"One of my favorite vagal tone exercises to give my patients is simple, can be done nearly anywhere and any time, and is generally enjoyable to everyone I have prescribed this exercise to."
-Dr. Jessie
Tone your Vagus Nerve
Dr. Jessie • November 28, 2022
WHAT IS THE VAGUS NERVE?
The vagus nerve is one of the most profoundly influential nerve complexes in the human body. It is both a cranial and peripheral nerve - a unique feature that links its function intimately between the brain & emotional states to digestion as well as the viscera throughout the body. The vagus is actually two nerves on each side of the body with many, many branches.
WHAT IS VAGAL TONE?
Vagal tone is a way to describe how active or inactive your vagus nerves are at a given time. You can think of tone in a similar way you might think of muscle tone. A toned muscle is strong, flexible and available to engage or relax when appropriate. When the vagus nerve is toned, it functions optimally. Vagus nerve functions are many: from reducing inflammation in the body to controlling peristalsis and digestive enzymes, heart rate and blood pressure regulation, and even sexual function. The Vagus can be dysregulated by stress or infection and begin to express poor tone, resulting in a myriad of pathological conditions or impairments.
HUMMING FOR VAGAL TONE
Humming. Set a timer for 3 minutes. Press start, and start humming on your exhale. It doesn't have to sound pretty, you don't even have to like singing, but the vibration that is created by humming is initiated in part by the vagus nerves, which provide instructions & innervation to aspects of the larynx and vocal cords. Additionally, the vibration created by humming serve to provide inputs to the vagus nerves, which course down the sides of the larynx on their way to the many branches that exist below.
Don't strain your throat as you hum; just create a gentle, pleasant vibration in your throat. Practice in this way daily until 3 minutes passes easily. You can increase by one minute per week if you remain active with the practice.
If you are interested in learning more about the Vagus Nerve, we offer a self-paced online course which empowers you with functional anatomy education, techniques to assess vagal tone, and many exercises that help improve vagal function.
Other ways to support your vagal tone include Frequency Specific Microcurrent, acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and optimizing your inflammation status in your body with the assistance of one of our Functional Medicine practitioners.
From a functional medicine perspective, allergies are not just about pollen, dust, or environmental triggers—they are a reflection of how your immune system is functioning. And one of the most important places to look? Your gut.
Even in people who are not diabetic, blood sugar imbalances can quietly drive fatigue, weight gain, hormone disruption, inflammation, and long-term chronic disease. The challenge is that most people don’t realize it’s happening.
As the days get longer and the sun returns, many people expect to feel naturally more energized. And yet, for so many, spring arrives… and the fatigue is still there.
If you’re feeling tired despite the seasonal shift, your body isn’t broken—it’s asking for support at a deeper level.
Many individuals we work with have done so much to support their health: addressing gut concerns, balancing hormones, changing nutrition and lifestyle, yet still feel disconnected from their body or anxious about symptoms returning.
NAD+ for a mitochondrial health reset. Who can benefit from this IV and why
IV therapy to enhance immune system support
Myers’ Cocktail is one of the most well-known and widely used nutritional IV infusions in functional and integrative medicine. It delivers a powerful blend of vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system for maximum absorption and immediate cellular availability.
How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve (Without Burning Out)
15 tips to support your bowel movements with functional medicine recommendations
Simple, delicious gluten free recipes, food and drinks, to enjoy this holiday season!
