Take a deep breath. Hug a loved one. Get up from your chair and reach for the ceiling. Each of these simple actions bestows a sense of calm and comfort.. It works this way by activating a complex system of nerves that connects the brain to the heart, internal organs, the immune system, and many other systems in the body.. This complex and branched system is known as the vagus nerve..

The vagus nerve is one of twelve so-called " These " Some of the cranial nerves help interpret information collected by receptors located in the skin, eyes or tongue, others control our muscles or regulate glands..

The vagus nerve, also called the 10th cranial nerve, is the longest, most branched and complex of all cranial nerves (and perhaps the least studied).

Experts attribute its activity to changing symptoms in diseases such as migraine, diseases of the digestive tract, depression, epilepsy, arthritis and many others.. The more modern science learns about the vagus nerve, the more it understands that a better understanding of its functions can open up new possibilities for treating so many diseases that poison people's lives..

This nerve is called the " “It seems like every year a researcher finds a new organ or body system that this nerve communicates with,” writes Tiffany Field, MD, director of the Institute for Tactility Research at the University of Miami School of Medicine..

Field also points out that the branches of the vagus nerve connect it, including with the facial muscles, as well as with the vocal cords.. “We know that people suffering from depression have decreased vagus nerve activity, and this is associated with smoother intonation in speech and less active facial expressions,” she explains.. Another branch of the vagus nerve extends into the digestive tract, where decreased vagal activity has been linked to slower gastrointestinal motility, which interferes with proper digestion and causes some illnesses, Field adds..

Other branches of the vagus nerve connect it to the heart, lungs, and immune system.. The increase and decrease in vagal activity is inextricably linked to changes in the production of hormones such as cortisol and the digestive enzyme ghrelin, how much inflammation the immune system creates in the body, and many other internal processes that shape our health and well-being..

“The vagus nerve is responsible for just a huge number of bioelectrical and biochemical processes in the human body - processes that are almost impossible to track at the current level of scientific development,” says Tiffany Field..

The vagus nerve controls our parasympathetic nervous system, which allows the body to relax.. Simply put, increased activity of the vagus nerve neutralizes the effects on the body of stress, which is responsible for the sympathetic nervous system.. “The sympathetic nervous system operates in fight-or-flight mode, but the parasympathetic nervous system is more responsible for our ability to relax and calm down,” says Dr. Steven Silberstein, MD, professor of neurology and director of the Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in.

Zilberstein claims that increased activity of the vagus nerve slows down the pulse and reduces inflammation in the human body due to the fact that it promotes the production of hormones that reduce the excessive activity of the immune system.. Also, as he writes, the results of clinical studies indicate that the activation of the vagus nerve with electrical stimulation has a beneficial effect on human health.. “We know that, depending on the frequency of stimulation, it can “turn off” an asthma attack or an epileptic seizure.”. "

Pick just about any common disease that gets worse with high levels of stress or inflammation—anything from arthritis to chronic constipation—and you're bound to find research showing that vagus nerve stimulation can help cure or at least relieve symptoms.. As Zilberstein writes in his articles, doctors are now considering using vagus nerve stimulation to treat a wide range of diseases and disorders, including mental disorders..

“We are learning more and more about how vagus nerve activity affects our attention and mood,” adds Field.. Some scientific research indicates that vagus nerve stimulation can help improve short-term and long-term memory, as well as help people suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder..

By the way, there are many ways to stimulate the activity of the vagus nerve, which do not require external devices or implants.. “We know that massage and yoga increase the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system – that is, the activity of the vagus nerve,” says Field..

Her research has shown that massage, yoga, and many other relaxation practices actually increase vagus nerve activity by acting on receptors hidden under the surface of the skin, which can only be " She points out that a light touch or stroke can be pleasant or exciting, but a bear hug or a firm handshake is inherently soothing.. “A firm hug or handshake increases parasympathetic nervous system activity,” she says..

Silberstein argues that just about everything people find relaxing—meditation, slow breathing, and so on—is also associated with increased activity in the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system.. “The results of our studies show that, as a rule, patients suffering from migraine have reduced activity of the vagus nerve,” he says..

“We tried to fix this with yoga and meditation with breathing exercises and found that they really allow you to increase the activity of this part of the nervous system.”. In addition, stress and chronic anxiety have also been associated with decreased vagus nerve activity, which may explain why these conditions increase the likelihood of other diseases..

Scientists still have not been able to unravel all the secrets of the vagus nerve. But as doctors discover its secrets, they are finding more and more effective ways to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and stress, and fight disease..

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