What Happens In Vagus

Not Sin City, but the little-known nerve that could hold the key to treating stress, anxiety and depression

- Victoria Woodhall

Unearthing an unharmed R50 note in your jeans pocket post rinse cycle. An early finish on a Friday gifted by the boss. These are unexpected surprises that take some topping. So allow us to try. Finding out the secret to optimum health and well-being is tucked away inside your body, just waiting for you to tap into it?

Introducing the vagus nerve, your body’s very own built-in stress-buster. The vagus (pronounced ‘vay-gus’, like the city) is one of the largest nerves in the body and among the most exciting, given that it could be key to treating many modern stress-based conditions, such as anxiety, insomnia, IBS, depression and even infertility. It runs from the brain stem, past the ear and down the back of the throat before branching out into the gut and passing messages between your organs and your brain – like a broadband cable connecting body and mind. Got a gut feeling? That’s your vagus talking. While vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implants are already being used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, migraine and tinnitus, the focus on the stress reducing power of this nerve is relatively new. Ongoing research at the University of Texas is currently looking into how vagal stimulation can help alleviate posttraumatic stress disorder. What’s more, traditional ancient self-care practices, such as yoga, meditation and chanting, are increasingly being proven to have a measurable calming effect – and it’s all thanks to the vagus. It’s laying claim to the title of the ‘self-care nerve’ – if you look after it, it’ll look after you.

NOT-SO-NERVOUS SYSTEM