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The Wandering Nerve
Like a muscle that needs to be trained to function optimally, the Vagus nerve responds to a variety of things that improve tone.
Gift Certificates for Mother's Day (and other special occasions)
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How to Train Your Wandering Nerve
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The Vagus Nerve seems to be getting more attention lately. Or maybe I’ve just been talking about it more?
The Vagus nerve is often called the “Rest and Digest” nerve or the “Wandering Nerve”.
This nerve originates in the brain with the other 11 Cranial Nerves and travels through the neck, heart space, and lung space and then to the gut and other pelvic organs.
Vagus Nerve Functions Include:
Sensory:
Throat, heart, lungs and abdomen, face and ears (Social Nervous System)
Special Sensory:
Taste behind tongue
Motor:
Swallowing and speech
Parasympathetic:
Digestion, respiration, heart rate and safety
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In addition, the Vagus nerve affects:
- Gut/Brain communication
- Relaxation with deep breathing
- Decreasing inflammation
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
Intuitively, I would think that an over-stimulated Vagus nerve would be problematic and would require calming. Actually, Under-stimulation, or low tone in the Vagus nerve can cause some pretty serious challenges! Like a muscle that needs to be trained to function optimally, the Vagus nerve responds to a variety of things that improve tone.
In addition to a variety of calming techniques, most of my sessions include some gentle Craniosacral work with the carotid arteries, located in the neck. This helps with improving Vagal tone and integrating the Cardiovascular systems. (Heart and blood flow)
Please let me know if I may help facilitate improved tone in your Vagus nerve for a sense of health and well-being.
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According to this article, here are some suggestions to help to improve tone in the Vagus nerve.
- Positive Social Relationships
- Cold exposure (cold showers or face dunking or drinking ice cold water increases Vagus nerve activation)
- Gargling with water
- Humming, singing and chanting
- Massage, especially to the feet or neck *
- Laughter
- Yoga/Tai Chi
- Deep and slow breathing
- Exercise
This is a recent article from the Tucson Edition of Natural Awakenings written by Michael Shea.
Special thank you to Michael Shea, PhD for his guidance and teaching. He says that the most important things are creating variability in the heart rate (HRV) through coherent breathing (simply matching exhalation to inhalation) and creating feelings of nurturing, empathy, happiness and resilience through feelings of safety.
The rest is, as he says, ‘for us nerds’. So, for you nerds amongst us, here are some links to more information.
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Gift Certificates Available!
It’s not too early to think about Gift Certificates for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Graduation or other special occasions.
Give the gift of relaxing and restorative Craniosacral Therapy
expires 6/15/2019
— can be used for sessions through 9/30/2019
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Sari has participated on the Teaching Team for multiple introductory and advanced Craniosacral Therapy courses, and a series of Concussion courses with Michael Shea PhD, including International courses in Switzerland. Sari was on an international teaching team in Switzerland in the Spring for a Neonatal Cardiovascular Craniosacral Therapy course.
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