The vagus nerve, located in your neck, is linked to epilepsy, mood control and depression. Although it's not necessarily a substitute for traditional treatment, certain yoga poses and breathing techniques can help stimulate this nerve. Talk to your doctor before beginning an alternative therapy program, especially if you have epilepsy -- it may not be safe to take a yoga class if your seizures are uncontrolled.
Vagus Nerve Functions
The vagus nerve is involved with several brain functions. Its fibers help transport information from your brain to your heart, stomach, lungs and throat. It's connected to the parts of your brain that are most likely to develop seizures, making it a good target for epilepsy treatment. It may also help regulate your moods, which is why vagus nerve stimulation is sometimes used to treat depression.
Traditional Treatment
Problems affecting the vagus nerve are traditionally treated by electrical stimulation. A surgeon implants a small device in your neck that connects to the vagus nerve via a tube containing electrodes. The device generates short pulses of electricity that are delivered to your vagus nerve every few minutes. The pulses are designed to block electrical disturbances in your brain.
Yoga Theory
Several studies have linked various aspects of yoga to positive effects on the vagus nerve. The chanting of "Om," for example, recorded a similar effect as electrical stimulation in a 2011 "International Journal of Yoga" study. Yoga can also help relieve depression, and the results may be connected to vagal stimulation, according to a 2007 study published in "Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine."
Poses and Breath
Deep breathing helps stimulate the vagus nerve, triggering a relaxation response. To perform a ujjayi pranayama or "victorious breath," slowly inhale to a count of three, hold for three counts, then exhale to a count of four or six. Repeat several times, building up to an exhalation of eight counts. Poses that engage your neck muscles can also affect your vagus nerve. These include inversions like headstand and shoulder stand, backbends like camel, bow and fish poses, and twists like Bharadvaja's twist or lord-of-the-fishes pose.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vagus Nerve Stimulation
- MayoClinic.com: Vagus nerve stimulation for depression
- "International Journal of Yoga"; Neurohemodynamic correlates of 'OM' chanting; Bangalore G Kalyani et al; January-June 2011
- "Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine"; Yoga as a Complementary Treatment of Depression; David Shapiro et al; December 2007
- "Yoga Journal"; Should pitta-dosha people do Headstand?; John Friend
- "Yoga Journal"; Breath of Inspiration; Catherine Guthrie
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