WHAT HAPPENS IN VAGUS...

One can’t really understand inflammation in the body properly without taking a closer look at the vagus nerve. Unlike the other Vegas, what happens in this vagus doesn’t stay there; this is because the vagus is the longest nerve and the most complex of the cranial nerves that originate from the brain.

The word ‘vagus’ comes from the Latin word for ‘wandering’ or ‘vagrant’ and it really is all over the place. It stretches from the brain into the neck, chest and abdomen, regulating the body’s immune responses along with other critical functions relating to heart rate, the gut, the body’s fight-or-flight response

and ability to relax after stress.

By means of the body’s inflammatory reflex, signals are transmitted in the vagus nerve that inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, low vagal tone is believed to be associated with chronic inflammation.

So by toning up the vagus nerve, the idea is to curb unhealthy immune responses linked to chronic inflammation without abolishing the immune responses altogether, or producing significant immunosuppression.

It might be flippant to suggest inflammation as a one-stop shop for a healthier lifestyle. Equally, as always, it’s essential to seek medical advice before making changes that could affect individual medical conditions or medications. But some health experts believe we’re on the verge of a revolution in the field of immunity, and our understanding of its Jekyll and Hyde counterpart – inflammation – could open up exciting new avenues for better health in the future.