Top INDEX
• What is the Vagus Nerve?
• Newslet: Function of the Vagus Nerve. (13 self-help tactics)
• Articles: (Many) ways to Reduce Stress with the ... Vagus nerve. (19)
• Dangers: Stress factors which stimulate Vagus nerve weakness. (19)
• Challenge: Testing, diagnosis, surgeries.
• Posting : Trauma, Health, and the Vagus Nerve.
• Article : How to Heal Vagus Nerve Toxicity with Essential Oils.
• Technique: Thoughtarrest technique for Panic Attack.
• Medical: Gut branches of vagus nerve ... components ....
• Coping: How to Strengthen Your Vagus Nerve to Upgrade ....

  Product Possibilities, NOT Recommendations.

  Product: Blue Vervain -- tea, tincture, essence.

  Product: Sleep Juice -- 6 calming herbs.

  Product: Parasympathetic®- 5 ml, Essential Oil.

  Product: Vibrant Blue Oils, Essences (CHART)

  Devices : Vagus Nerve Stimulation Devices.

• Insight: Infections in the mouth can degrade intestinal & heart health.
• Insight: A toxic Vagus nerve can negate cardiac & digestive sub-activities.
• Insight: Unique essential oil combinations can help .. organ functions.
• Insight: Treat detoxing foundation organs before secondary organs.
• Insight: To counter Panic, focus on being Calm, accepting Reality, ....
• Insight: Examining an obsessive thought can reduce its intensity.
• Insight: Combinations of specific essences can increase effectiveness.
• Insight: Vagus nerve activation reduces irrelevant hyper reactions.
• Insight: The Diving Reflex helps your body relax & optimizes awareness.
• Insight: With practice we can enhance our safe speed & control of response.

• -Focus-: Monographs on Toxins and Enhancers.

What is the Vagus Nerve? INDEX
https://www.goodnet.org/articles/10-ways-to-reduce-stress-power-vagus-nerve
Sep 26, 2018

LINK 2: https://medium.com/@jancovorstermyafibheart/
10-ectopic-heartbeat-vagus-nerve-palpitations-tips-for-you-b8b2acd4dbbe

LINK 3: https://thelivingproofinstitute.com/19-ways-to-stimulate-your-vagus-nerve/

The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex of the 12 cranial nerves that extend from the brain.

It is made up of fibers that primarily link the brain stem to the

• lungs,
• heart,
• gut,

  and strongly interacts with the

  liver,

  kidneys,

  spleen,

  gallbladder,

  ureter,

  female fertility organs,

  neck,

  ears, and

  tongue.

Because it is so long and wandering (vagus literally means wandering in Latin) it controls and affects many parts of our conscious and unconscious bodily functions, such as

1. maintaining a constant heart rate,
2. digesting food, and
3. breathing,
4. processing and managing emotions.

Therefore, dysfunction of the nerve can lead to
mood swings, and seizures, B12 deficiencies, and obesity.

Strengthening the function of the vagus nerve, on the other hand, can improve conditions such as

anxiety, 
migraines, 
alcohol addiction, 
leaky gut, 
Alzheimer’s,
cancer,
heart disease, and more.

It is the tenth cranial nerve and interacts with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs and digestive system.
It is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system and was previously known as the pneumogastric nerve. One of the tasks of the vagus nerve is to mediate the lowering of the heart rate.

The Vagus Nerve is the brain’s method of controlling the parasympathetic nervous system – the rest and digest system.
It is not the only nerve controlling our ability to decrease stressors, but it is by far the single most important nerve due to its far reaching effects. ...

This nerve connects the brain to the gut (intestines and stomach), heart, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidney, ureter, spleen, lungs, sex organs (in females), neck (pharynx, larynx and esophagus), ears and the tongue. No other nerve in the body has such a broad and far reaching effect as the Vagus Nerve.

The functions that it imparts is extensive.
• In the brain itself, it helps control anxiety and mood.
• In the gut, it increases stomach acidity, gut flow/motility and other digestive enzyme production.
  Low stomach acid is a major source of gut-related health conditions so an underactive vagus nerve is correlated to the root cause of many health conditions.

• In the heart, it controls heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure.
• In the pancreas it controls blood sugar balance and digestive enzymes.
• In the liver it controls bile production and detoxification through hepatic phase 1 and phase 2 conjugation.
• In the gallbladder it controls bile release to help break down fats.

• In the kidneys, it promotes general function including water balance, glucose control and sodium excretion which helps control blood pressure.
• In the bladder it controls voiding of urine.
• In the spleen it helps to reduce inflammation.
• In the sex organs it helps to control fertility and sexual pleasure including orgasms.
• In the mouth and tongue, it helps to control ability to taste and saliva production through salivary gland control.
• In the eyes, it activates tear production through the lacrimal glands.

Newslet: Function of the Vagus Nerve. INDEX
https://drsircus.com/general/function-vagus-nerve/
by Dr. Mark Sircus, Ac., OMD
Published on December 26, 2014

Human Beings have an Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that is actually comprised of 3 separate subsystems,

1. the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS),
2. the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and
3. the Enteric Nervous System (ENS).

The enteric nervous system has been described as a "second brain," which communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the parasympathetic (e.g., via the vagus nerve) and sympathetic nervous systems. However, vertebrate studies show that when the vagus nerve is severed, the enteric nervous system continues to function.

We now know that the ENS is not just capable of autonomy but also influences the brain.
In fact, about 90 per cent of the signals passing along the vagus nerve come not from above, but from the ENS and that is why many consider it as a backup brain centered in our solar plexus. Our gut instincts are not fantasies but real nervous signals that guide much of our lives.

It is our vagus nerve that provides the gateway between the two parts of the autonomic systems.
The vagus acts as a bio-informational data bus that routes impulses going in two directions.
Since the vagus nerve acts as the central switchboard it should come as no surprise that impaired functioning of this one nerve can lead to so many different conditions and problems.
Some neurological diseases actually come up from the gut spreading to the brain via the vagus nerve.

Christopher Bergland, writing for Psychology Today, said,

“The vagus nerve is the commander-in-chief when it comes to having grace under pressure.
The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two polar opposite systems that create a complementary tug-of-war, which allows your body to maintain homeostasis (inner-stability). The sympathetic nervous system is geared to rev you up like the gas pedal in an automobile – it thrives on adrenaline and cortisol and is part of the fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic nervous system is the polar opposite. The vagus nerve is command central for the function of your parasympathetic nervous system. Unfortunately, the vagus nerve’s reflexive responses can backfire and turn it from comrade into saboteur.”

Dr. Peter Levine talks about how the vagus reaches down to the genitals and about healing sexual stress and trauma through opening up the vagus.
Video LINK: https://youtu.be/BAY4_ufmNqw (9 minutes) --- The sound "Voo"
[Healing sexual abuse/trauma held by 1 in 4 North Americans]

The vagus nerve uses the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine.
If our brain cannot communicate with our diaphragm via the release of acetylcholine from the vagus nerve then you will stop breathing. Botox is a toxic substance that has the power to damage the nervous system and shut down the vagus causing death.

It is interesting to note that the heavy metal mercury blocks the action of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that passes the nerve impulse from the vagus nerve to the heart muscle. Both acetylcholine and the nerve receptors in the heart muscle contain thiol (sulfur/hydrogen) proteins. When mercury attaches to the thiol protein in the heart muscle receptors and in the acetylcholine, the heart muscle cannot receive the vagus nerve electrical impulse for contraction. Mercury accumulates in the heart muscle and heart valves, causing damage by attaching to thiol (SH-) proteins. This damage is indicated by EKG and confirmed by histologic study.

In this video, Dr. Stephen Porges talks about how vagus disturbances are found in Autistic children. Many practitioners have related the advent of autism to vaccines containing the highly toxic mercury containing substance called Thimerosal. In addition, the public have been highly contaminated with mercury used in dental amalgam, which dentists routinely place only inches from the brain. Moreover, more than 3,000 tons of mercury are put into the atmosphere each year contaminating the entire biosphere of our planet but the government nonsensically worries more about CO2 emissions from coal-fired smokestacks instead of the huge amount of neurotoxic mercury.
Video LINK: https://youtu.be/8RKC3Ga6shs

... Stress can raise the body’s level of epinephrine and norepinephrine, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to over-ride the parasympathetic nervous system, of which the vagus nerve is the main component.

