By Richmond Natural Medicine

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June 23, 2020

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What is the Nervous System?

Actually, we have several. The three parts of our nervous system worth noting include:

1. The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for coordinating all of the information from the entire body and sending appropriate signals for motor skills, thoughts, and emotions.
2. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consists of all the nerves that reside outside of our brain and spinal cord and is responsible for connecting our CNS to our limbs and organs, acting as a major communication pathway throughout our body. It can further be broken down into our somatic nervous system, and our autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is especially important for our conscious and unconscious response to stress (including our “fight or flight” response).
3. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) is primarily located within our gut and gastrointestinal tract and is responsible for motility and secretion (including even our bowel movements). Technically the ENS is a division of the peripheral nervous system, it’s function is extremely important especially as it relates to our stress response and our ability to digest and absorb nutrients.

Although there are three “different” systems in charge of various body functions, they are by no means separate from each other. Each affects the other by way of our emotional state, our diet and gut health, our mental health, and the environmental stressors that we encounter every day.

Read More: 5 Herbs to Support Your Stress Response and Nervous Systems

Why do we need to support the nervous system?

Because our stress response, and stress load, hugely impact the health of our nervous system, and in turn affect our gut health, emotional health, and our ability to self regulate our internal homeostasis (health harmony). When we are highly stressed, we feel the tightness everywhere and become reactive rather than responsive. When we experience a healthy response to stress (when our nervous systems are healthy and supported), we respond much better to stressful situations, therefore lessening systemic inflammation in the body, and supporting all of our organ systems in the process.

So how can we support such complicated systems?

Much of our nervous system supportive therapies are very easy. They require some quiet space, some intentional moments, and sometimes some external supports like bodywork or sound. Here are three simple practices that you can try at home:

1. Sound Therapy: Experiencing deep, enchanting, or rhythmic sounds has a stabilizing effect on us and can be used to help calm and regulate a sensitive or hyperactive stressed state. Sounds like Gregorian chanting, orchestra music, and even just playing your own instrument can have a relaxing effect on the whole body. One of the reasons sound therapy is beneficial is because the ear contains the vestibulocochlear nerve, which connects to the vagus nerve. Sound has a way of immediately getting to our nervous system to calm us. Even in surgery, studies have shown that music assists the nervous system where it is able to keep our heart rate more stable. Music has also been found to improve pain and even assist within NICU for infants where it enhanced their parasympathetic nervous system.
2. Breathwork: Countless studies have all shown that the practice of deep breathing directly calms our central nervous system within a matter of seconds (see here and here). Do you notice that when you’re stressed, or even while you’re just going about your day, you’re not breathing? You can really notice this if you stop right now, exhale, close your eyes, and take a long, deep, slow breath in, hold it for 2-3 seconds, and release it fully. Notice what that just did to your body, and how much you needed it.
3. Vagus Nerve Support: The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that carries sensory information and efferent signals to many muscles, glands, and internal organs, including the heart and GI tract. It extends from the brain stem, through the neck and thorax, and down into the abdomen. It is the main contributor to the parasympathetic nervous system and a primary communication pathway between the brain and the body. Because of this relationship, the vagus nerve plays a large role in our mood, immune system, stress response, cardiovascular function, and digestion.

Vagus nerve therapy is extremely helpful in unwinding and relaxing a heightened or reactive peripheral nervous system. The vagus nerve can be strengthened through mediation, mindfulness practices, and breathwork. This can be achieved through diaphragmatic breathing: Take a long, slow inhale, hold it slightly, and then release the breath completely. Other helpful practices to increase vagal tone include abdominal massage, singing or vocal expression, writing, laughter, acupuncture, massages, earthing/grounding, laughter, craniosacral therapy, and therapeutic exercise such as swimming, yoga, walking, and gentle resistance training.

Read More: The Vagus Nerve: What is it, and how do we heal it?

Nervous system dysregulation can show up in many ways, including stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, emotional and hormonal challenges, and even eczema (to name a few). Although these are all fairly common imbalances that may be approached individually, focusing on our nervous system health and our emotional / stress load is extremely helpful in addressing the root cause of our imbalance.

If you need support balancing stress levels, consider scheduling an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors. Request an appointment here or call our office for more information, (804) 977-2634.