Vagus from the Latin root “vaga” meaning to wander, is the longest of the twelve cranial nerves, known as the 10th cranial nerve, rooted deep in our abdomen and extending all the way up to our brainstem, wandering over to our lungs and heart, seeking all organ-ic connection. It works on the ANS, meaning our nervous systems are directly affected by the bacteria in our guts. The stimulation that is created from our gut microbes controls chemical messengers along this wandering nerve pathway. It extends into our brain with its own enteric nervous system, generating many of the same neurotransmitters—serotonin and acetylcholine interactions, and reacting to every organ system. This bidirectional communication system, which includes both our ENS and ANS, is richly nourished with vascular beds, Peyer’s patches, and T lymphocytes.
There is a 9:1 ratio of afferent nerves, compared to efferent nerve bundles, that supply our intestines. Our guts are controlling our brains. What we feed it matters, be it love food, fear or other anxiety-laden food! This vagal nerve supply equates to 30,000 to 80,000 nerve bundles carrying information to our brain, compared to a small fraction of nerves that return information to our gut. It is our intestines that are directing our brain in what to do, not the other way around. This second brain, through the vagus stimuli, has the ability to control hormones, regulate muscle movement and act as the warehouse to the largest part of our immune system. Research tells us that we tone-stimulate this nerve through and through by:
Yoga
Singing, chanting, toning
Coldwater and cold face washing
Deep relaxation
Stretching
Deep, baby belly breathing
Nutrition
Massage
Gratitude, as it reduces stress instantly
In an abstract titled “Vagal, On Pathways for Microbiome-Brain-Gut Access Communication,” it was found:
There’s strong evidence from studies that gut microorganisms can activate the vagus nerve, and that such activation plays a critical role in mediating effects on the brain and behaviour. The vagus appears to differentiate between non-pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria, even in the absence of overt inflammation. The microbiome-brain-gut axis communication, via the vagus nerve, has the ability to:
Turn on anti-inflammatory responses
Release mediators, such as acetylcholine, that interact with immune cells
Play an immune-modulating role initiating from the vagus nerve, which has been shown to also modulate mood and brain function. it appears research is moving toward looking at nutritional stimuli and the gut-brain implications to heal both depression and mood disorders.
Well, all that wander, are not lost!