The vagus nerve is used to regulate the heartbeat and the muscle movement necessary to keep you breathing.
This nerve also regulates the chemical levels in the digestive system so that the intestines can process food and keep track of what types of nutrients are being gained from the food that is taken in.

... There are two main types of vagus nerve disorders.
One is caused by an under-active or inactive vagus nerve, while the other is caused by a vagus nerve that overreacts to ordinary stimuli.

Vagus nerve disorders that stem from an under-active vagus nerve often lead to a condition known as gastroparesis which is a frequent and severe complication of diabetes. Patients suffering from this disorder may experience pain in the stomach, nausea, heartburn, stomach spasms, and weight loss. Patients with under-active vagus nerves often experience severe gastrointestinal problems. Those with overactive vagus nerves may faint.

Acupuncturist Jill Blakeway ...

Many of the patients who present with symptoms of an irritated vagus nerve have what could be described as a Gall Bladder and Heart Complex in Chinese medicine. This traditionally has been a diagnosis used to describe a collection of symptoms such as

• esophagitis,
• hiatal hernia,
• gastritis,
• insomnia,
• palpitations,
• fearfulness,
• being easily startled,
• chest fullness, and
• a bitter taste in the mouth.

In these patients, I have found that accessing the Gall Bladder Divergent Channel can bring almost immediate relief.

How can patients suffering from an irritated vagus nerve help themselves?
Here is the advice I give my patients, with one caveat:
Because these symptoms can be caused by so many disorders, I always refer my patients to their MD to rule out more serious pathologies before giving self-help suggestions.

1. Regular acupuncture reduces the inflammation that is often at the root of this disorder and calms the irritated nerve.

   During an attack, patients often find that

   moving,

   stretching and/or

   burping can relieve the pressure and calm the heart.

   During an episode of tachycardia, vagal maneuvers can be used to slow the heart rate. These simple maneuvers stimulate the vagus nerve to slow down the electrical impulses through the atrioventricular (AV) node of the heart. Vagal maneuvers that you can try to slow a speedy heart rate include:

   Herbal formulas that support digestion (and calm the heart) along with

   probiotics and digestive enzymes
   can really help remove the GI inflammation that is part of this syndrome.

2. Gagging

3. Holding your breath and bearing down (Valsalva maneuver)

4. Immersing your face in ice-cold water (diving reflex)

5. Coughing

6. ... diaphragmatic breathing,

7. yoga, and

8. meditation help the parasympathetic nervous system over-ride the sympathetic nervous system and calm the vagus nerve.

Stressful events disrupt the rhythmic structure of autonomic states, and subsequently, behaviors.
Since the vagus plays such an integral role in the regulation of heart rate and heart rate variability it follows that how we breathe when under stress makes all the difference in the world.

Dr. Stephen Porges, gives us a great clue to the connection between the sensory nervous system and the very center of our emotional makeup. Darwin (1872) noted in The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals the importance of the bi-directional neural communication between the heart and the brain via the "pneumogastric" nerve, now known as the vagus nerve. According to Dr. Porges, “Darwin’s statement is important, because it emphasized two points:

1) afferent feedback from the heart to the brain through the vagus was independent of the spinal cord and the sympathetic nervous system, and

2) the vagus played a regulatory role in the expression of emotions.

... We all have an internal assessment mechanism thought to be housed in the amygdala, the hypothalamus or mid-brain which acts as a central intelligence agency challenging every situation, scanning every perception; reacting instantly to the one key question, will it hurt “me.” Will it make “me” feel more or less secure? Will it fulfill or deny me my basic needs? Will it enrich my life or lead to separation and life alienating feelings? The heart is the center that houses our sense of self, the “me” or the ultimate “I.”

Articles: (Many) ways to Reduce Stress with the Power of the Vagus Nerve. INDEX
https://www.goodnet.org/articles/10-ways-to-reduce-stress-power-vagus-nerve
Sep 26, 2018 --- HILLA BENZAKEN, Contributor

LINK 2: https://thelivingproofinstitute.com/19-ways-to-stimulate-your-vagus-nerve/
by Dr. Navaz Habib

1. Acupuncture:
   Traditional acupuncture treatment as well as auricular acupuncture (of the ear) stimulate vagus nerve activity.
   The effects of acupuncture are becoming increasingly well known and you can ask most patients who have had this treatment about the calming effect and restful feelings that they have following an acupuncture treatment.

2. Chewing food well:
   The simple act of chewing your food, activates the stomach to release acid, taste buds to taste the foods well, bile production in the liver and release from the gallbladder, digestive enzyme release from the pancreas and gut motility which are all mediated by the vagus nerve. It is important to sequence your digestion correctly and your body will do this automatically IF you start the process correctly. You must take the time to chew your food to the point that it is soft and mushy in your mouth, before your swallow. Doing this will set the correct sequence of digestion in motion and allow the vagus nerve to perform its functions correctly.
   Your state of digestion, rest and recovery are all mediated by the vagus nerve.

3. Cultivating Positive Relationships:
   ... just by thinking of our loved ones we can tone and strengthen the vagus nerve, thereby reaping the many benefits that the nerve provides.

4. Deep Breathing Exercises:
   Deep breathing stimulates the vagus nerve to lower blood pressure and heart rate.
   Slow and deep breathing also stimulates the vagus nerve.
   The baroreceptors, or pressure receptors in your neck and heart detect blood pressure and transmit the signal to your brain.
   This signal then in turn activates the vagus nerve, to help lower blood pressure and heart rate. This results in a lower sympathetic “fight or flight” response, as well as a higher parasympathetic “rest and digest” response. Slow breathing helps to increase the sensitivity of these receptors, increasing vagal activation.

5. Eating in a relaxed state:
   Don’t eat breakfast in a rush, lunches at your desk, or dinner in front of the computer.
   Having a meal in a stressful environment when you are running late, working or not focussing on the meal can have long-lasting and damaging effects. It is important to eat in a relaxed state, in a calm and peaceful environment.

6. Exercise:
   Mild exercise has been shown to stimulate gut flow and gastric motility (peristalsis) which is mediated by the vagus nerve.

7. Exposure to the Cold:
   By drinking cold water or taking a cold shower, we strengthen our body’s calming system (the parasympathetic system) which happens through the vagus nerve.

8. Fasting:
   Intermittent fasting helps to increase high frequency heart rate variability in animals, which is a marker of vagal tone.
   When you fast, part of the decrease in metabolism is mediated by the vagus nerve as it detects a decline in blood glucose levels and a decrease of mechanical and chemical stimuli from the gut.

9. Fish Oil – Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
   Fish Oils – EPA and DHA are capable of increasing heart rate variability as well as lowering heart rate.

10. Gargling:
    Gargling stimulates the same muscles that the vagus nerve interacts with. This can also improve memory function.

11. Happiness and Laughter:
    Having a good laugh lifts your mood, boosts the immune system and stimulates the vagus nerve.

12. Massages:
    ... a good massage of the feet and neck actives the vagus nerve and can reduce seizures.

13. Meditation:
    There are two different types of meditation that have been shown to increase vagal tone including Loving-Kindness meditation as well as Guided Mindfulness Meditation. ... It has also been shown that the chanting of “Om” stimulates the vagus nerve.

14. Probiotics:
    Your gut is connected to your brain, and one of the most clear connections is through the Vagus nerve.
    Within our gut, we have a population of normal and good bacteria and yeast called the Microbiome.
    These organisms have a direct effect on our brains as a significant percentage of our neurotransmitters including Serotonin, GABA and Dopamine are produced through actions of these bacteria helping to break down our foods. Often times we have less good bacteria and more bad bacteria within this population leading to poor neurochemistry and decreased vagal tone.

    Probiotics are a good option to help promote the good bacteria and other organisms while helping to crowd out the bad bacteria, parasites and yeast.
    
    

15. Singing and Chanting:
    Singing at the top of your lungs increases heart rate variability and works the muscles in the back of your throat that connect to the vagus nerve.

