Vagus Nerve Stimulation in San Diego: An Integrative Approach
We live in a world where we spend 80% of our daily lives running from the “tyrannical lion(ness)” inside our busy monkey minds.
In “flight or fight mode,” we are running tons of adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine—putting out fires, disasters, unknowns, daily to-do lists, answering phone calls, typing on the computer, driving around San Diego freeways, and encountering angry, impatient beings along the way. We are also near-constantly bombarded by lights, sounds, smells, EMFs, microwaves, 4G and now the 5G radiation grid, toxins, infections, and stressors of all kinds.
Taking time to counter these daunting and relentless “flight or fight” drivers is imperative if we are to survive as beings and as a collective species. At Integrated Medicine Ministries near San Diego, stimulating your parasympathetic nervous system is a MUST when leading patients towards successful restoration of health and wellness.
Digestion, detoxification, and immune functions are only turned on when your body is in a parasympathetic state. Simply put: when stress is on, your ability to heal is turned off.
You should optimally be in a parasympathetic state 80 percent of the time, but many people struggle to be in this state at any point during their day. This is because stress inhibits the parasympathetic response and the body’s essential healing processes shut down.
The parasympathetic state is the healing state that brings your nervous system into balance.
Your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) runs all of the involuntary mechanisms in your body that are not under your conscious control, such as your heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, respiration, cell activity, and even body temperature.
The two branches of your ANS include the Parasympathetic branch, known as the “Rest, Digest and Heal” state, and the Sympathetic “Fight, Flight or Freeze” state. These two branches operate with a push-pull dynamic and activate very different physical and mental states of being. For example, your Sympathetic branch makes energy available for muscles to mobilize, fight or flee. It is your Sympathetic state that speeds up your heart while your Parasympathetic state slows it down. Parasympathetic turns on your digestion, but when you feel anxiety, the Sympathetic branch kicks in and turns off digestion.
There is a constant calibration between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems with One or the other playing a more active role at any given moment. This constant state of balance between our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems is facilitated by your Vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body which originates in the brain and wraps through almost every organ in the body.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are always operational, but there is a balance between them. One or the other is always more active. The push and pull of these two systems keeps our body in homeostasis, or balance. Together they ensure that we have enough resources, in the right places, at the right time.
All processes of your healing and health maintenance — including digestion, detoxification, immune activities, tissue regeneration, and being aroused — happen in the parasympathetic state. Almost all disease and dysfunction result from you not being able to drop into the Parasympathetic state.
Your ability to drop into the Parasympathetic State is critical to the following functions of your body:
1. Digestion
Digestion can only occur in a Parasympathetic state. In other words, how you eat can be more important than what you eat. To get the most nutrients from our food, you need to invest not only in a pristine diet, but also in taking the time to eat in a parasympathetic state to ensure that nutrients are properly delivered to the cells. If we eat under stress, the nutrients in our food will not be properly digested, absorbed or assimilated. Think of an ambulance that is stuck in traffic and can’t make it to the person in need – that is what is happening in our bodies when we eat under stress – our nutrients aren’t making it into our cells to help us heal.
When you eat in the parasympathetic state, the brain activates all of your digestive functions, including the production of saliva, release of stomach acid, enzymes and bile. The parasympathetic state supports nutrient assimilation and intestinal movement. Peristalsis, the muscle contractions required to move food and waste through your system, also relies on a Parasympathetic state. The inability to drop into the Parasympathetic state is a primary cause of constipation. The Parasympathetic state also allows the gut to signal the brain about hunger and satiety, helping you better know when you are truly hungry and full.
Eating in the Parasympathetic state can help heal digestive disorders including:
SIBO – A key component to healing SIBO is the “Housekeeping Wave” (peristalsis), which is triggered by the parasympathetic state.
IBS – Poor communication between the gut and the brain may contribute to the abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea that are the symptoms of IBS. The parasympathetic state turns on optimal bi-directional communication between the gut and the brain.
Constipation– Peristalsis, the muscle contractions of the intestines that moves the stool, is triggered by the parasympathetic state.
Acid indigestion (GERD)– The parasympathetic state. signals the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus to close, preventing acid reflux from stomach to esophagus.
Bloating– Bloating is an indication of a stomach acid or enzyme deficiency, and the parasympathetic state is responsible for producing adequate acid and enzymes for digestion.
