Have you heard of the vagus nerve? It’s a fascinating part of the body that has a significant impact on your overall health and wellness. But what exactly is it? And how can chiropractic care help regulate the activity of this nerve to promote healthy functioning within the body? Let’s take a look at the vagus nerve and how chiropractic care helps support its proper functioning.

What is the Vagus Nerve and What Does it Do?

The vagus nerve is an important component of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). It controls things like heart rate, digestion, respiration, temperature regulation, immune system response, and more. In short, it serves as the main communication hub between the brain and other parts of our bodies. The vagus nerve runs from your brainstem down through your neck and chest all the way to your abdomen. It even branches out into other organs as it works to keep our bodies balanced and regulated.

How Can Subluxation Impact The Vagus Nerve?

When there are subluxations or misalignments in your spine, it can interfere with proper functioning of not only your spine but also your autonomic nervous system. If a subluxation affects one of the vertebrae the vagus nerve runs through—which can happen due to any of the 3 T’s (traumas, toxins, and thoughts)—it can lead to interference in the crucial communication between your brain and body. Think of this interference like static on a phone line. It stops you from being able to communicate clearly. This is what subluxation does to the vagus nerve. This is why chiropractic care is so important; it helps reduce these subluxations to restore balance and correct that interference!

Chiropractors are specially trained professionals who understand how subluxations in your spine can affect not only your spine itself but also other parts of your body such as your ANS— including the very important vagus nerve! By restoring normal motion and function back into subluxated areas of the spine, chiropractors help all aspects of our bodies work together harmoniously for better overall health! If you have questions about the vagus nerve and how it impacts your body’s function, ask us! We are always happy to answer your questions about the care we’re providing!