The Invaluable Vagus

The Nervous system

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed

Ecclesiastes 12:6

Eight years ago, I had what I call an ‘episode’ that affected my nervous system; I had no idea what was taking place (it presented like a stroke). The doctors couldn’t explain it, and after many years of tests Holy Spirit whispered and showed me the word ‘vagus’ one day whilst I was praying. As I began my research, I realised that Holy Spirit had been directing me to do things that were restoring my vagal tone. I had no idea at the time that many of my symptoms were linked to poor vagal tone and damage of my myelin sheath.

The Silver Cord

I read an article about the "silver cord" possibly being linked to a wondering nerve in the body called the vagus nerve. The question raised in the article was whether the vagus nerve and the silver cord were one and the same thing? The article purported that the vagus nerve was a detrimental part of the make-up of man (physically as well as spiritually) which was integral to life, and was ‘loosed’ in death. This got me thinking, was the silver cord purely metaphorical, or was there more to it? 🤔

As I began to research, there was a lot of scientific explanations about the vagus nerve; what it was, how it affects us, how to tone and strengthen it, etc, but not much about how it was linked to the bible. I wondered if the cord physically broke when we died, and whether being aware and taking care of it would make a difference to our health and longevity.

I’m still praying and researching. Whatever Holy Spirit reveals I try to implement for my household, and by His grace we are seeing wonderful results; praise God! 🙌🏽

I have put links to a few articles below for further reading, as there’s so much research on this topic if it’s of interest to you.

I pray the Lord will open our eyes and give us more understanding. I'll continue to share with you as Holy Spirit leads, I hope you find the following useful. 😊

What is the Vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in our body, it is a wandering nerve that emanates from our brain and runs throughout many systems of the body; astounding!

What does it do?

It’s probably easier to ask what it doesn’t do!

The vagus nerve is a major nerve in our bodies; working like a superhighway it sends messages from the brain to control our breathing, heart rate and immune responses. I don't know whether you've ever felt body pain that feels like your nerves are on fire? Or whether all of a sudden you're in a situation where your heart begins to beat really fast and you can't seem to calm it down and control your breathing? Well, stimulation of the vagus nerve can help us by causing a dampening/ant-inflammatory response and continued support of the vagus nerve can improve its tone, bringing relaxation and restoration to many bodily systems. How cool is that!

It's very existence reveals to us the interconnected way in which our bodies function, supporting theories and age-old practices that our bodily systems work together and not in isolation.

In 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, even though Paul was speaking to the church about the importance of each and every church member, I have considered these scriptures in relation to the treatment of our bodies.

The human body works best on all levels through interconnection, not isolation

...just saying 😉

If the vagus nerve is weakened and left unsupported, over time we will begin to feel out of synch, the bodily systems will begin to break down and they will eventually malfunction.

How does the vagus nerve affect our health?

When the vagus nerve has been damaged due to previous infection, inflammation, or a prolonged period of physical or mental stress, it can begin to dysfunction. This causes weakness to the body and disruption to our equilibrium.

Poor vagal tone can lead to: Bloating, acid reflux, changes in heart rate or blood sugar, palpitations, brain fog, difficulty focussing, memory loss, migraines, chronic headaches, hoarseness, wheezing, loss of voice, dizziness or fainting, loss of appetite and sleep problems.

What can we do for good vagal tone/stimulation?

When we begin to strengthen or stimulate our vagus nerve, we can restore functionality and vibrancy to our bodies. Some things that we can do are:

Exercise
Exposure to cold temperatures (ice baths/showers/splashing cold water on face)
Prayer/Meditation on the word
Listening to calming music
Box breathing exercises (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4 and repeat)
Singing/humming/gargling/laughing (vagus is connected to pharynx, larynx and vocal cords)
Yawning exercise (releases tension on vagus nerve and neck)
Pressing behind ears with two fingers (can apply essential oils which can absorb through the skin within minutes due to their molecular make-up, and almost immediately when inhaled. They affect the limbic system in the brain, which aids with regulation of emotions and behaviour)
Use essential oils such as lavender, bergamot and ylang, ylang (only need 2-3 drops in a tablespoon of a base oil such as fractioned coconut oil/olive oil/jojoba, etc)
Massage (feet, hands or body)
Rest (regulate sleep patterns; take 20 minutes per day to relax your mind)
Infuse and drink herbs such as Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla), Lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis), Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)- tonics for the gut and nervous system (always cover while infusing and then inhale the aromas when drinking). These healthful, aromatic herbs can aid with relaxation and restoration of the nervous system and the gut. Chamomile is known as "Mother of the gut".
Always consult a qualified herbalist if unsure of contra-indications/dosages
Eat foods to feed your vagus nerve-consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, oysters, herring, sardines, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts), pistachios, B12 , eggs, sunflower seeds, organ meats, beef, chicken (all animal produce organic where possible), fish, kidney beans, quinoa, and turmeric.

The list is not exhaustive.