What is the vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve, known as the 10th cranial nerve, is a vital component of our autonomic nervous system. Responsible for rest and repair functions within our body's intricate neural network, this parasympathetic nerve emerges from the brainstem above the spinal cord alongside the other 11 cranial nerves. Its role in maintaining balance and regulating various bodily functions is crucial for overall well-being.

The cranial nerves are essential components of our body, playing a crucial role in transmitting sensory information, such as the sense of smell through the first cranial nerve to the brain's olfactory region. The trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve, branches out to supply sensations to the face, head, and mucous membranes, while also providing motor impulses for chewing. This nerve is responsible for providing sensation to areas like your teeth, jaw, and face. During a dental visit, when numbing is administered before a procedure, a branch of this important nerve is anesthetized.

An intriguing fact about the vagus nerve is its unique journey from your head all the way down to your intestines, making it the only nerve to venture outside of the cranial region. This long and intricate nerve, among the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, has a significant impact on various parts of the body, including the brain, neck, torso, tongue, pharynx, heart, and gastrointestinal system. With sensory, special sensory, motor, and parasympathetic functions, the vagus nerve plays a vital role in regulating skin sensations, taste perception, muscle movements, and smooth muscle activity in vital organs like the trachea, bronchi, and gastrointestinal tract. The vagus nerve also plays a vital role in reducing inflammation and enhancing immune function.

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The Brain's Goldilock's Principle Your Must Learn

Too much, or too little, iron can permanently damage the brain!

NOT ENOUGH: Low iron has been linked to many health problems, including fatigue, restless legs syndrome, developmental delays, lower I.Q., decreased resistance to infections, ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, psychotic disorders, brain fog, memory loss, hair loss, and Tourette’s.    

Thinking about getting pregnant and want your child to have a healthy brain? Your iron levels need to be in a healthy range starting at conception.  

A pregnant woman that is low in iron, or has decreased iron availability, early in her pregnancy can cause lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, low I.Q., developmental delays, and decreased brain maturation. The health of a child starts with the health of the mother the day they are conceived and having adequate iron stores throughout her pregnancy is an essential part of being a heathy mother. This is why work with women to ensure they are as healthy as possible, and have ideal iron levels, before, during, and pregnancy.   

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Understanding Food Tolerance

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the region of our body that directly interacts with the external world through the foods we eat. Our GI tract performs two main functions. First, it allows us to absorb nutrients critical to maintaining our health. Second, its protective immune system shields us from pathogens, such as bacteria and foreign invaders. The area of our GI tract—from the esophagus to the rectum—where we absorb nutrients and have our protective immune system consists of a specialized line of cells, called the “mucosal layer.” 

Identifying and Removing Reactive Foods

Identifying and removing reactive foods can be a good first-step strategy that may impact energy levels, skin appearance, digestive comfort, well-being, mood, and more. When multiple food reactions are identified, your healthcare professional may recommend removing those foods from the diet. Taking steps to support the GI mucosa and immune system and address any environmental concerns, as recommended by your healthcare professional, may also be beneficial.

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THE ROLE OF A HEALTHY GUT IN HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION

A large body of evidence is accumulating to support a role between healthy gut function, neural development and function of the central nervous system. The microbiota present in the gut should be considered an inner organ with functions similar in importance to any other organ present in the body. Disruptions in this “organ” may alter many things including central nervous system function, contributing to ADHD, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and a host of other maladies. [2]

Interesting Facts about the Gut

The human gut is sterile at birth, but is quickly colonized. By one year of age, it looks similar to that of an adult profile, although it is still unique to that child. Total adult load is estimated at 1,800 genera, 40,000 species, 1-2kg in weight, 100 trillion in number and possesses 100 times the genes found in the human genome. It is the equilibrium of the microorgansims that is important and what you eat and the kind and amount of toxins, including antibiotics affect the gut microbiota.

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Brain Laser or transcranial photobiomodulation can improve blood flow and improve healing in the brain.

Many health conditions can benefit from brain laser. Photobiomodulation improves brain blood flow and energy production. Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC demonstrates how safe this therapy is for brain health. Laser can improve cognition, memory, depression, ability to focus and help the brain heal after a concussion. This is just one of the advanced techniques used at Johnson Chiropractic Neurology & Nutrition and Michigan Brain Health for Brain Wellness.

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How a "Leaky Brain" Raises Your Risk of Dementia

It has been a hundred years since a Nobel Prize winner discovered the thin barrier that surrounds and protects the brain. Since then, we’ve learned this mesh of tightly joined cells, called the blood-brain barrier, is highly selective in a healthy person. It allows the transport of compounds back and forth through an intricate transport system while keeping out most everything else in the blood stream that can damage the brain. This includes heavy metals, toxic proteins, pathogens, and red and white blood cells.

Accelerated aging + Inflammation = Leaky Brain

Now, scientists have discovered that brain degeneration weakens the blood-brain barrier and causes it to “spring leaks.”  This is especially true in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with learning and memory. This discovery adds to the growing evidence that diseases of aging such as dementia and Alzheimer’s are sometimes linked to what functional medicine practitioners call a “leaky brain.”
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Top Ten Reasons to get a Brain Map

1. There are difficulties with focus and attention. Brain mapping has a long history of helping to recognize the symptoms of attention deficit disorder or ADD. 
2. A person feels like they are in a fog or having problems with zoning out. Brain fog can happen in a child and in an adult. 
3. Head trauma. Concussions. A history of contact sports. It is important to make sure the electrical activity of the brain is intact. Head trauma is associated with a long term loss of brain activity and function. 

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