16. Relaxation:
    Almost any relaxing activity strengthens the vagus nerve’s ability to provide healing to the body.

17. Serotonin:
    Serotonin, the mood and happiness neurotransmitter, is capable of activating the vagus nerve through various receptors, which are mediated by 5HT1A, 5-HT2, 5-HT3, 5-HT-4 and possibly 5-HT6 receptors. If you have been found to be deficient in serotonin levels, 5-HTP is a good supplement to help increase them.

18. Tensing stomach muscles:
    Bearing down as if to make a bowel movement requires your body to be in a rest and digest state.
    This is why many people feel much more relaxed following a bowel movement. Tensing the core muscles by performing abdominal bracing exercises can help to promote a rest and digest state by activating the vagus nerve.

19. Yoga and Tai Chi:
    Both Yoga and Tai Chi provide a host of health benefits and are particularly helpful for those struggling with depression and anxiety.
    Tai Chi has been shown to increase heart rate variability in patients suffering from coronary artery disease which again is mediated through vagus nerve activation.

Dangers: Stress factors which stimulate Vagus nerve weakness. INDEX

(There are few to no articles / reports noting factors which weaken Vagus nerve functions.
The below is my reversal of the strengthening factors noted above. )

During a period of 18 months of volunteer service in International Diplomacy for the benefit of reducing personal and political conflicts and promoting increased harmonious interrelationships, I was exposed to a degree of numerous of the following. These are NOT factors which often justify the potentially destructive personal impact, yet, these have become increasingly dominant in an expanding, competitive, dense population.

1. Energy balancing therapy avoidance:
   Fear, ignorance, misunderstanding of or lack of access to these therapies prevents one from releasing negative energies and building positive ones.

2. Gulping food:
   Hurriedly swallowing one's food does not enable it to be prepared for digestion by exposure to salivary fluids.
   This also restrains the activation of the satiation response which signals when the stomach is full and this can encourage overeating by bulk and/or calories and result in stomach distress and acid imbalance.

3. Maintaining Co-dependent Relationships:
   Holding a relationship together by beliefs and patterns of dominance, subservience, obligation, duty, expectation, need, and weakness of self-esteem is ultimately built upon destructive emotions of fear supported by potential violence, abandonment, or poverty. Such strong and restricting emotions reinforce black-white actions and responses and work against the moderating balancing role of the Vagus nerve interactions.

4. Shallow Breathing Respiration:
   This form of breathing often mirrors physiological responses to situations of weakness, fatigue, despair, panic.
   These physiological patterns tend to weaken the balancing role of the Vagus nerve functions partly by the oversensitive telegraphing of blood pressure changes to the brain. This encourages reactive "resign or deny" responses as well as "tense and pause" digestive activity. This tends to constrain both metabolism and assimilation of nutrients even though they may be present in the diet.

5. Eating in an on-defense state:
   Eating breakfast in a rush, lunches at your desk, or dinner in front of the computer, all combine to support an emotional tenure of the possibility or likelihood that something dramatic is about to happen. This will encourage an unconscious sense of paranoia ... a restrictive emotion which makes possibilities out of largely irrelevant realities: Will I be fired or laid off? Will my partner abandon or cheat on me? Will my errors be discovered and I be severely punished for them? Will others make more money and advance their careers faster than I and leave me ever falling further behind in the battle for economic advancement? These fears contribute to reactive rather than responsive actions and these place great demands on the Vagus nerve to maintain a reality of balanced and co-supportive physiological functions.

6. Exercise confined to sedentariness or athleticism:
   During constant reduced exercise below that of what the human body acted upon for tens of thousands of years before the advent of agriculture, industry, and commerce ... gut flow and gastric motility (peristalsis) is constrained from the more even activity usually mediated by the vagus nerve. Strenuous and lengthy athletic activity tends to force the Vagus nerve and other integrative mechanisms to shut down or temporarily suspend more health supportive functions on a "fight and flight" rather than a "pause and process" dynamic.

7. Exposure to Heat:
   By drinking hot beverages and taking hot showers as well as eating hot meals, we strengthen our body’s stimulation systems which conflicts with vagus nerve efforts to maintain a constant and gradual equilibrium.

8. Over-nutrition and Under-nutrition:
   Processed, preserved, and stored foods increasingly tend to provide declining nutritional benefits with calories often exceeding the nutritional benefits which were earlier more available through self-sufficient gardening, hunting and gathering, and now ... organic farming. A lack of adequate nutritional support frustrates optimal weight management, support parasitic invasiveness, immune weakness, and mood depression. Vagus nerve digestive functioning is hampered by a denial of the nutritional support it requires for optimal health maintenance. The use of both concentrated and commercially bulked foods together with increasing dependency upon pharmaceuticals and mood altering "social" drugs including addictive alcohol, narcotics, and smoking mediums further distorts a potential ease of Vagus nerve mediated metabolism and assimilation.

9. Trans (overprocessed) Fatty Acids:
   These fats, until recently a basic in prepared fast food and processed foodstuffs, depressed heart rate variability and significantly contributed to both increases in circulatory diseases and clogging and destruction of artery and vein as well as lymph fluid support pathways.

10. Reduced throat muscle modulation:
    A reduction in spontaneous and regular expression of singing, shouting, coughing, speaking, gargling, and laughter also reduces the potential for a dynamic continuous yet intermittent stimulation of the Vagus nerve. These activities can provide an easy standard of Vagus nerve functioning as opposed to highs and lows of activity ... which ultimately demand more energy expenditure and reactive demands in support of needs rather than participations.

11. Loss, Gloom, Depression, Abandonment, Grief:
    These mood restricting feelings and experiences and memories physically depress body functions reducing immune responses and weakening Vague nerve energies.

12. Sensual denial:
    It has long been shown that a lack of skin-sensual stimulation will significantly impair newborn development and reduce immune function. This form of stimulation encourages lymph drainage and enhances circulatory tone. An inability to self-provide this activity or the lack of access to one or more others who either for therapeutic or personal attraction and goodwill offer to provide such interaction, while not hindering Vagus nerve expression, neither does it encourage positive vagus nerve functioning.

13. Superconsciousness:
    While meditation has been shown to unconsciously and silently activate nerve impulses without their termination in physical muscular expression, superconsciousness denies this activity by forcing a hyperactive distraction to the unconscious by its strong Ego and SuperEgo motivation and tendency to become obsessive. Both compulsive and obsessive behaviors restrict Vagus nerve functions which are mostly Responsive rather than Reactive processes.

14. Parasites, bad bacteria, heavy metals, nutrient toxicities:
    These destroy and mutate into destructive organisms a normally healthy intestinal microbiome.
    With these losses and changes, vitamin and hormone deficiencies and excesses and metabolic and assimilative abnormalities frequently occur. These changes tend to restrict or complicate peristaltic action, and, by altering hormone balances can influence mood and attitude changes, These alterations will often sabotage normal Vagus nerve physiologic process balancing facilitated by Vagus nerve functions.

15. Silent expressiveness, passivity, avoidance, insecurity:
    These expressions restrict vocalizations and positive stimulating moods which encourage facial expressiveness and throat and neck movements. Such movements will stimulate the Vagus nerve.

16. Hyperactivity, Compulsions, Obsessions:
    These constant and often strong intensity activities subvert the moderating and mediating functions of the Vagus nerve.

17. Neurotransmitter deficiencies:
    These can arise from over-demand occasioned by compulsions, obsessions, and the frequent expression of intense emotions, and/or, intense activities. A damaged intestinal biome will also be restrained in its normal contribution to hormone production. Circular self-reinforcing patterns of expression can intensify these deficiencies as in the case where a hormone deficiency can increase physical depression which will then promote depressive feelings ... which will accentuate hormone deficiencies.

18. Sitting stomach muscle pattern:
    Sitting is more of a frequent activity of humans in the past 100 years than at any time previously known in history.
    Sitting removes the gentle, variable, torso flexing which was elemental to hunting and gathering lifestyles, and, to more menial tasks required of laborers in all primary industries ... fishing, farming, industry, forestry, mining. This reduction in frequent and often flowing muscular movement encourages peristaltic activity. In turn, digestion, assimilation, and excretion are facilitated --- all of which are mediated by Vagus nerve functions. Without adequate exercise/movement breaks, sitting and sedentariness contributes to constipation. modern societies are now quite dominated by "audience" and "watcher" activities including television, movies, documentaries, reading, computers, and other electronic media.

