Vagus nerve

Have you heard of the vagus nerve?

Don’t worry if not, many haven’t, yet it has many important functions in the body, and has a key role in reflexology.

“Vagus” comes from the Latin meaning “wandering”. It is the longest nerve in the body connecting the brain to a number of organs, including ears, throat, heart, lungs, liver and digestive system.

Many of my clients will have heard me talk about the parasympathetic nervous system and “rest and digest” state. The vagus nerve is key to getting the body into this state. The parasympathetic nervous system plays a huge part in our body’s healing and well-being.

The vagus nerve needs to be stimulated regularly to work most efficiently. This ensures that, following a period of stress and a sense of “fight or flight”, our bodies can quickly return to the relaxed state.

Poor vagus nerve tone can lead to a number of conditions, including: anxiety and depression, diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s, tinnitus and migraines.
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With more than 7,000 nerve endings in the feet, reflexology is an amazing way to stimulate the vagus nerve.