Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve


Book Description

The bestselling guide to the vagus nerve, now in 20+ languages: unlock the self-healing power of Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory Vagus exercises for reducing anxiety, healing trauma, and rebalancing your autonomic nervous system This comprehensive guide offers an easy-to-understand overview of the vagus nerve—and helps you unlock your body’s innate capacity to heal from stress, trauma, anxiety, and injury. Dr. Stanley Rosenberg, PhD, dispels long-held myths about the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and offers up-to-date research on how our physical health, emotional wellness, and the vagus nerve are all interconnected. Most importantly, he shows how these insights can help you heal your ANS—and live a less stressed, more balanced, and emotionally regulated life. This book offers: An in-depth overview of Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory Step-by-step self-help techniques for regulating the vagus nerve Vagus exercises to relieve emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms Real-life case studies and stories from the author’s clinical practice Insights into the vagus nerve’s role in social behavior An overview of what happens in our bodies when we get stuck in stress states—and how to heal them Simple, research-backed recommendations for initiating deep relaxation, improving sleep, healing from trauma, and stimulating recovery from illness and injury Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve is written for therapists, bodyworkers, trauma survivors, parents, and anyone struggling with chronic stress. Grounded in neurobiology research, clinical stories, and easy-to-follow exercises, this book gives you the tools to bring your body back into a state of safety, balance, and optimal functioning.




Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection: 50 Client-Centered Practices (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)


Book Description

A practical guide to working with the principles of polyvagal theory beyond the therapy session. Deb Dana is the foremost translator of polyvagal theory into clinical practice. Here, in her third book on this groundbreaking theory, she provides therapists with a grab bag of polyvagal-informed exercises for their clients, to use both within and between sessions. These exercises offer readily understandable explanations of the ways the autonomic nervous system directs daily living. They use the principles of polyvagal theory to guide clients to safely connect to their autonomic responses and navigate daily experiences in new ways. The exercises are designed to be introduced over time in a variety of clinical sessions with accompanying exercises appropriate for use by clients between sessions to enhance the therapeutic change process. Essential reading for any therapist who wants to take their polyvagal knowledge to the next level and is looking for easy ways to deliver polyvagal solutions with their clients.




Activate Your Vagus Nerve


Book Description

Learn how exercising your vagus nerve, which regulates functions in the body such as digestion, heart rate and the immune system, can improve your health. Anatomists were stumped. How could the vagus nerve, a single nerve beginning in the brainstem, be so long and connect to so many different organs? What effects could this nerve possibly employ? With such a vast array of potential functions, what would happen if this nerve was injured or cut? This helpful guide provides all the tools you need to understand and heal your vagus nerve, the rest, digest and recovery system. You’ll learn simple yet powerful techniques to address a variety of ailments health challenges, like inflammation, gut sensitivity and brain fog, from their root causes originating with the vagus nerve. Author Dr. Navaz Habib lays out easy-to-follow daily and weekly routines to help on the path to healing, including: Breathing Techniques Exercises for Mindfulness Tools to Improve Your Digestion Functional Medicine Testing Acupuncture and Massage and more.




The MELT Method


Book Description

The New York Times–bestselling guide to at-home exercises you can do to live a life free of pain, stress and tension. In this enhanced digital edition of The MELT Method, Sue Hitzmann shows you how to live without pain, illustrating her MELT techniques with 20 instructional videos plus 10 audio clips, so you can listen hands-free while you start your journey toward a pain-free body. In The MELT Method, therapist Sue Hitzmann offers a breakthrough self-treatment system to combat chronic pain and erase the effects of aging and active living—in as little as ten minutes a day. With a focus on the body’s connective tissues and the role they play in pain, stress, weight gain, and overall health, Hitzmann’s life-changing program features techniques that can be done in your own home. A nationally known manual therapist and educator, Hitzmann helps her clients find relief from pain and suffering by taking advantage of the body’s natural restorative properties. The MELT Method shows you how to eliminate pain, no matter what the cause, and embrace a happier, healthier lifestyle.




The Wim Hof Method


Book Description

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING PHENOMENOM 'I've never felt so alive' JOE WICKS 'The book will change your life' BEN FOGLE My hope is to inspire you to retake control of your body and life by unleashing the immense power of the mind. 'The Iceman' Wim Hof shares his remarkable life story and powerful method for supercharging your strength, health and happiness. Refined over forty years and championed by scientists across the globe, you'll learn how to harness three key elements of Cold, Breathing and Mindset to master mind over matter and achieve the impossible. 'Wim is a legend of the power ice has to heal and empower' BEAR GRYLLS 'Thor-like and potent...Wim has radioactive charisma' RUSSELL BRAND




The Vagus Nerve Gut Brain Connection


Book Description

Are you struggling with IBS, Crohn's Disease, constipation, IBD, or other gut issues, and nothing is helping? When the vagus nerve isn't working properly, there is a lack of communication between the gut and the brain making it hard to heal or digest our food. You can eat an organic whole food diet, and take supplements to heal your gut, but if your vagus nerve isn't working right, you will fight an uphill battle to improve the health of your gut. Learn techniques to heal and strengthen your vagus nerve. Discover what to eat to support and heal your vagus nerve. Learn how to get out of "Fight or Flight" quickly and into a state of "Rest, Digest, and Heal."




