathing, rather than shallowly from the top of the lungs stimulates and tones the vagus nerve.
Deep breaths…breathe deep…
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE LUNGS are responsible for eliminating the most WASTE in your body more than any other organ?!? “For every ten pounds of fat lost in our bodies, eight and a half pounds of it comes out through the lungs” Read more from James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of A Lost Art about the lungs, breathing and weight loss.
2) WASHING YOUR FACE WITH COLD WATER
The mechanism is not known, but cold water on your face stimulates the vagus nerve.
3) MEDITATION
Well we all know that 1) CONTROL YOUR BREATHING is the majority of a meditation practice, while it helps promote feelings of goodwill and love towards yourself and others. Studies show that increasing positive emotions leads to improvement of vagal tone!
4) HUMMING
Again, in order to HUM we need to 1) CONTROL BREATHING. Since the vagus nerve is connected to the vocal cords, humming mechanically stimulates it. You can hum a song, or try repeating a toning sound like “OM”.
5) BALANCING THE GUT MICROBIOME
Did you know that there are several areas of the body that have their own microbiomes? We even have a sinus microbiome! <<Here we are again with BREATHING – the sinus is directly related to 1) CONTROLLED BREATHING and 4) HUMMING TOO!!!
6) SPEAKING
Are we seeing a trend yet? Five out of six of these the ways to stimulate the vagus nerve have to do with 1) CONTROL YOUR BREATHING. Similarly speaking is helpful for vagal tone, due to the connection to the vocal cords.
*7) BONUS…SCHEDULE YOUR SERVICE AT TAO NOW 🙂