Did you know that the vagus nerve plays a role in reducing inflammation? Becoming ever more popular in the yoga community, the vagus is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system. It functions a little like a reset button, helping to bring you from activated states such as stress and anxiety to a place of calm.

One of the lesser known facts about the vagus nerve is that in addition to calming the nervous system, it can also help to calm inflammation. The vagus releases acetylcholine, the major neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic response, which also inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Since a whole host of yoga practices activate the vagus nerve, this mechanism may well illuminate one of the pathways through which yoga has been shown to reduce inflammation. Considering that chronic inflammation is a risk factor in many health conditions and is exacerbated by stress, yoga may well provide a potent antidote on multiple levels.

Here, founder of The Minded Institute, Heather Mason, shares more about the relationship between inflammation and the vagus nerve.