The Mind-Body Stress Reset


Book Description

Harness your mind-body connection for lasting ease and well-being In our busy, get-it-done-now culture, stress has become the new normal—a normal that’s embedding itself into our minds and our bodies. If left unchecked, stress can dictate how we think, feel, and act. Overwhelm, anxiousness, malaise, and unease are a daily experience. And over time, these stress-reactions turn into habits, leaving us stuck in a mental and physical rut. So, how can you soothe stress before it becomes your go-to? In this practical and accessible guide, you’ll find powerful and effective tools for calming stress in both mind and body. Based on the innovative Mind-Body Reset (MBR) program, you’ll learn how to stop stress in its tracks with simple somatic exercises. You’ll also discover how you can “reset” your nervous system, alleviate stress flare-ups, and boost your overall health and happiness. If you’re ready to combat stress, cultivate calm, and live a more vital life, it’s time for a reset!




The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)


Book Description

A collection of groundbreaking research by a leading figure in neuroscience. This book compiles, for the first time, Stephen W. Porges’s decades of research. A leading expert in developmental psychophysiology and developmental behavioral neuroscience, Porges is the mind behind the groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory, which has startling implications for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and autism. Adopted by clinicians around the world, the Polyvagal Theory has provided exciting new insights into the way our autonomic nervous system unconsciously mediates social engagement, trust, and intimacy.




Motor Function of the Pharynx, Esophagus, and Its Sphincters


Book Description

Deglutition or a swallow begins as a voluntary act in the oral cavity but proceeds autonomously in the pharynx and esophagus. Bilateral sequenced activation and inhibition of more than 25 pairs of muscles of mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus is required during a swallow. A single swallow elicits peristalsis in the pharynx and esophagus along with relaxation of upper and lower esophageal sphincters. Multiple swallows, at closely spaced time intervals, demonstrate deglutitive inhibition; sphincters remain relaxed during the entire period, but only the last swallow elicits peristalsis. Laryngeal inlet closure or airway protection is very important during swallow. Upper part of the esophagus that includes upper esophageal sphincter is composed of skeletal muscles, middle esophagus is composed of a mixture of skeletal and smooth muscles, and lower esophagus, including lower esophageal sphincter, is composed of smooth muscles. Peristalsis progresses in seamless fashion, despite separate control mechanism, from the skeletal to smooth muscle esophagus. The esophagus's circular and longitudinal muscle layers contract synchronously during peristalsis. Sphincters maintain continuous tone; neuromuscular mechanisms for tonic closure in the upper and lower esophageal sphincters are different. Lower esophageal sphincter transient relaxation, belching mechanism, regurgitation, vomiting, and reflux are mediated via the brain stem. Table of Contents: Introduction / Central Program Generator and Brain Stem / Pharynx-Anatomy, Neural Innervation, and Motor Pattern / Upper Esophageal Sphincter / Neuromuscular Anatomy of Esophagus and Lower Esophageal Sphincter / Extrinsic Innervation: Parasympathetic and Sympathetic / Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Recording Techniques / Motor Patterns of the Esophagus-Aboral and Oral Transport / Deglutitive Inhibition and Muscle Refractoriness / Peristalsis in the Circular and Longitudinal Muscles of the Esophagus / Neural and Myogenic Mechanism of Peristalsis / Central Mechanism of Peristalsis-Cortical and Brain Stem Control / Peripheral Mechanisms of Peristalsis / Central Versus Peripheral Mechanism of Deglutitive Inhibition / Neural Control of Longitudinal Muscle Contraction / Modulation of Primary and Secondary Peristalsis / Neural Control of Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Crural Diaphragm / Lower Esophageal Sphincter / Swallow-Induced LES Relaxation / Crural Diaphragm Contribution to EGJ and Neural Control / Transient LES Relaxation and Pharmacological Inhibition / Compliance of the EGJ / References




Vagus Nerve Compassion Portal


Book Description

Using electronic monitoring, scientists have made exciting new discoveries about the Vagus Nerve's role when a person exhibits compassion and empathy toward another. The Vagus Nerve seems to have an 'intelligence'of its own and serves the brain as well as critical organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, bowells and essentially all the organs of the abdomen. Having a 'gut feeling' about something is often reported, even though by conventional thinking, it just doesn't seem logical. Parallel to modern Vagus Nerve discoveries, the book explores an ancient Proverb: "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly." The question is asked if the Vagus Nerve is the vehicle by which the human spirit expresses itself? And might the human spirit be the portal through which the Holy Spirit interacts with us? As the scriptures state: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" Scientists say the Vagus Nerve is where compassion activates and the scriptures say "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" If you've had that deep down, intuitive feeling of a still, small voice saying you are much more than just a clump of physical molecules, then this is a must read for you.