Inflammation is a creeper. It builds up over years and seeps into the system, starting on the surface - rashes and eruptions on the skin, mucus secretions, thick sinuses, sore eyes, bleeding gums. It then permeates further into the body - creating the sore joints and aching limbs of rheumatism and arthritis, fraying the nerves, swelling the veins and attacking at the deepest level when it reaches the organs - the painful stomach in Crohns, IBS, and leaky gut, heart palpitations, angina and cardiovascular disease, asthmatic lungs, heavy periods and fertility issues, triggering depression in the brain, Alzheimer’s and dementia ... and in chronic cases setting the whole body on fire with Fybromialgia, DNA damage and cancerous growths.
Healing inflammation isn’t a quick fix and has many causes. A diet high in unhealthy fats, refined sugar and red meat, damage caused by chronic infections and viruses such as Epstein Barr and Shingles, pathogens such as candida, parasites and mould poisoning, even over or under-exercising plays its part.
And then there’s stress. The constant strain on the adrenals to release hormones when we’re in fight or flight mode creates a cascade of inflammatory reactions throughout the body.
Working to improve vagal tone, to release, soothe and stimulate the Vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X that travels from the brain down the the neck to the organs) can help remedy the inflammatory response. Low vagal tone is linked to inflammation and greater risk of autoimmune conditions. The Vagus nerve mediates the immune system via the release of corticosteroids from the adrenals, and via the immune cells themselves when it detects inflammatory cytokines - triggering a response to the nervous system to try and maintain homeostasis of the immune system. When the vagus nerve loses control of this delicate operation, all hell can break loose in the body!
Vagus nerve stimulation via electric currents is currently being explored by the medical profession to reduce inflammation and ease conditions such as epilepsy, rheumatic pain, sepsis and depression. Craniosacral Therapy works in a non-invasive but effective way to manually release and stimulate the nerves and ease the system back into a state of balance and optimal health. #craniosacraltherapy #inflammation #health #wellbeing #IBS #rheumatism #stress
