Unlock your superpower the Vagus Nerve!

Did you know that you possess a built-in neurological superpower that helps you calm down your nervous system when stressed?

Originating in the brain as the 10th Cranial Nerve (CN X), the Vagus Nerve is the longest nerve with branches that extend throughout our body.

Starting from the base of our skull, the Vagus nerve splits into two branches through the head, travelling down the spinal cord, touching along the way with its nerve fibers a number of key body organs ranging from the larynx, pharynx, tongue, oesophagus, ear, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, gut, reproductive organs, and ureter!

No wonder it is called the Vagabond nerve (Vagus means Wandering in Latin).

Given that it touches so many vital organs along its route , the Vagus nerve plays a major role in controlling key bodily functions.

It maintains our heartbeat. It controls our blood pressure. It helps us talk. And hear. It also makes us faint. And sweat. It even causes the gag reflex (sure it makes us vomit too, but also protects us from choking when unwanted stuff get caught in our throat!)

The Vagus nerve is considered to be the major regulator of our parasympathetic nervous system, aka our “rest and digest” system (as opposed to our sympathetic nervous system, aka “fight or flight”).

Acting as a two-way information superhighway between the brain and our visceral organs, the Vagus Nerve keeps track of, and reacts to critical information about what is going inside our bodies; conducting a status check 24/7: am I hungry? thirsty? in pain? in danger? tense? safe? calm?

What is really fascinating is that approximately 80% of the Vagus nerve fibers are transmitting key information from the bottom floor, our gut, to the top floor, our brain, whereas only a mere 20% is being sent from top to bottom floor. In light speed, may I add.

And, guess what? What travels through the Vagus nerve is what matters most. And thanks to our biologically wired negativity bias, danger cues are picked up by our senses first and foremost.

So, when a threat (real OR imagined) arises, our internal organs signal our brain that something is off and needs to be looked after so that we may safely and soon return to our normal status quo, known as homeostasis.

Next time you get a strong gut feeling, pause and listen to the express message being sent. Your Vagus nerve is probably warning you to be on the lookout.

To ensure though that your Vagus Nerve does its communication job properly, you must consciously work on maintaining a well-toned Vagus nerve.

Slow, deep breathing is on top of the list of easy-to-do-anywhere-anytime vagal toning exercises. And, my personal favourite.

Go ahead, place one hand on your belly. Breathe in slowly through the nose; exhale through the mouth, making your exhale slightly longer than your inhale. As you breathe in, let your belly gently push your hand out. As you breathe out, feel the hand on your belly gently fall in. And repeat. Again. And again.

By engaging in diaphragmatic breathing (what you just did), your heart rate decreases and your vagal tone increases. Well done!

So, next time you find yourself stressed, remember your CN X superpower and engage in slow, deep breathing to calm down your nervous system.

And, don’t forget to thank your Wandering Nerve for being there for you. By your side, always. At your nervous system’s service.

You’ve got this. Trust yourself. I trust you.