Meet your new best friend – your vagus nerve.
Through simple biohacks, we can use our bodies to affect our mood, focus, and productivity.
In this video, naturopathic physician Dr. Erica Zelfand introduces the vagus nerve – a nerve that travels from the head to the throat, heart, lungs, kidneys, digestive tract, and even our sex organs. In each of these locations on its way through our body, it plays an important role in balancing the fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest branches of the autonomic nervous system. She then introduces the concepts of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and polyvagal theory in a fun and easy-to-follow way. Dr. Zelfand also offers guidelines on how to use body-based activities like diaphragmatic breathing, laughter, alcohol cessation, and forest bathing to cultivate a calmer, happier, more focused version of yourself.
Calming Cortisol with Botanicals
Cortisol is our body’s predominant stress hormone.[1] Think of it as our built-in alarm system that lets our body know when potential dangers arise and then equips us to deal with them. Under stress, cortisol puts us on high alert in case of impending danger. It increases our blood pressure, elevates our blood sugar,…
Stimulants and Sedatives: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Use now, pay later? Problems associated with common stimulants and sedatives In our go-go-go world, it’s easy to feel drawn to stimulant substances to keep us going and sedatives to help us relax. Whether it’s coffee to get through the day and a glass of wine after work, or medications such as methylphenidates or…
Alcohol and Tylenol Can Be a Deadly Combination
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