The Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve
The Vagus Nerve is one of twelve pairs of Cranial Nerves that run directly from the brain to the body, instead of from the spinal cord. It is the tenth cranial nerve and the main Parasympathetic Cranial Nerve. The Vagus Nerve (sometimes called the “wandering nerve”) has multiple branches that diverge from two thick stems rooted in the cerebellum and brainstem. These wander to the lowest viscera of your abdomen, also connecting to your heart and most major organs, such as the lungs. This motor Parasympathetic fibers to ALL the organs except the adrenal glands, from the neck down to the transverse colon. As such, it is responsible for many different tasks including, but not limited to:
- heart rate
- digestion
- sweating
- speech
- coughing
- fainting
- vomiting
- sleep
