Gentle Release Therapy – Vagus Nerve
Ormskirk
Focusing specifically on the Vagus Nerve this treatment promotes rest and recovery by calming and soothing the nervous system to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing.
By facilitating the release of blocks, tension and micro-trauma held in the Vagus Nerve we help to regulate the body’s response to stress.
By supporting the Vagus Nerve we can promote the body’s recovery from chronic physical and emotional symptoms that have developed as a result of imbalance in the Vagus Nerve.
What is the Vagus Nerve?
The Vagus Nerve is a bundle of nerves that starts in the brain and connects to every major organ and system in the body.
One of the Vagus Nerve’s main functions is to counteract the body’s response to stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that promotes calm and rest after a stressful experience. Often referred to as the ‘rest and digest’ part of the nervous system when activated it helps to:
- Reduce heart rate and respiration.
- Increase digestion, processing food through the body.
- Inflammatory responses are turned off.
- Hormone responses to safety are released in to the blood.
How well the body responds to stress is dependent upon the vagal tone, which is a measure of the health of the Vagus Nerve. Part of the job of the nervous system is to keep us safe. The life experiences we are exposed to leave a trace in the nervous system which can then start to effect the vagal tone. If vagal tone is impaired the parasympathetic nervous system becomes less effective and we get stuck in the sympathetic nervous system, known as ‘fight and flight’. This can lead to experiencing a state of anxiety and irritability or disconnection where we feel exhausted, hopeless and a lack of motivation.
Alongside the life experiences that would naturally be considered stressful e.g. bereavement, unemployment, divorce, etc, in modern society we are perpetually exposed to low levels of stress through our work, current financial climate, societal expectations, social media, etc, that impact upon the loads placed upon the vagus nerve.
Due to the connections of the vagus nerve throughout the body it can have both a physiological impact and emotional impact.
What is the Gentle Release Therapy – Vagus Nerve Treatment?
The Vagus Nerve treatment combines Gentle Release Therapy with advanced techniques and applies it to the understanding of how the Vagus Nerve and nervous system work.
The treatment protocol works with the 4 sub-components of the Vagus Nerve to clear each area in turn. Vagus Nerve theory proposes a hierarchy of states of activation that we move through i.e. social engagement, fight and flight and freeze and shutdown. Ideally we reside in the social engagement zone but will move between the other activation states in response to our environment. This requires flexibility but sometimes we can get stuck in one state of activation. When working through the process we travel through the hierarchy (a bit like going down and up the ladder) of the vagus nerve states of activation as we release that which no longer serves the body.
The timeline for the treatment process will depend on a combination of factors such as your current level of health and wellbeing, the rate and volume that your body wants to release and how you respond to the sessions.
What Are The Benefits of Treating the Vagus Nerve?
The symptoms associated with imbalance within the Vagus Nerve are numerous and have physical, emotional and behavioural implications. Working with the Vagus Nerve to improve its ‘tone’ can have many benefits including:
- Regulate heart rate, reduce blood pressure and promote overall cardiac health.
- Promote a healthy metabolism and digestion.
- Reduce inflammation and improve immune response.
- Improve hormonal health.
- Alleviate headaches and migraines.
- Increased cognitive capacity and ability to think clearly.
- Regulate emotions.
- Support anxiety and depression.
- Improve your stress response, feel more resilient.
Chronic stress-related disorders that have been shown to benefit from Vagus Nerve treatments include but are not limited to:
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Autoimmune issues
- Allergies
- Migraines
- Cardiovascular problems
- Various gut disorders
Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect during a treatment
You stay fully clothed for the treatment. You would normally lie on your back on the treatment couch. Head supports, blankets and bolsters will be used to help you feel as comfortable as possible. Treatment begins once you settled and ready to go.
During the treatment we’ll follow the pathway of the Vagus Nerve through the body. Sometimes I’ll be resting may hands on you. Other times I’ll be working off that body. We start at the head moving down via the neck, upper body and abdomen.
During the treatment, you’ll be resting and relaxing. Sometimes you may find that you want to share what’s going on for you. Talking can sometimes be useful as part of the releasing process of the treatment.
There may also be times when I feel it’s relevant to ask you about something that I’ve noticed during the treatment. It’s completely normal to be quiet and close your eyes. If you drift off for forty winks I take it as a compliment and I don’t even mind a bit of soft snoring!
It’s normal for clients to experience different sensations during treatment. Heat, movement, relaxing muscles, tummy gurgling, temperature change, sighing, yawning, jerky movement, waves of emotion and deep relaxation are all common during treatments and are part of the releasing process.
You may also find yourself thinking about events and people from the past. Everyone’s response is different. How you will respond will be based on what is going on for you.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of sessions needed depends on your health and wellbeing as well as how your body responds during and after each treatment.
There are 4 components to the treatment process so, in theory, the minimum number of treatments is 4.
However, experience has shown that it’s not unusual for the first component to take the initial 2-3 treatments. Therefore, I recommend a minimum of 6 treatments to begin with. This will offer the time for changes to develop.
After the initial sessions we can evaluate how things are progressing and decide how to go forwards. It can be beneficial to continue treatments every 4-12 weeks (individual dependent) to maintain the wellbeing of the Vagus Nerve.
When can I expect to feel the benefits?
The majority of clients notice a change after their first treatment. Sometimes, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what has changed, but there’s a sense that something is different. This feeling usually becomes clearer as the changes settle in over the next few days. To receive the full benefits it’s important to allow for the whole treatment process to be carried out as the benefits are cumulative.
How long are the appointments?
GRT- Vagus Nerve treatments are 90 mins in duration.
How often do I need to attend?
Treatments are usually spaced 2 – 3 weeks apart to allow time for adjustment to the release.
What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to relax during your treatment.
Should I do anything after the treatment?
The vagus nerve may be holding deep layers of stress and micro-trauma. To support your body in processing and adjusting to the release, it’s important to give yourself care, time and space. Make self-care a priority and be gentle with yourself. Some ways you can do this to:
- Drink plenty of water to help flush out impurities and detoxify the body.
- Try not to over exert yourself for the rest of the day post treatment, rest and allow the body to heal.
- Take care whilst driving, you will be in relaxed state and your responses may be slower.
- Have light meals to allow your body to focus on healing, so you don’t overload the body.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine as these are toxins and stimulants and will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.