The vagus nerve is one of the 12 cranial nerves. These 12 nerves exit the back of the brain, travel to different parts of your body and are vital to keeping you alive and functioning.
The vagus nerve is the longest of the 12 cranial nerves and has many functions, but most importantly for the purposes of this post is that it provides the main parasympathetic innervation to the majority of your organs.
Your parasympathetic nervous system is often described as the “Rest and Digest” nervous system (as opposed to the sympathetic or “Fight / Flight / Freeze” nervous system). When our bodies are in a relatively higher state of chronic stress (e.g. chronic pain, anxiety, stress, trauma, etc.), the sympathetic nervous system can become overly dominant, not allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to do it’s job to calm you down.
Vagus nerve toning is the process of strengthening your parasympathetic nervous system to allow you to be able to relax faster and more completely. This relaxed state is essential in allowing your body to be able to regulate hormones, digestive function, immune system function, and tissue repair.
Vagal nerve toning is one of the reasons why acupuncture is an effective treatment for stress, anxiety, allergies, digestive conditions, sleep issues and chronic pain conditions.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about vagal nerve toning and how we can help you feel your best!