You can manually stimulate the vagus nerve by massaging certain areas of the body. A neck massage along the carotid sinus, the right side of your throat, stimulates the vagus nerve. Foot massage can also increase vagal modulation, as well as help lower blood pressure.
How to Restore Vagal Tone
- Take a cold shower in the morning. I know, I know cold showers in the morning sound like torture to some, but this is an ancient Chinese remedy that does help stimulate the vagus nerve.
- Sing, laugh, hug.
- Take care of your gut.
- Alter heart rate variability.
- Reduce jaw tension.
Singing, Humming, Chanting and Gargling
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve. And this has been shown to increase heart-rate variability and vagal tone (12).The aim is to move the belly and diaphragm with the breath and to slow down your breathing. Vagus nerve stimulation occurs when the breath is slowed from our typical 10-14 breaths per minute to 5-7 breaths per minute. You can achieve this by counting the inhalation to 5, hold briefly, and exhale to a count of 10.
You can enjoy the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation naturally by following these steps.
- Cold Exposure.
- Deep and Slow Breathing.
- Singing, Humming, Chanting and Gargling.
- Probiotics.
- Meditation.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
- Exercise.
- Massage.
Any kind of GI distress can put pressure on the nerve and irritate it, with a hiatal hernia being a frequent culprit. Poor posture along with muscular imbalances can also cause the vagus nerve to misfire, as can excess alcohol or spicy foods. Stress can inflame the nerve, along with fatigue and anxiety.
Since the brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves compromise the nervous system, receiving a chiropractic adjustment can help your nervous system and your vagus nerve function better. This, in turn, helps your entire body work better.
You can enjoy the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation naturally by following these steps.
- Cold Exposure.
- Deep and Slow Breathing.
- Singing, Humming, Chanting and Gargling.
- Probiotics.
- Meditation.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
- Exercise.
- Massage.
Increased vagal tone (and thus vagal action) is generally associated with a lower heart rate and increased heart rate variability. However, during graded orthostatic tilt, vagal tone withdrawal is an indirect indicator of cardiovascular fitness.
The dorsal vagus is a large, primitive nerve that is common to all animals, including fish. It goes down the spine and has a role in controlling our lungs, hearts (moderating heartbeats so they don't get too rapid) and stomach (where it actually aids digestion).
Singing, Humming, Chanting and Gargling
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve. And this has been shown to increase heart-rate variability and vagal tone (12).The dorsal vagal complex (DVC)
The dorsal branch of the vagus originates in the dorsal motor nucleus and is considered the phylogenetically older branch. This branch is unmyelinated and exists in most vertebrates.Polyvagal theory identifies a third type of nervous system response that Porges calls the social engagement system, a playful mixture of activation and calming that operates out of unique nerve influence. When the dorsal vagal nerve shuts down the body, it can move us into immobility or dissociation.
Your exhale should be long and slow. This is key to stimulating the vagus nerve and reaching a state of relaxation. The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve, the longest of the cranial nerves, controls your inner nerve center—the parasympathetic nervous system. And it oversees a vast range of crucial functions, communicating motor and sensory impulses to every organ in your body.
Vagus nerve branches in the thorax
On the right side, it arises from the trunk of the vagus as it lies beside the trachea. On the left side, it originates from the recurrent laryngeal nerve only.Potential symptoms of damage to the vagus nerve include:
- difficulty speaking or loss of voice.
- a voice that is hoarse or wheezy.
- trouble drinking liquids.
- loss of the gag reflex.
- pain in the ear.
- unusual heart rate.
- abnormal blood pressure.
- decreased production of stomach acid.
Vagal nerve stimulation has a variety of effects on sleep and wakefulness, which include: improved daytime alertness and sleep architectural changes, decreased REM sleep and increased awakenings, wake after sleep onset, and stage NREM 1 sleep.
Vasovagal syncope (vay-zoh-VAY-gul SING-kuh-pee) occurs when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress. It may also be called neurocardiogenic syncope. The vasovagal syncope trigger causes your heart rate and blood pressure to drop suddenly.
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve. And this has been shown to increase heart-rate variability and vagal tone (12).
Vagal tone is measured by tracking your heart-rate alongside your breathing rate. Your heart-rate speeds up a little when your breathe in, and slows down a little when you breathe out. The bigger the difference between your inhalation heart-rate and your exhalation heart-rate, the higher your vagal tone.
Tonic levels of aerobic exercise stimulate your vagus nerve and lower stress responses associated with "fight-or-flight" mechanisms. Tonic levels of low, moderate, and vigorous physical activity also improve heart rate variability (HRV), which is the measurement of variations within beat-to-beat intervals.
You can enjoy the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation naturally by following these steps.
- Cold Exposure.
- Deep and Slow Breathing.
- Singing, Humming, Chanting and Gargling.
- Probiotics.
- Meditation.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
- Exercise.
- Massage.
