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Vagus Nerve Reset:
Vagus nerve is main component of the parasympathetic nervous system, overlooking a vast array of crucial bodily functions, including control of mood, immune response, digestion, and heart rate. It establishes one of the connections between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract and sends information about the state of the inner organs to the brain. Treatments that target the vagus nerve increase the vagal tone and inhibit cytokine production which causes inflammation. There is preliminary evidence that GUT bacteria have beneficial effect on mood and anxiety, partly by affecting the activity of the vagus nerve. The IN and Out communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, the so-called “brain–gut axis,” is based on a complex system, where Vagus nerve plays a Very important role. This nerve plays important roles in the relationship between the gut, the brain, and inflammation.
Anatomy of the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve carries an extensive range of signals from digestive system and organs to the brain and vice versa. It is the tenth cranial nerve, extending from its origin in the brainstem through the neck and the thorax down to the abdomen. Because of its long path through the human body, it has also been described as the “wanderer nerve”.
The vagus nerve exits from the brain behind the ear along with two other nerves and vascular and lymphatic bundle compartment. In the neck, the vagus nerve provides required innervation to most of the muscles of the pharynx and larynx, which are responsible for swallowing and vocalization. In the thorax, it provides the main parasympathetic supply to the heart and stimulates a reduction in the heart rate. In stomach it manages the secretion of HCL and hence the digestion of Proteins. In the intestines, the vagus nerve regulates the contraction of smooth muscles and glandular secretion.
Functions of the Vagus Nerve
The Role of Vagus in the Functions of the Autonomic Nervous System Alongside the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system (ENS), the parasympathetic nervous system represents one of the three branches of the autonomic nervous system.
The definition of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is primarily anatomical. The vagus nerve is the main contributor of the parasympathetic nervous system. Other three parasympathetic cranial nerves are the nervus oculomotorius, the nervus facialis, and the nervus glossopharyngeus.
The most important function of the vagus nerve is afferent, bringing information of the inner organs, such as gut, liver, heart, and lungs to the brain. This suggests that the inner organs are major sources of sensory information to the brain. The gut as the largest surface toward the outer world and might, therefore, be a particularly important sensory organ.
Historically, the vagus has been studied as an efferent nerve and as an antagonist of the sympathetic nervous system. Most organs receive parasympathetic efferents through the vagus nerve and sympathetic efferents through the splanchnic nerves. Together with the sympathetic nervous systems, the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the regulation of vegetative functions by acting in opposition to each other (22). The parasympathetic innervation causes a dilatation of blood vessels and bronchioles and a stimulation of salivary glands. On the contrary, the sympathetic innervation leads to a constriction of blood vessels, a dilatation of bronchioles, an increase in heart rate, and a constriction of intestinal and urinary sphincters. In the gastrointestinal tract, the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system increases bowel motility and glandular secretion. In contrast to it, the sympathetic activity leads to a reduction of intestinal activity and a reduction of blood flow to the gut, allowing a higher blood flow to the heart and the muscles, when the individual faces existential stress. This is the largest accumulation of nerve cells in the human body. Since the ENS is similar to the brain regarding structure, function, and chemical coding, it has been described as “the second brain” or “the brain within the gut” ((23). The ENS serves as intestinal barrier and regulates the major enteric processes, such as immune response, detecting nutrients, motility, microvascular circulation, and epithelial secretion of fluids, ions, and bioactive peptides (27). There clearly is “communication” between the vagal nerve and the ENS. ENS neurons are also in close contact to cells of the adaptive and innate immune system and regulate their functions and activities. Aging and cell loss in the ENS are associated with complaints, such as constipation, incontinence, and evacuation disorders. The loss of the ENS in the small and large intestine may be life threatening (Hirschsprung’s disease; intestinal pseudo-obstruction), whereas as loss of the vagal nerve in these areas is not.
Vagus Nerve as a Link between the Central and ENS
The connection between the CNS and the ENS, also referred to as the brain–gut axis enables the bidirectional connection between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. It is responsible for monitoring the physiological homeostasis and connecting the emotional and cognitive areas of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions, such as immune activation, intestinal permeability, enteric reflex, and enteroendocrine signaling (1). This brain–gut axis, includes the brain, the spinal cord, the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic, parasympathetic, and ENS), and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis (1). The vagal efferents send the signals “down” from brain to gut through efferent fibers, which account for 10–20% of all fibers and the vagal afferents “up” from the intestinal wall to the brain accounting for
Why Vagus Mojo?
The first principle of effective healing is your nervous system must be calmed down. The Vagus Nerve does that. If it is working well and has the right tone. If it doesn’t you will remain in sympathetic nervous system dominance and struggle to heal. You cannot heal when you are defending. Cells are either in growth mode or defense mode, they cannot be in both at the same time. The Vagus nerve is the healing mode switch.
The vagus nerve is the most important nerve in the body. If that works well all the other nerves can work better. If it doesn’t work well all the other nerves will struggle. That’s based on embryology. You will learn that in the course. A powerful connection to healing few people know about Vagus nerve development and performance.
Dr. Drashti Shah is a Registered Physiotherapist having an extra-ordinary experience from USA, Canada and India.
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