Bile stasis– The parasympathetic state triggers production of bile, and signals the gallbladder to release bile into the intestines to digest dietary fats.
Dry mouth– The parasympathetic state triggers the production of saliva, which is a crucial element of gum and tooth health and digestion.
Anorexia/Bulimia – The parasympathetic state allows the gut to signal the brain about hunger and satiety.
2. Detoxification
Detoxification, or your body’s mechanism of eliminating toxins, only occurs in the Parasympathetic state. The Vagus nerve, which triggers the parasympathetic response, connects to all the organs of detoxification including the lungs, spleen, kidney, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, stomach and colon. Parasympathetic activity supports brain detoxification and supports the detoxification of the Vagus nerve.
Clove and Lime essential oils support your detoxification. Research shows that the limonene found in Lime essential oil is known to stimulate the production of glutathione, an antioxidant that serves as a natural chelator that can bind to environmental toxins like heavy metals, pesticides, mold toxins, and other pollutants, which may trigger autoimmunity.
Glutathione also helps protect cell mitochondria, enhance tissue recovery, and modulate the immune system. Unfortunately, some nutritional supplements of glutathione are not absorbed well and do not raise glutathione levels within the cells, so Lime oil’s ability to help stimulate the production of glutathione inside the cells contributes to the ability to support detoxification.
3. Inflammation
The parasympathetic state reduces inflammation in your body. It is the Vagus nerve that serves as a detection system for inflammation. The Vagus nerve’s vast network of fibers stationed around the organs identify inflammation (such as the presence of inflammatory proteins) and alert your brain to send out anti-inflammatory signals, in essence helping to prevent chronic inflammation in your body.
Chronic or excessive inflammation can be linked to heart disease, autoimmunity, and loss of cognitive capacities and often results when we are unable to drop into the Parasympathetic state.
The Parasympathetic state helps improve communication between your body and your brain to help modulate your inflammatory response. In the parasympathetic state, your Vagus nerve communicates with the rest of the body by releasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which acts as a brake on inflammation in your body, inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory messengers.
The ability of your Vagus nerve to send signals to your body can be compromised from chronic stress and toxins like heavy metals. Research has shown strong decrease in inflammatory symptoms from stimulating the Parasympathetic state. Research also shows that Vagus nerve stimulation seems to restore the body’s natural balance. It reduces the over-production of the chemical messenger that causes chronic inflammation but does not affect healthy immune function, so the body can respond normally to infection.
Research also shows that the limonene found in citrus essential oils is known to stimulate the production of glutathione, an antioxidant known to protect you against inflammation and reduce our chances of developing autoimmunity. I have been introduce to a new device called GammaCore Sapphire, which is a direct electrical stimulator of the Vagus nerve. I often prescribe this device to my patients and I have been benefiting and using it for the past 12 months.
4. Immunity
The Parasympathetic state turns on your immune processes, allowing your body to fight pathogens, bacteria, fungus, parasites, viruses and infections. The sympathetic “fight or flight” state depresses immune function, opening the door to pathogens and chronic infections. This can create a viscous cycle as chronic infections put you into an inflamed state which further triggers the sympathetic nervous system.
More specifically, dysbiotic conditions, like yeast, fungus, bacterial overgrowth, SIBO, or parasitic infestations, all profoundly affect your capacity to absorb nutrients. Subsequent inflammation and toxicity disrupt all of your homeostatic systems of digestion.
Consider Parasympathetic State for chronic infections like:
H Pylori
Candida
Fungal Infections
Periodontal Infections (Parasympathetic state triggers saliva in mouth) Chronic Sinus, Respiratory, Gut, or Urinary infections
5. Brain Health
Support brain health, by helping to reduce brain inflammation and detoxify the Vagus nerve. Your brain detoxifies and drains toxins down your neck while you sleep . If your vagal nerve channel is infected or compromised, it can impede the hydraulics system of your brain draining toxins, along with the Vagus nerve’s ability to send and receive signals to your body. If these toxins are recirculated, they trigger increased brain inflammation and can result in symptoms like memory issues, poor focus, vision problems, pain, fatigue and mood issues.
An inflamed brain results not only in slow thinking, but also in diminished strength and coordination. This is because every muscle contraction starts with a signal from your brain. Nerve cells connected to your brain signal your muscles to relax or contract. If the nerve signals from the brain are impeded by any kind of inflammation, the downstream muscles and organ systems are impacted. As a result, the strength of your muscle is only as good as its nerve connection. The same holds true for inflammation’s role in obstructing Vagus-nerve activation.
