A reminder that Dr. Kharrazian will start his lectures today with the Vagus Nerve. To enroll: drkharrazian.ontraport.com/...
The vagus nerve is key for healthy brain-gut communication
The gut and the brain communicate closely with each other via a large, meandering nerve called the vagus. The job of the vagus nerve is to pass messages between the brain and the rest of the body. This communication goes both ways; it is called the brain-gut axis or the gut-brain axis, and it lies at the root of many common gut – and brain – health issues.
In the case of the digestive tract, the brain tells the gut via the vagus nerve to digest food, repair and regenerate the gut lining, and push food through the intestines (motility).
But when brain function declines due to chronic inflammation or head injury, vagus nerve function suffers, and the gut doesn’t get enough input. As a result, constipation, leaky gut, food sensitivities, irritable bowel disorders, and other problems can arise.
When patients don't know the problem stems from the brain and try to fix the symptoms with only gut-based protocols, they continue to suffer in frustration and discomfort.
The good news is you can work on activating the vagus nerve at home with some very simple daily activities. By doing these exercises, you can improve your vagus nerve tone and improve your gut function. Improving vagus function can also help to improve brain function, since the gut-brain axis goes both ways.