The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve. And this has been shown to increase heart-rate variability and
The larynx, or voice box, is connected to the vagus nerve. When you sing, hum, or say “om,” you activate the nerve. If you're in a pinch and need to calm yourself down, try humming - you'll likely notice that your heart rate slows and you feel more relaxed.
Loud gargling with water or loud singing activates our vocal cords which in turn stimulates the vagus nerve. Foot massage: gentle or firm touch can assist in stimulation the vagus nerve. Cold water face immersion: immerse your forehead eyes and at least 2/3 of both cheeks into cold water.
Humming or singing to yourself (even quietly) creates vibrations that massage the section of vagus nerve near your vocal chords. Chanting OM during yoga also creates vibrations in your throat that are soothing to your nervous system.
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve. And this has been shown to increase heart-rate variability and vagal tone (12).
Research has shown humming to be much more than a self-soothing sound: it affects us on a physical level, reducing stress, inducing calmness, and enhancing sleep as well as lowering heart rate and blood pressure and producing powerful neurochemicals such as oxytocin, the “love” hormone.
There are two main causes of vagus nerve dysfunction: previous infection or inflammation and physical or psychological stress.
Your vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords, the muscles at the back of your throat and passes through your inner ear. Try humming or singing or just listening to calm, soothing music. Those sounds and vibrations may stimulate your vagus nerve.
Research has shown humming to be much more than a self-soothing sound: it affects us on a physical level, reducing stress, inducing calmness, and enhancing sleep as well as lowering heart rate and blood pressure and producing powerful neurochemicals such as oxytocin, the "love" hormone.
The Steps of Brain Humming Technique or Humming Breath
Take a deep breath in and then HUM on a long exhale. Repeat one more time switching your hand position. Enjoy the soothing vibration of the sound and remember that everything will be okay.
In a vagus nerve massage, moderate pressure is applied to the area between the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles in the neck/shoulder area and at the muscles below the base of the skull, with twisting or stroking motions [1].
Online, it is feted as “the key to well-being,” “your superhighway to health,” and even “the physical manifestation of the soul.” Resetting this nerve through a series of routine interventions is professed to overcome anxiety and depression, improve your memory, and increase your altruism and success in life.
The left vagal nerve runs down the left side of your neck, and the right vagal nerve runs down your right side. This nerve extends all the way from your brain to the large intestines: down your neck, through your chest, around your heart, around your lungs, and through your abdomen and intestines.
Eat foods rich in tryptophan.
Dietary tryptophan is metabolized in the gut and may help the astrocytes—cells in the brain and spinal cord—control inflammation, which may improve communication from the gut to the brain via the vagal messenger pathway. These foods include spinach, seeds, nuts, bananas, and poultry.
When you hum, you induce parasympathetic dominance, which means you move out of “fight or flight” stress mode into relaxation. Humming stimulates your vagus nerve.
Lowered blood pressure and heart rate
Slowed paced humming causes both our blood pressure to be significantly decreased as well as a decrease in heart rate. Thus, it promotes deep relaxation and reduces stress, including reducing all those hormones associated with stress such as cortisol.
It's no surprise that recent psychological studies and neuroscience research have shown that humming a happy tune can impact our health and well-being. Take 30-60 seconds right now to hum your favorite tune or simply hum any sound that naturally comes through you.