6. Depression
In fact, recent studies demonstrate that Vagus nerve stimulation “can significantly reduce multiple symptoms of depression, including anxiety, sleep disturbance, and hopelessness.”
A growing body of evidence has shown that depression is associated with structural and functional abnormalities in multiple brain regions involved in emotional processing, self-representation, reward, and external stimulus like stress. In fact, research suggests that stress and inflammation initiate cognitive, affective, and possibly biological processes that increase risk for depression. Research has shown strong decrease in inflammatory symptoms from stimulation of your Vagus nerve, which also helps to modulate the activity and connectivity of key brain regions involved in depression and mood regulation. Vagus nerve stimulation also helps support conditions that are co-morbid with depression, including chronic pain disorders, cardiovascular disorder, and autism. Finally, research has demonstrated that technological tools like Hoolest and Pulsetto, which are vagal nerve stimulators have improved “neuroendocrine hormone levels and immune function,” and were found to be “more effective than antidepressants.”
7. Pain Relief
The Parasympathetic state can help reduce pain perception. Pain is a signal from your brain to your body. When you calm your brain by helping it drop into the parasympathetic state, you help calm your pain. Research on high anxiety subjects found that their pain perception dropped significantly when they were in the parasympathetic state. Extreme athletes also recover more quickly from exercise when the activate the Parasympathetic state.
The vagal nerve stimulators have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic effects on the body. It has been tested on veterans who suffered from chronic unrelenting headaches and neutralizing the messages of pain from the body to the brain, thus giving the user a break from pain.
Impaired digestion can contribute to inflammation. One of the most important elements of healing the gut is to eat in the optimal rest and digest Parasympathetic state. The Parasympathetic state sends increased blood flow to the small intestine, allowing for healing of the intestinal wall and optimal enzymatic activity and nutrient assimilation. The parasympathetic state also activates the beneficial effects of the probiotic bacteria in the gut and triggers peristalsis, the muscle contractions that move food and waste through the digestive tract, known as the “Housekeeping Wave”. A lack of motility can lead to dysbiosis (a microbial imbalance), including small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
8. Stress Management
The first line of defense against stress is known as the “fight or flight” response triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. Stress activates your sympathetic survival response, which effectively turns off everything not relevant to immediate survival, including digestion, detoxification and immune function. In the sympathetic state, blood flow is routed away from the organs of digestion toward muscles in the arms and legs in preparation for flight. The sympathetic state also increases heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate.
We are designed to switch into this sympathetic state, flee from danger, then drop back into the balanced Parasympathetic “rest and digest” state where we can rest, repair and heal.
9. Adrenal Health
Although your autonomic nervous system does not directly control the adrenals, a chronic Sympathetic “fight or flight” response can trigger a stress response. In a state of chronic stress, your stress response mechanism, known as the HPA(hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) Axis, triggers your adrenal glands to produce high amounts of the stress hormone cortisol which can push the body into adrenal fatigue. The parasympathetic state normalizes an elevated HPA Axis, helping to put the brakes on excessive cortisol output, which can help heal the adrenals.
10. Energy
Your body needs energy and vitality to heal. Energy fuels your body’s internal functions and repairs, building and maintaining cells and tissues, and facilitating the chemical reactions that allow us to heal.
When you are stuck in the sympathetic “fight or flight” state, your ability to regenerate, digest, and detoxify and heal slow down dramatically, allowing toxins to accumulate which contribute to your sense of fatigue. When you help your body drop into the healing parasympathetic state, your body can finally get rid of the accumulated toxins and start to regain energy and vitality.
In addition, the Parasympathetic “rest and digest” state allows your mind and body relax which reduces the production of cortisol and allows for optimal energy flow.
11. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
TBIs can impede nerve signaling, including the Vagus nerve which travels down both sides of your neck and triggers the parasympathetic response. Helpful in relieving headaches, dizziness and nausea. Override any TBI damage and help reset the autonomic nervous system for optimal drainage from the brain.
12. Heart Health
The Parasympathetic state is critical for heart health as your heart rate is controlled through a delicate balance between the two states of your nervous system. Your “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system raises our heart rate so we can pump more blood to our muscles and flee from danger, while the “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system slows down our heart rate so you can rest repair and recover.
