The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that has been gaining popularity in a wide variety of health and wellness industries from yoga studios to medical facilities and everything in between. The reason for this is the discovery of the important role the vagus nerve has in activating the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) and regulating the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). These two functions of the autonomic nervous system are both needed in order for us to respond to our environments appropriately as well as maintain the normal functioning of our body when we are at rest. Healthy functioning is when the sympathetic and the parasympathetic are in equilibrium with each other, alternating states of alertness and rest as we respond to stimuli in both our internal and external environments. It is when we experience circumstances, both real and imagined, that keep us hyper alert or immobilized (or oscillating between the two) for a prolonged period of time that we can find ourselves in trouble. Having a chronically dysfunctional autonomic nervous system creates stress and exhaustion which can lead to chronic conditions or disease. Research has shown that stimulating the vagus nerve can help activate our parasympathetic nervous system by increasing vagal tone and therefore regulating the sympathetic response. This paper aims to provide an introductory overview of the nervous system, review the form and function of the vagus nerve, and offer insight into some ways that frequency can be used to regain and maintain balance.
