Stimulate the Vagus Nerve To Improve IBS
Have you ever wondered why pain is so severe with IBS when tests come back negative? Ever wondered how the gut and brain actually communicate? If so, you’re in the right place!
A common issue seen with IBS is called visceral hypersensitivity, which leads to sensations of pain and intensity of sensations in the gut. This may be explained by the interaction between the gut and the central nervous system in the brain. With IBS, we know this communication pathway, that happens along the HPA axis and vagus nerve, is off. So the poor communication may be to blame for the hypersensitivity.
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body that connects the brain to the rest of the body. It runs from the brain stem all the way down to the colon. This nerve has two sensory functions: somatic components, which are sensations felt on the skin, and visceral components, which are sensations felt in the organs of the body.
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A major role of the vagus nerve is to stimulate muscle activity. In terms of digestion, the vagus nerve can stimulate the involuntary contractions in the digestive tract to allow food to move through the digestive tract more efficiently.
The vagus nerve is also responsible for the regulation of internal organ functions, such as digestion, heart rate, and respiratory rate, as well as vasomotor activity, and certain reflex actions, such as coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting. When the nerve is activated, it leads to the release of acetylcholine (ACh), which binds to receptors and stimulates muscle contractions in the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest stage (the opposite of the stress stage).
Damage to the vagus nerve is a common cause of gastroparesis because poor muscle activity can cause the stomach to empty more slowly. Altered vagal nerve action can also contribute to poor motility, which may be seen in conditions like IBS, functional diarrhea, and functional constipation.
Thankfully, there are many ways to stimulate the vagus nerve in order to improve the gut-brain communication pathway and smooth muscle activity. These include:
Vagus nerve stimulation treatment: provider applies electrical impulses to the vagus nerve
Gut-directed hypnotherapy
Slowing down and chewing thoroughly
Being present with meals, without distraction
Diaphragmatic breathing before meals and throughout the day
Taking a cold shower or splashing your face with cold water
Singing, humming, chanting, or gurgling to activate the muscles at the back of the throat and vocal cords connected to the nerve
Meditation to increase parasympathetic activity and vagus nerve activity
Acupuncture
Massaging the carotid sinus on the right side of the neck
The value of trying these out and building them into the day can include improved mood, improved digestion, decrease in symptoms, and better gut-brain communication. For IBS, this may also help decrease visceral hypersensitivity.
If you are interested in going deeper with vagus nerve stimulation treatment, you can ask your doctor about this. If you are looking for guidance in managing IBS in a holistic way, taking into account your lifestyle factors and your diet, our team may be able to help. Schedule a complimentary consult call here to learn more!
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