19. Stationary activities:
    These include a number of above noted factors in addition to reading, writing, researching.
    Also, most commercial employment entails either sitting, standing, or a combination of minimal movements.
    Many industrial assembly line jobs require the employee to work at a fixed station performing repetitive minimum movements. These activities tend to restrict cardio and pulmonary functioning in addition to reducing peristaltic action and its benefits in assimilation. Altogether, these can promote physical and mental depressed interactions. Anxiety can result from the Vagus nerve providing a desired motivation for movement within a confining environment.

Challenge: Testing, diagnosis, surgeries. INDEX
https://healthfixit.com/vagus-nerve/

Function: What does the Vagus Nerve Do?
The vagus nerve has a mixed function: sensory and motor.

Sensory functions include
• Sense of taste
• Feeling of hunger
• Feeling of gastric fullness
• Abdominal pain and discomfort

Parasympathetic stimulation of the vagus nerve increases the muscle tone, strength, and peristalsis of the intestines thereby intensifying its motor actions.

Motor functions include
• Swallowing
• Speech function
  * (These first two in the list are the main functions of the vagus nerve.)
• Gastrointestinal movement
• Slow pumping of the heart
• Constriction of the bronchi

Clinical (Neurologic) Test: How do you Stimulate It?
The integrity of the vagus nerve may be checked by stimulating the gag reflex or pharyngeal reflex.
Do this by tapping the pharynx on its lateral side using a spatula or a tongue depressor. Normally, the muscles of the pharynx will contract and that will cause the patient to gag.

To test soft palate innervation, instruct the patient to say “ah.”
The soft palate should rise up and the uvula should go backwards. If there is a lesion on the vagus nerve, the elevation of soft palate and uvula will be unequal and they diverge away from that damaged part.

If there is hoarseness or absence of voice, the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve which controls the laryngeal muscles must be affected. Examine with the use of laryngoscope. It may show abductor paralysis.

Clinical Importance

Vagal Reflexes
As discussed, the vagus nerve has the most extensive distribution among the cranial nerves.
This makes it possible for an organ to be vaguely associated with another organ which may not be categorized within the same body system.

For example, if there is a discomfort behind the external auditory meatus, the patient develops symptoms such as fainting, coughing, or vomiting. Fainting or syncope is caused by reflex bradycardia. Coughing happens become of the sensation perceived by the bronchial tree. Vomiting occurs when alimentary canal is stimulated.

Vagotomy

Vagotomy is a procedure wherein a branch of the vagus nerve is cut.
Usually, the nerves of Latarjet which supply the stomach are cut to treat gastric ulcer.
Vagus nerve facilitates peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.
Secretion of gastric acid is relevant in the process.
If the vagus nerve in this area is cut, there will be less gastric acid secretion and decreased motility, thereby reducing the patient’s pain.

Thyroid Surgery
The superior laryngeal artery and inferior thyroid artery of the thyroid gland are proximal to the branches of the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve innervates the muscles that abduct the vocal cords. During thyroid surgery, proper identification of these structures is extremely important because when damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve occurs, the vocal cords will be adducted. This will cause breathing problems.

Referred Pain
If a patient has hypopharyngeal tumor, there may be a referred pain from the pharynx and larynx to the ear.

Change in Voice
The vocal cords are controlled by the vagus nerve. There will be a change in the patient’s voice in the presence of a tumor in the left mediastinum. It causes the left recurrent laryngeal nerve to shift medially.

Damage to the Vagus Nerve : Disorders
Vagus nerve is very important. Damage to both nerves will put the patient in a critical condition.
Depending on the extent of damage, the patient may be unable to taste his foods properly and he may even find it hard to swallow it (dysphagia). There will be hoarseness of voice and speech problems. Gastrointestinal motility will be impaired as well. If it is serious enough, it causes bronchodilation (widening of diameter of the bronchi) or tachycardia (fast heart rate) .

Posting: Trauma, Health, and the Vagus Nerve. INDEX
https://drarielleschwartz.com/natural-vagus-nerve-stimulation-dr-arielle-schwartz/
Posted on July 19, 2015 by Dr. Arielle Schwartz

LINK 2: https://drarielleschwartz.com/
polyvagal-theory-unlocks-symptoms-of-ptsd-dr-arielle-schwartz/
Posted on June 24, 2014 by Dr. Arielle Schwartz

When working with clients with chronic trauma I commonly hear stories of seizures, migraines, gastrointestinal problems, and autoimmune disorders. The connection between trauma and health is complex, not surprising because there is still so much to learn about our bodies. One component that has been in the news recently is the vagus nerve, an extensive nerve that is taking center stage as a potential “off switch” for disease.

I find this of interest because one’s mental health can have a significant influence on the vagus nerve.
So it is no surprise that vagus nerve regulation can be important for responding effectively to the emotional and physiological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The vagus (Latin for wandering) nerve is far reaching, extending from the brainstem down into your stomach and intestines, innervating your heart and lungs, and connecting your throat and facial muscles. Furthermore, Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory proposes that there are three evolutionary stages of the vagus nerve and that regulation of nervous system states is critical for the treatment of mental health conditions (you can read here in my blog about polyvagal theory).

... nerve fibers existing throughout your stomach and intestines are referred to as your enteric brain?
That is because 90% of those nerve fibers connect back up to the brain through the vagus nerve.
A key player in the body-mind connection, the vagus nerve is behind your gut instinct, the knot in your throat, and the sparkle in your smile. You can think of the vagus nerve as a two-way radio communication system helping you stay in touch with your sensations and emotions. What happens in vagus definitely doesn’t stay in vagus.

The field of bio-electronic medicine offers Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) as an intervention to treat rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy and depression by surgically implanting tiny electronic devices that can send shocks to the vagus nerve. Further research is looking at noninvasive external devices, not yet approved by the FDA, that provides vagus nerve stimulation through the skin. The long term implications of these “electroceuticals” may provide promise for those suffering from chronic disease, depression, and PTSD. ...

Activation of the vagus nerve keeps your immune system in check and releases an assortment of hormones and enzymes such as acetylcholine and oxytocin. This results in reductions in inflammation, improvements in memory, and feelings of relaxation. Vagus nerve stimulation has also been shown to reduce allergic reactions and tension headaches.

Unless you have a surgically implanted device you actually cannot directly stimulate your vagus nerve; however, you can indirectly stimulate your vagus nerve to relieve keyed up or shut down nervous system states. ...

Diving Reflex:
Considered a first rate vagus nerve stimulation technique, splashing cold water on your face from your lips to your scalp line stimulates the diving reflex. You can also achieve the nervous system cooling effects by placing ice cubes in a ziplock and holding the ice against your face and a brief hold of your breath. The diving reflex slows your heart rate, increases blood flow to your brain, reduces anger and relaxes your body. An additional technique that stimulates the diving reflex is to submerge your tongue in liquid. Drink and hold lukewarm water in your mouth sensing the water with your tongue. ...
(This is one of several techniques mentioned in the article and elsewhere.)

Research by Dr. Stephen Porges offers an advanced understanding of the ANS, especially as related to trauma and PTSD. The autonomic nervous system is regulated by the vagus nerve or the tenth cranial nerve. The vagus nerve connects the brain to major systems in the body supporting mind-body communications.

Mammals have two vagal circuits, an evolutionarily older circuit called the dorsal vagal complex and a more recently evolved vagal circuit called the “ventral vagal complex” (VVC) which is also referred to as the “social nervous system.” The dorsal vagal complex connects to the organs underneath the diaphragm including the stomach, spleen, liver, kidneys, as well as the small and large intestines. The ventral vagal, social nervous system connects above the diaphragm to your heart, lungs, larynx, pharynx, inner ear, as well as the facial muscles around your mouth and eyes.

Broadly speaking, the vagus nerve is always associated with the parasympathetic nervous system and has an inhibitory influence upon the heart and sympathetic nervous system activity. Most importantly, Porges’ research identified that the parasympathetic nervous system has two presentations that depend upon whether you feel safe or feel threatened. In times of safety, the parasympathetic nervous system facilitates rest, relaxation, and digestion. However, in times of threat the parasympathetic nervous system has a defensive mode.

