Mental & Physical Well-Being, the Vagus Nerve & Craniosacral Therapy

How is your Vagus Nerve Tone?
After the past two years and the impact of a pandemic on our daily lives, I'm going to guess that its not that good. If the stress of Covid was placed on top of existing stress or physical/emotional trauma, your Vagus Nerve tone is probably struggling.

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The majority of us have had to modify and adapt our personal and work lives, as well as limit our social engagements. There have been many unknowns as we've tried to safely navigate our lives and keep others safe. The result has been chronic stress at varying levels. (The pandemic has made stress appear to be more prevalent however many people were already dealing with the burden of chronic stress and unresolved trauma prior to Covid.)

I hear you and so many others when you say you're "just so done! done with all of this!" It's understandable. What I'm also hearing from clients, friends and family members are increased mental and physical issues. Increased anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, feelings of overwhelm, loneliness, as well as digestive issues, increased heart rate, slow metabolism, leaky gut, slow bowel...  These are the conversations that tell me the tone of your Vagus Nerve is poor and it's impacting your mental and physical well-being.

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How does all this impact the tone of your Vagus Nerve? Why is it important to your Health and Wellness?

The 10th Cranial Nerve, or 'Vagus Nerve' is the longest nerve in the body and innervates major organs and tissues including the larynx, voice box, heart, lungs, stomach and colon. It has a direct connection between the gut and the brain.

A healthy and toned Vagus Nerve helps to maintain the essential balance between our Parasympathetic Nervous System (responsible for Rest, Digest, Relax & Recharge) and our Sympathetic Nervous System (controls the body's responses to any perceived threat {such as sweating when overheating} and activates the "fight or flight" response). Chronic stress, trauma and illness can upset that balance and the Nervous System becomes overwhelmed, impacting the Vagus Nerve.

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How can Craniosacral Therapy Help?

Craniosacral Therapy can help to restore the balance of the Nervous System and increase Vagus Nerve tone.

This effective therapy has a positive effect on the entire nervous system. As it supports a return to balance in the Nervous System, the body has an opportunity to self-correct. 
Clients often report a sense of complete relaxation after a session, while at the same time a feeling of renewed energy. Over time healthy Vagus Nerve tone can be restored which is essential to our physical and mental well-being.

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