Vague Nerve: How And Why You Should Stimulate It

The human body has twelve pairs of nerves that begin in the brain. Of these, the tenth is certainly the most interesting and strong: the vagus nerve. 

The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a very important role. It helps you to relax, to acquire a state of peace that keeps away stress and anxiety and to enjoy a general well-being that improves your quality of life.

Not everyone is aware of how important this nerve is in the body. The reason is simple: people are more focused on external stimuli and do not listen patiently to their own bodies.

We recommend that you dedicate half an hour a day to activating your vagus nerve to improve your quality of life. If you follow the tips below, you will notice pleasing changes. Are you ready to try?

Where is the vagus nerve located?

The vague nevus, formerly called the pneumogastric nerve, begins in the spinal bulb, and then continues its long and fascinating journey through:

• Pharynx
• esophagus
• Larynx
• Bronchial tubes
• Heart
• Stomach
• Pancreas
• Liver

In addition, this nerve also passes through various arteries and motor fibers. We could say that its course is like a long-distance highway along the front of the body. Passing through all these areas, the vagus nerve performs the following functions:

• Provides sensitivity.
• Simulates the muscles of the vocal cavity and facilitates communication.
• Regulates breathing.
• Stimulates the production of oxytocin (the hormone of love or maternal bond).

• It regulates the functions of the liver and pancreas.
• And another funny benefit: it stops the hiccups.

The vagus nerve, a structure associated with the health of the whole body

You probably go through this every day: you serve a hearty meal, and then you get tired,  more precisely a state of drowsiness that makes you want to lie in bed and take a nap.

• This sensation is related to the activity of the vagus nerve. After a meal, the body uses a lot of energy to digest food. The vagus nerve transmits a series of stimuli that induce relaxation, providing that well-known state of lethargy.
• In addition to regulating digestion, the vagus nerve “monitors” the activity of the heart, to ensure that it does not become too agitated.

• Some people suffer from a syndrome called vasovagal syncope. Thus, when these individuals are too exalted, being overwhelmed by fear or strong emotions, the vague nerve causes them to lose consciousness, ie fainting. Of course, this is an extreme case.
• This nerve also supports the immune system and stimulates cell regeneration.
• An equally interesting thing is that the vagus nerve induces the feeling of satiety. It regulates the digestive system, telling you when you should stop eating and keeping your appetite under control on a nervous background.

As you can see, the vagus nerve is involved in many physical and mental aspects: relaxation, satiety, body weight, anxiety or lack thereof… Therefore, we can say that this structure is really very interesting.

Technique to stimulate your vagus nerve

This technique is very simple and does not take more than half an hour, but it is recommended to practice it daily, at the same time of day.  You will notice that it looks very much like a regular relaxation technique, which focuses on controlled breathing.

Here’s how to do it:

• Dress in loose, comfortable clothes.
• Lie on an inclined surface, with your head below the level of your feet (Trendelenburg position).
• Put a damp, cold cloth on your forehead.
• Inhale through your nose for 6 seconds, filling your lower abdomen with air (abdominal breathing).

• Hold the air inside you for 6 seconds and tense your abdomen, as if you were about to be hit. 
• Now exhale deeply for 7 seconds, swelling your belly and pursing your lips as if you wanted to blow out a candle (this is the best way to oxygenate and activate the vagus nerve).
•  Repeat the exercise 7 times.
• At the end, lift yourself slightly to the bottom and wait 5 minutes before getting to your feet. Relax. After getting up, it is good to drink a glass of cold water.

In conclusion, as you have already noticed, this exercise for stimulating the vagus nerve is very simple. All you have to do is breathe in a certain way to reactivate a vital function of the body.

Representative image source: wikiHow.com