Biobehavioral Defenses
When we feel threatened, we will typically attempt to engage the social nervous system to re-establish a sense of connection and safety. If we are unable to create a safe, relational bond, we will progressively resort to evolutionarily older biobehavioral defense strategies. First, we will draw upon sympathetic nervous system actions such as fight or flight to mobilize us into self-protection. Here, you might feel shaky, anxious, or panicky.

If the sympathetic nervous system is unsuccessful in re-estabilishing safety, we will default to the evolutionarily oldest part of the vagus nerve, the “dorsal vagal complex” (DVC). This more primitive strategy engages the parasympathetic nervous system in an unrefined manner. Here, the parasympathetic nervous system engages immobilizing defensive strategies such as dissociation or fainting. Here, you might feel tired, dizzy, or nauseous.

The Vagal Brake
Both the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and the ventral vagal complex (VVC) will exert inhibition on the sympathetic nervous system. Dr. Porges uses a metaphor suggesting that the vagus nerve is like pressing the brake pedal when driving a car. Removal of the parasympathetic “vagal brake” causes an increase in heart rate and greater vulnerability to stress.

The social nervous system functions as a refined brake which has calming and soothing effects reflected in rhythmic oscillations in heart rate variability. This is associated with increases in health and emotional wellbeing. In contrast, the dorsal vagal complex acts like an abrupt vagal brake. Getting stuck in this dorsal vagal defensive strategy for long periods of time can have serious repercussions on mental and physical health.

The Social Nervous System
Your social nervous system (VVC) is strengthened by myelination.
Myelination is a fatty coating on nerve pathways that is increased through repeated use and results in increased speed and control. You can imagine here the myelination that occurs in the learning of a new piece of music for the piano. Initially notes are played slowly and carefully but with repeated practice you begin to create music, eventually without reading the music at all. Likewise, the pathways of the social nervous system are strengthened through repeated practice. You know that you are in your social nervous system when you feel a warmth in your smile and see the sparkle in your eyes.

You can engage your social nervous system (VVC) to connect to others, feel playful, and relax into connection.
If you feel unnecessarily keyed up with anxiety, you can use the social nervous system to identify that you are safe.
You can look around and listen for cues of safety or engage in strategies such as calm, slow breathing to help you relax.
All of these actions use the action systems above the diaphragm.

Once you know that you are safe, you no longer need to focus outward.
This allows you to connect to the restorative side of your Dorsal Vagal Complex.
Here, you can choose to immobilize into an experience of safety by relaxing into a hug with a loved one or resting into a nourishing meditation. It is also possible to blend your social nervous system with your sympathetic nervous system which facilitates your ability to engage in lively play.

In short, your social nervous system increases your ability to respond effectively when you feel keyed up with anxiety or shut-down with depression.

Mobilization into Play – Immobilization into Intimacy
Whether you are feeling anxiety or depression, you can use tools to engage your social nervous system to re-establish higher order nervous system functions.

If you are experiencing anxiety you are likely in fight or flight, a key defense reaction of sympathetic nervous system.
Sympathetic actions involve mobilization; the need to move your body to release the build of stress cortisols. You can engage your social nervous by rubbing your hands together vigorously and making physical contact to your own face, neck, upper chest, arms, and legs. You can also explore physical movements that feel safe and grounding such as going for a walk or shaking your arms and legs to release stress. When we feel safe we can engage our social nervous system to use the energy of the sympathetic nervous system to dance, play, and laugh.

Feeling shut down, collapsed, depressed, or numb is an indication that you are in the defensive reactions of your parasympathetic nervous system which is characterized by immobilization. If you have a history of trauma it is possible that you are perceiving threats in your environment that are not actually occurring in the here and now. This is because a common symptom of PTSD is confusion between the past and the present. In this case, your social nervous system can help recognize that you are not in imminent danger. This allows you to access the positive, relaxing elements of your parasympathetic nervous system to “rest and digest.” When possible, turn towards a loving connection with a friend, caring partner, or a pet. Initially, you might need to make eye contact or call someone you trust and listen to the sound of their voice. You can also visualize a loving animal, friend, or protective ally to restore a felt sense of connection.

When you can embrace immobilization with safety, you can access the nourishment of the relaxation response.

Article: How to Heal Vagus Nerve Toxicity with Essential Oils. INDEX
https://vibrantblueoils.com/how-to-heal-vagus-nerve-toxicity-with-essential-oils/
Boulder, Colorado
by Jodi Cohen --- Jun 12, 2017

Poor health can often be traced to an infected or poisoned vagus nerve.
Toxins are drained from the brain down the lymph channels on the side on the neck.
If lymph flow is congested, these toxins – including environmental toxins, heavy metals, infections or pathogens – can linger near the vagus nerve and infect or poison the nerve, impacting the whole enteric nervous system.

Heavy metals and sulfur toxins have a high affinity to nerves and can contaminate the vagus nerve.
Because of the immense networking of sensory nerves and the nerves of the autonomic nervous system, toxins can be quickly absorbed in massive amounts.

The origins of infections are often microbes in the mouth that don’t physiologically belong there.
For example, heavy metals, pathogens, infections, viruses or toxins can dump into the neck from chronically inflamed tonsils or sinuses, dental amalgams, infected root canals, or cavities in the jaw bone where they migrate to nerve endings. From here, the toxins move in the nerves toward the brain stem where they can impact the face and other brain nerves. Sadly, the vagus nerve, just like the other cranial nerves, can be infected.

A toxic vagus nerve can impede all downstream function of the digestive system, leading to malabsorption, constipation or leaky gut. Malabsorption can then contribute to the accumulation of large-molecular matter in the lymph which can further trigger allergic immune responses and intolerances. As the vagus nerve controls moltity in the digestive process, a toxic vagus nerve can lead to poor or misregulated intestinal motility, contributing not only to constipation, but also to imbalances in the gut microbiome, that can contribute to SIBO, IBS and candida overgrowth.

Similarly, since the vagus nerve signals the release of acetylcholine to slow down heart rate, a toxic vagus nerve can lead to cardiac issues. Root canals are often correlated with heart attacks for this very reason. The communication from the gut to the nervous system and the brain is also compromised, impairing the immune system and contributing to autoimmune reactions.

A correlation exists between malabsorption of nutrients and an infection of the vagus nerve.
If the parasympathetic state isn’t triggered, insufficient stomach acid is released and nutrients are not properly broken down and assimilated. For example, proteins are not split or properly absorbed in sufficient amounts. Not enough bile flow prevents the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. If the excretion of pancreatic enzymes is insufficient, food is not digested properly, and this leads to the growth of pathogenic microbes further down in the colon.

Stimulating the vagus nerve with topically applied essential oils (behind the ear lobe on the mastoid bone) can help manually override impaired function. The lipid soluable essential oils are able to directly and immediately access the nerve in a way that other supplements or remedies cannot. The following essential oil blends are best considered to support vagus nerve toxicity.

1. Parasympathetic™:
   To stimulate the vagus nerve and trigger the parasympathetic response, topically apply Parasympathetic™ blend on the vagal nerve behind the earlobe on the neck can help manually override the infection and help reset the autonomic nervous system.

   Facilitating an increase of the activity of the vagus nerve and the corresponding neurotransmitters and hormones help return the body to balance. When these systems are working optimally, the body will likely start to move and release heavy metals and toxins stored in the nerve, so it is important to support the detoxification pathways below:
   
   

2. Lymph:™
   The lymphatic system needs to be functioning optimally in order for toxins to be removed from the neck and the brain.
   If you think of the body like a hydraulics system where congested tissue downstream prevents optimal flow upstream, congested lymphatic vessels in the neck will impede drainage of toxins from the brain. To enhance lymphatic flow and drainage, generously apply Lymph™ around the sides of the neck to relieve congestion, improve drainage and reduce brain inflammation.

3. Liver™
   – The liver is the primary organ of detoxification.
   It filters toxins and bacteria from blood and neutralizes the toxins in preparation for elimination.
   Before dumping more toxins into an already overworked liver, be sure to support the liver with the energy and vitality it needs to keep up with the increased toxic burden. Applying 2 to 3 drops of Liver™ directly over the liver (right side of the body, under the breast) two to three times daily can help support the optimal health and vitality of the liver.
   
