Your secret weapon: The Vagus Nerve

The Vagus Nerve is the direct link between the brain and the gut microbiome, making it the most critical communication pathway regarding digestion. Roughly 95% of your serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, which is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, or neurons, it makes sense that the inner workings of your digestive system don't just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions.

"When someone says that they have a gut feeling, that is due to the Vagus Nerve."

The Vagus Nerve is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls our relaxation responses. This nerve can become underdeveloped/deactivated if the body’s in a constant state of fight-or-flight due to the stress and anxiety.This keeps the sympathetic nervous system in survival overdrive.

This can result in chronic illnesses and impairments such as chronic fatigue, anxiety, stress, headaches, depression, asthma, heartburn, I.B.S., chronic diarrhea or constipation. Anyone can reactivate their Vagus Nerve with simple breathing, meditation and movement techniques.

It is suggested that the Vagus Nerve is connected to the seven chakras; these nerve branches reach to all seven centers of your body. You may have heard chakras being described more like Prana or Chi (which means “pure energy”). Chakras have been described as spiral vortexes that are associated with different colors. These “vortexes” are in control of the different strengths and weaknesses which exist within your body, mind and soul. Meditating and breathing into these energy centers awakens the kundalini (another name for the Vagus Nerve), and will energize and heal your whole body.

Our bodies are smarter than our ego-centered lifestyles, in large part, thanks to the work the Vagus Nerve does to keep our autonomic nervous system in check. The Vagus Nerve can represent your “gut feeling” something you know sound like a bad, unhealthy, or dangerous idea, remember the Vagus Nerve It is always trying to protect you!

Here are 9 things that you can do to strengthen your Vagus Nerve:

• Breath work

• Meditation

• Connect with nature

• Eat a clean diet - take probiotics

• Regularly move your body – yoga – dance

• Expose your skin to sunlight

• Hum (such as a rhythmic Om)

• Listen to uplifting wordless music

• Massage or Reflexology

Stop and take a moment for yourself and listen to this complimentary mindfulness meditation