The Vagus nerve serves as temperate gauge to control your heart rate. In the parasympathetic state, the Vagus nerve releases the neurotransmitter acetylcholine prolonging the time between heartbeats, thus slowing your pulse. Several patients have experienced the slowing of successive heartbeats, known as heart rate variability (HRV) and measured a dramatic improvement
Heart disease often occurs when you unable to drop into the Parasympathetic state. According to a 2010 study in the European Heart Journal, “Heart failure (HF) is characterized by an autonomic imbalance with withdrawal of Vagus nerve activity and increased sympathetic activity.” In addition, inflammation is a primary cause of heart disease and the reduction of inflammation. Finally, heart health requires daily regeneration of the heart and we regenerate in the parasympathetic state.
13. Sexual Health
Sexual arousal is parasympathetic event. The same way the Vagus nerve connects to the digestive organs, it also connects to your genital organs to increase blood flow and sensation. Erectile Dysfunction is often associated with insufficient blood flow to your gentiles, so stimulating the Vagus nerve can increase blood flow to the area.
14. Blood Sugar Support
A sympathetic state (stress) increases blood sugar and insulin output. Research with mice in Sweden correlated a significant drop in blood sugar levels as a direct result of the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. The research found that the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the release of insulin from beta cells in the endocrine part of the pancreas. Not surprisingly, the sympathetic nervous system is activated in response to the falling blood sugar as the body perceives this as an emergency and the parasympathetic state can be triggered to lower blood sugar levels.
15. Anxiety
Anxiety is a repetitive experience of fear that occurs when your “Fight or Flight” survival mechanisms are activated. When your fear response is fired up, everything else needs to shut down to devote your body’s metabolism and energy to keep you on alert to potential or imminent danger. This anxiety state is controlled by the Sympathetic “Fight or Flight” branch of your nervous system. The Sympathetic state activates all your muscles for such actions, increases your heart and respiratory rate, increases your blood pressure, and activates you into doing something. This is why anxiety promotes twitches, shaking legs, twirling of hair, and pacing. It says move, act, fight, flee. By way of contrast, the parasympathetic state promotes the feeling of safety. Dropping into the Parasympathetic state helps to shift you out of anxiety.
16. Insomnia
Access to a parasympathetic state allows for relaxation, quieting of brain chatter, and deeper levels of sleep. During sleep the sympathetic nervous system—the fight-or-flight system— relaxes, and blood pressure falls,
muscles relax and skin vessels dilate, warming the body. If the Sympathetic nervous system is active, it can negatively impact your circadian rhythms, which interferes with sleep. That said, vagal nerve stimulators can be used during the daytime to help the body drop into the parasympathetic state.
Using these devices is also the best choice for calming the mind before sleep.
The Vagus Nerve - Main player in Parasympathetic Function
Here are some other suggestions on how to stimulate your Vagus nerve, which is a major player in stimulating the parasympathetic system:
In addition here are a few more strategies that are attainably turned into lifetime lifestyle habits and which you can enlighten your patients with:
Spend time touching people you love with tenderness and love. Intimacy is critical for optimum human health.
Mindful eating - taste every ingredient, chew, pulverize that food before you swallow, be one with food being consumed, think of it as sacred nourishment, not a an emotional crutch. Take 20 minutes to eat each meal, because it takes that long for your nervous system to register its fullness.
When eating, have pleasant happy conversations or sit quietly looking at a calming view.
Splash cold water on your face daily.
Engage in the yoga restorative pose for 15 minutes a day imagining you are at a resort or nature scene having the time of your life, relaxed serene, joyous, and calm. If your monkey mind jumps in, redirect your thoughts to your desired images.
When upset or triggered, STOP everything, eyes closed for 2 minutes concentrating on respiration, following the breath in and out, in through the nose out through the mouth. Then reassess the stressor; it is possible to respond instead of react regretfully.
Watch a sunset, take a walk on the beach or around a park, get out into nature and ground the body, lay on grass, sand, dirt, connecting with Mother Earth and its healing balancing electromagnetic frequencies humans rely on for our existence here.
Pray, meditate, quiet the mind, SELF CARE is the name of the game here!
For more personalized, integrative care in San Diego, contact Integrated Medicine Ministries in Carlsbad, California—your partner in restoring parasympathetic health and holistic healing.