   

4. Kidney Support™
   The kidneys bind toxins to acids and excrete them in the urine.
   High levels of toxins and metals can overwhelm the kidneys, impeding their ability to effectively filter toxins.
   They control the volume, composition and pressure of fluids in all the cells and water is symbolic of the unconscious, our emotion and of that which we do not understand and that which we fear. Applying Kidney Support™ over the kidneys on the back of the body can help support the gentle release of toxins.

5. Gallbladder™
   – The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, which helps to emulsify fats and carry toxins and old hormones out of the body. Interestingly, healthy gall bladder function and the free flow of bile plays a key role in eliminating constipation. When bile flows from the liver (releasing toxins with it) through the gallbladder to the small intestine, where it breaks down the fat for the body to absorb, it acts as a natural irritant to the lining of the intestine, which stimulates peristalsis that promotes bowel movements.

   Unfortunately, stress, toxicity, hormones, or diets too low or too high in fat can make the bile thick, viscous, and stagnant, which impedes its ability to flow both to the small intestine and out of the body. To support the flow of bile and, with it, toxins out of the body, apply Gallbladder™ on the right side of the body under the bra under-wire or along and slightly under the right rib cage two to three times daily.

Technique: Thoughtarrest technique for Panic Attack. INDEX
http://www.myafibheart.com/thoughtarrest-technique-panic-attack/
August 29, 2016 --- jpdv@webmail.co.za

The inspiration is from 2 Corinthians 10:5 King James Version (KJV), Bible Gateway:
“and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”

Atrial Fibrillation is also known as afib, A-fib, AF or sometimes also referred to as atrial flutter, although it is not the same thing .... In plain words, it is an irregular heart beat, a rapid heart beat and the upper heart chambers are not working as they should due to an electrical malfunction. It is the most common heart irregularity, for the smart guys, it’s cardiac arrhythmia.

A racing or speeding heart, skipped heart beats, others describe it as erratic heartbeat or strong palpitations.
Some people feel a thud and then there is a silence and you think your heart has stopped just to feel it come back with a bang.
Other people describe it as a fluttering, flopping fish in your chest or just some sort of heartbeat that does not feel normal.

I have felt the pressure in my throat and in my chest. Then a light dizziness and a shortness of breath.
The way I described it to my doctor was that it felt like my heart changed gears, and then relief when it’s back in rhythm.
The other strange thing is that you can “feel” your heart beat.



...
4 STEPS BEFORE YOU DO A THOUGHTARREST.

1. Keep on breathing!!
Do not stop breathing because you want to count your heart beats.
Is it just me or do you also hold in your breath and start “feeling” and counting your heartbeats? With AFIB, or another type of arrhythmia, some sort of panic is usually not far away.

It’s enough to deal with AFIB, but panic and anxiety just make things worse.
How fast is it going now, am I going to make it, is it going too fast?
Sometimes the shock of a panic attack is so sudden and paralyzing that we forget to breathe,
and then we start to take faster breaths and then it does not feel enough and then we take even faster gulps of air!

Rather concentrate on taking deep full breaths.
If you are laying on your back you must see your stomach going up and down with every breath.

Something that I learned from my grandmother is, sit down, make a cup of Rooibos tea, breath in and relax.
Rooibos tea has many “anti-stress” qualities because of it’s high magnesium levels, influence on cortisol levels, no caffeine content and antioxidant count.

Breathe less and you go into STRESS! a panic stress.

2. Don’t fight it accept it!!
I do not say accept it as the truth, but rather bringing it closer to see what this fear is made of, and how bad it is.
My attitude was. OK panic bring it on let’s see what you’ve got.
This can be like a light you put on in a room, and see that the monster does not exist!

3. Use your Victoryvault.
Build a victory bank or victory vault and remember any victories you had over panic.
Even the smallest victories can help you build this victory bank.
Quickly go to that bank and see all the times that you have overcome a panic attack.
Write it down. Sometimes you are so struck by panic and anxiety that you do not even remember that just last month you had a panic attack, and guess what … You did not die or have a heart attack.
Just a week or so ago you got a panic attack but started breathing, went for a walk, talked to somebody and the panic went away.
USE IT! if you get another panic attack.

4. Muscle relaxation!!
Tense and then relax all the muscle groups, one by one, you can start from your feet up to your head or the other way around.
This can take up to 20 minutes or you could just do a quick 5-10 minute exercise.

Steps 1-3 can be taken in a matter of seconds. It gives you the opportunity to think about what you are thinking.

Do a Thoughtarrest.

• Do not deny or suppress the thought.
  This step is similar to the, do not fight it step, mentioned previously but with this one it’s more about investigating or dismantling the thought. Look deep into what you are really fearing in the thought or symptoms you are experiencing.

• Write it down, or talk about it.
  When you write down your thought you “capture” it. Write down how bad it is or was.
  Don’t sugarcoat it! Even if the idea of writing it down scares you, write it down.
  It not only helps at that moment but also when you reflect on your panic and anxiety later.
  You may then see it was irrational.

• Write down a “better” statement.
  If you get thoughts of “I cannot breathe” rather write down “I feel as if I cannot breathe but I am”.
  Or just write down “I am breathing” although everything inside you yells “I’m not getting in enough air”.
  The two statements should not be too far from each other.

• Unmask and expose the false thought.
  Now that you have your panic attack or anxiety thought pinned down on paper you can expose it as false and not real. It may be that you still have the thought of “I cannot breath” or “I’m dying”, “I’m going crazy”, “I’m going to faint” or “I’m having a heart attack”.
  Now you must evaluate them and give yourself the true facts about them!
  You’re still breathing
  You did not die
  No! way! I’m not crazy
  I did not faint – Yes it felt like that but I did not.
  I did not have a heart attack ....

Do not give up hope! Keep on doing a few thoughtarrests and you will see that your panic thoughts start to grow weaker and even go away. Some may be more difficult to arrest but keep at it! ...

Medical: Gut branches of vagus nerve essential
components of brain's reward and motivation system. INDEX
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-gut-vagus-nerve-essential-components.html
by The Mount Sinai Hospital
September 20, 2018

"Our study reveals, for the first time, the existence of a neuronal population of 'reward neurons' amid the sensory cells of the right branch of the vagus nerve," says Ivan de Araujo, DPhil, Senior Faculty in the Department of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and senior author of the paper. "We focused on challenging the traditional view that the vagus nerve is unrelated to motivation and pleasure and we found that stimulation of the nerve, specifically its upper gut branch, is sufficient to strongly excite reward neurons lying deep inside the brain."

The branches of the vagus nerve are intricately intermingled, making it extremely difficult to manipulate each organ separately. To address this challenge, the research team employed a combination of virally delivered molecular tools that allowed them to exclusively target the vagal sensory neurons connected to the stomach and upper intestine. ...

The study revealed that the newly identified reward neurons of the right vagus nerve operate under the same constraints attributed to reward neurons of the central nervous system, meaning they link peripheral sensory cells to the previously mapped populations of reward neurons in the brain. Strikingly, neurons of the left vagus were associated with satiety, but not with reward. The research team's anatomical studies also revealed, for the first time, that the right and left vagal branches ascend asymmetrically into the central nervous system.

"We were surprised to learn that only the right vagal branch eventually contacts the dopamine-containing reward neurons in the brainstem," explained Wenfei Han, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and lead author of the study. Dopamine is a neural transmitter known to be essential for reward and motivation. ...

Coping: How to Strengthen Your Vagus Nerve
to Upgrade Your Whole Body. INDEX
https://blog.bulletproof.com/vagus-nerve-vagal-response/
By: Courtney Sperlazza, MPH --- Modified: April 12, 2018

The vagal pathway is a system of nerves that connects outward from the brain and regulates many organs in the body – the heart, lungs, gut, liver and more.

Modern medicine treats individual organs as the area of disease, and ignores the fact that your brain and nervous system tell your organs what to do. Your organs regularly send a status check to your brain through the vagus nerve to report on how things are going.

It’s a two-way street. When everything’s going well, your brain maintains status quo.
When an organ is struggling, it can signal to your brain for more resources.
When it’s time for your body to spring to action, your vagus nerve carries the signal from your brain to your organs to slow down.

To make sure nothing is lost in translation, your vagus nerve needs to be in working order.
Your brain and organs depend on your vagal pathways to regulate things like:

• Hunger hormones and food intake
• Inflammation
• Anxiety and fight-or-flight
• The immune response

Because the vagus nerves are involved in so much, it’s vital that it’s functioning properly.
Read on to find out how you can support your vagus nerve via vagal toning.

It’s cliche, but take deep breaths
There’s a connection between respiration and heart rate, which is modulated by the vagus nerve.
That’s why regular yoga practice reduces overall stress.

Yoga breathing and guided breathing exercises calm your heart rate and lower your blood pressure.
Breathing exercises increased vagal tone and effectively managed prehypertension in an experimental group.

In one study, slow breathing exercises improved autonomic functions in healthy participants. Fast breathing didn’t.
That’s because fast breathing makes your body think you’re running from predators.
That sets off your body’s alarm bells and activates a stress response.

Box breathing for S.O.S.
If you’re panicking or about to blow a gasket, try box breathing.

• Inhale for a count of four.
• Hold for a count of four.
• Exhale for a count of four.
• Wait for a count of four.
• Repeat until your hands are back on the controls.

The first couple of times, trace your finger in a square pattern in the air.
It’ll help you remember how to do it when you’re frazzled.

The slow expansion of your lungs signals to your heart to slow down, which sends a feeling of calm throughout your entire nervous system. Your vagus nerve connects all of this signaling and releases acetylcholine, a calming chemical you can give yourself a shot of any time by doing relaxation techniques.

Chill out, literally
Getting used to the cold tones the vagus response, which slows the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
Regular cold blasts measurably reduce stress markers. Cold exposure helped relieve signs of depression and anxiety, possibly modulated by the vagus nerve.

Stimulating the vagal pathways stimulates digestion.
When rats’ digestion slowed down due to anxiety, cold exposure re-activated the gastric nerves and got everything going again. It all happened through vagal pathways.

Keep your gut happy
Ever heard of the gut-brain axis?
That refers to the microorganisms in your digestive system communicating with your brain.

Your microbiome is the ecosystem of friendly bacteria in your body and on your skin.
Most often, when someone talks about the microbiome, they’re talking about the microbes in your intestines and colon.

As the science of the microbiome builds, the scientific community explores more and more ways the microbiome affects your entire body. Research on the connection between the microbiome and mood is expanding, and communication between gut and brain hinges on — surprise — the vagus nerve.

Studies on animal models and humans support the idea that a thriving microbiome curbs anxiety and improves your mood. Some of the research examined this effect with and without an intact vagus nerve, to see if vagal pathways have anything to do with it.

Rodents who supplemented with certain strains of probiotics showed decreases in anxiety and depression indicators, but not in animals whose vagus nerves were cut before the experiment.

Researchers see beneficial effects of probiotics on mood in humans.
Healthy women who ate fermented foods for four weeks showed positive changes in brain activity, particularly in the parts of the brain that control emotion and sensation. From the animal studies, and from what scientists know about the vagus nerve already, you can make a solid guess that the gut-brain communication here happens through the vagus nerve.

The best way to support your intestinal flora is to get a comprehensive microbiome test like Viome.
Viome is a test-at-home kit that you use to easily profile your microbiome, and then you get personalized dietary recommendations to bring you back into balance.

Find your safety cues
Vagus nerve expert Dr. Stephen Porges established Polyvagal Theory (more on that on an episode of Bulletproof Radio), which lays out a decision process of sorts that determines whether fight-or-flight activates. You are not conscious of this process — it all happens in the background, and different branches of the vagus nerve activate in response to different situations.

When you experience a frightening stimulus, the first layer to get through is the one that responds to social communication — verbal language, body language, vocal tone, and other nonverbal cues. If the stimulus is too strong to reason through, your brain activates the fight-or-flight response. When that fails, the most primitive fear response is playing possum — feeling frozen.

When you know your fear is irrational, you can use safety cues to stop panic at the first layer, and keep your brain from getting to the fight-or-flight response. Here are some things you can try.

Use soothing voices
In his interview on Bulletproof Radio, Stephen Porges explains one way this phenomenon is hardwired in kids.
Children are measurably calmed by prosodic (sing-songy) speaking, also known as “motherese.”
Waldorf schools train teachers to adopt this tone to maintain a calm and happy classroom.
If you’ve visited your neighborhood playground in the middle of the morning, you’ve seen it in action.

Altering your tone of speech works for adults, too.
Guided meditations, either in person or recorded, adopt a slow, rhythmic tone of speaking.
Using the voice as a relaxation cue coaxes your brain into a relaxed state faster than a normal conversational tone would.



Train your own safety cues
With a little practice, you can train your mind to feel safe.
Safety cues keep your fear and anxiety responses from kicking in.

One way to do this is to create your “safe place” or “happy place” while you’re calm.
To do this, you imagine you’re at a place where you’re completely at ease and feeling content and peaceful.
Use as much sensory information as you can – imagine the sights, smells, sounds, etc.

Practice this visualization often.
That way, when you start feeling fearful or angry, you can initiate the “safe place” without much effort. It’s there when you need it.



Take care of your myelin
Your vagus nerve is myelinated, which means it’s covered in a protective covering of fat that insulates it and helps the signals travel through efficiently. When myelin on any nerve breaks down, the nerve doesn’t work as well. Read this post to learn more about how to love on your myelin.

Surgically-implanted electrical vagus nerve stimulator
The vagus nerve activates the immune system when you’re fighting something.
Doctors use this knowledge for therapy by stimulating the vagus nerve with electricity and pharmaceuticals to treat inflammatory disorders Doctors surgically implant electric vagus nerve stimulators in patients with severe epilepsy or depression because it dampens the inflammation response.



You can tone your baby’s vagus nerve
Several factors play into baby’s vagal tone.
Babies who are born premature, or born to mothers who had depression and anxiety during pregnancy have low vagal tone.

If you were going through some things during pregnancy, don’t worry.
You can help tone your baby’s vagal pathways with normal bonding behaviors and loving care.

Cold showers should probably wait until junior is old enough to agree to it.
During the baby years, infant massage and kangaroo care (holding baby skin-to-skin) help babies’ vagal tone develop.



If your kids are past the baby stage, you can work with them on some of the grown-up ways to tone the vagus nerve, like breathing techniques and cold blasts in the shower.



A massage, a yoga class, and a few minutes of goosebumps in the shower are probably worth it considering that the benefits of vagal nerve toning extend to every major organ in your body and back. For more ways to support your whole system, head-to-toe, pop your info into the box below so you don’t miss a thing.

Product: Blue Vervain -- tea, tincture, essence. INDEX
https://www.organicolivia.com/2018/03/
blue-vervain-herbal-ally-chronic-anxiety-perfectionists/
Published on: 05 March, 2018 --- Last update: 15 October, 2018

Vervain is a North American herb that acts as a nervine (nourishing to the nerves), neuro-trophorestorative (delivers nutrition to the nerves and restores neuron function), antispasmodic, diuretic and digestive stimulant.

BENEFITS AND USES:

• NERVOUS SYSTEM TONIC
  – Herbalist Matthew Wood states it is a “relaxing nervine for highly driven individuals who are overworked, rest-deprived and unwilling [to slow down].”

• JAW TIGHTNESS
  – Vervain has a unique affinity for tension above the neck and shoulders, making it ideal for face and jaw tightness.

• PANIC ATTACKS
  – Because it is a nerve tonic that soothes and rebuilds over time rather than a fast-acting herb, blue vervain is used daily over several months time to help prevent panic attacks.

• CHRONIC ANXIETY
  – Helps alleviate constant worry and the muscle tension that so often accompanies mental tension.

• IMPATIENCE WITH THE SELF OR OTHERS
  – If you’re a perfectionist with a tight jaw, this is for you!
  My teacher indicates vervain for “those who are unreasonably high demanding of themselves and others” and herbalist Dorothy Hall likes it for “people who make lists.”

1. ... dried blue vervain ... it kinda looks like hay) from Amazon or any herb store.
   Amazon LINK: http://amzn.to/2D0a57G
   Direct LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Organic-Vervain-Herb/dp/B00DURI5X4/
   

   US $10.99 / 4 oz 
       Botanical Name: Verbena officinalis
       USDA Certified Organic,  Origin: Croatia
       Certified Kosher,  non irradiated
       4 ounces in a resealable pouch

   To brew it as a tea, cover 1 teaspoon dried herb with boiled water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
   I do have to warn you: blue vervain is one of the most bitter herbs known to man (which is part of why it works
   – the bitter flavor relaxes your vagus nerve which soothes your nervous system). Because of this, those with a sensitive palette would probably not want to go the tea route and would rather get it over with in tincture form.
   
   

2. ... as a tincture,
   Initial LINK: http://amzn.to/2D4JpCU
   Direct LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Herb-Pharm-Certified-Organic-Vervain/
   dp/B000155JR8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=hpc&ie=UTF8...
   Herb Pharm Certified Organic Blue Vervain Extract - 1 Ounce
   1 Ounce: US $11.19 -- or -- 4 oz: $36.98 --- ($9.25 / Fl Oz)
   Specially prepared from the flowering top of certified organic and/or sustainably wildcrafted Verbena hastata plants.
   
   

3. Blue vervain flower essence
   Suggested LINK: https://amzn.to/2NIjtCa
   Bach Vervain Essence, various sizes and prices.
   LINK for Canada: https://www.amazon.com/
   Bach-Original-Flower-Essences-Vervain/dp/B000MXAHDU/... (#31)

   Alternatively, if you want emotional benefits only from this herb (rather than the physical benefits from the active plant chemicals), go with a blue vervain flower essence, which really has no taste at all!

Product: Sleep Juice -- 6 calming herbs. INDEX
https://www.organicolivia.com/product/sleep-juice/
Regular: USA $26.95 --- 50 x 30 drops
Standard International Shipping & Handling is $18 (14-18 business days and minimal tracking)

Made with 6 calming herbs, Sleep Juice contains the vital ingredients your body and brain need to relax and fall into a rejuvenating sleep. By taking a full squeeze of the dropper one hour before bed, you will truly feel tired once again and get the most out of your sleep which, in turn, will help you get the most out of all the other beneficial things you do for your health!

1. Valerian Root
   – a supreme relaxant that has a calming effect on the autonomic nervous system while opening up peripheral circulation for deep healing as you sleep. A healthy, non-toxic alternative to sleep drugs, great for those who run circles of “what ifs” in their mind.

2. Hops
   – used in Ayurveda for restlessness associated with nervous tension, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat insomnia and indigestion, Hops is a natural yet powerful sedative which calms the nervous system and increases both sleep quality and duration.

3. Skullcap
   – a safe and reliable mild sedative that helps with both insomnia and anxiety as well as rebuilding and restoring nerves thanks to its neurotrophorestorative qualities.

4. Lemon Balm
   – also a nerve rebuilder, this herb is a star in reducing anxiety, nervousness, and panic attacks. One of my favorites for giving you that deep sense of calm like a warm blanket over your body.

5. Passionflower
   – one of the few herbs that assists with resetting your circadian rhythm, passionflower nourishes the adrenals and helps shut down a racing mind.

6. California Poppy
   – a final addition to the blend, this herb helps with nocturia, which means having to wake up and go to the bathroom several times a night.

Product: Parasympathetic®- 5 ml, Essential Oil. INDEX
https://www.vibrantblueoils.com/product/parasympathetic-essential-oil/
USA $34.95 --- 2019-01

Stimulates the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state of the nervous system in which optimal digestion, absorption and assimilation can best occur.

Vibrant Blue Oils Brain Balance Parasympathetic™ contains a proprietary formulation of organic and/or wild crafted essential oils of:

Clove Bud (Eugenia caryophyllata): Stimulates the vagal nerve to trigger the digestive cascade.
Can also stimulate circulation to help increase energy and relieve fatigue.
It can also help you boost your mood and relieve memory deficiency.
It can be used to support headaches, fevers, digestive problems and increase milk supply for lactating mothers.

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia): Lime oil is stimulating to the brain.
It clears thought and aids concentration. It helps relieve apathy, anxiety, and nervousness.
Because it refreshes a tired mind, it is a top essential oil to use when treating depression and listlessness.
It is uplifting and stimulating.

PARASYMPATHETIC™ Usage Sheet
Apply on the vagal nerve (behind ears on jaw bone) before meals.

Product: Vibrant Blue Oils, Essences INDEX
https://vibrantblueoils.com/
Washington, USA
Jodi Cohen
Founder, Vibrant Blue Oils
Launched in 2013

LINK 2: https://www.pinterest.ca/posnutritionmbs/vibrant-blue-oils/

LINK 3: https://vibrantblueoils.leadpages.co/essential-oils-guide-optin/

Devices : Vagus Nerve Stimulation Devices. INDEX
http://blue.regence.com/medicare/sur/m-sur74.pdf
Medicare Advantage Policy Manual (USA)
Published: 01/01/2019

REGULATORY STATUS

Implantable VNS Devices
Several VNS therapy systems by Cyberonics Inc. have pre-market approval (PMA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of refractory partial-onset seizures and chronic or recurrent depression, when certain criteria are met. For example, in 1997, the NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis (NCP®) system was approved for use in conjunction with drugs or surgery “as an adjunctive treatment of adults and adolescents over 12 years of age with medically refractory partial onset seizures.” The VNS Therapy™ System was approved in 2005 “for the adjunctive long-term treatment of chronic or recurrent depression for patients 18 years of age or older who are experiencing a major depressive episode and have not had an adequate response to four or more adequate antidepressant treatments.”

Non-implantable VNS Devices
Cerbomed has developed a transcutaneous VNS (t-VNS®) system, NEMOS®, that uses a combined stimulation unit and ear electrode to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, which supplies the skin over the concha of the ear. Patients self-administer electric stimulation for several hours a day; no surgical procedure is required. The device has not been FDA approved for use in the US. In addition, Electrocore has developed a non-invasive VNS (gammaCore®) that is currently being investigated for headache; the device does not have FDA approval.

Other Types of VNS Devices
Other types of vagus nerve stimulators are also available.
The VBLOC Maestro® Rechargeable System (EnteroMedics, Inc) consists of a subcutaneously-implanted pulse generator and electrodes that are placed in contact with the trunks of the vagus nerve at the gastroesophageal junction. This type of stimulator differs in the location of the pulse generator and electrodes, as well as the stimulation programming settings. The Maestro device is not addressed in this policy.

Direct LINKS:

Cyberonics Inc.
LINK: https://us.livanova.cyberonics.com/healthcare-professionals/about-usa/
LINK 2: https://us.livanova.cyberonics.com/healthcare-professionals/file/...
LINK 3: https://www.cyberonicsrecall.com/

NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis (NCP®) system.
LINK: https://www.cadth.ca/vagus-nerve-stimulation-vns-treatment-resistant-depression-0
LINK 2: https://www.mhealth.org/~/.../Epilepsy/Vagus-Nerve-Stimulation.ashx?la=en

The VNS Therapy™ System.
LINK: https://www.neuropace.com/rns-vs-vns/
LINK 2: http://en.eu.livanova.cyberonics.com/safety-information

Cerbomed, VNS (t-VNS®) system, NEMOS®
LINK: https://www.nemos.uk.com/health-professionals/faq/
LINK 2: https://www.nemos.uk.com/device/

Electrocore, VNS (gammaCore®)
LINK: https://gammacore.com/
LINK 2: https://gammacore.com/about/how-gammacore-works/
gammaCore (nVNS) activates the vagus nerve with patented, gentle electrical stimulation.

The vagus nerve is an important highway of communication between your brain and many parts of the body
The vagus nerve plays an important role in regulating pain

The VBLOC Maestro® Rechargeable System (EnteroMedics, Inc)
LINK: https://www.multivu.com/...vbloc-maestro-system...version-01-08-15.pdf
LINK 2: https://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/2015/3/latest-weight-loss-device ...
(in service to "weight loss") involves electrically stimulating the vagus nerve to “tell” the brain that the stomach is full. ... And it’s bound to be expensive; one news report put it at $15,000 per patient, ...