We do have two brains, one in our skull or cranium, and one in our gut or our digestive tract. There’s a cranial nerve, cranial nerve 10 or X, that begins in our brain stem and dips down into our gut. It’s the vagus nerve. You might have heard of the vagus nerve, but what you may not know is that the vagus nerve helps operate every part of our gut, including stomach, intestines (large and small), the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and the heart and lungs.
The skull’s brain on the other hand, allows thinking, processing, balance, coordination, and houses the 12 cranial nerves. The skull’s brain sends receives sensory messages from itself and from the body, allowing for sending motor impulses out by way of the nervous system.
Our mind (skull brain) can help our body, and our gut brain can help our mind. But, the reverse is also true. When our body is in :fight or flight, freeze or fright” mode, the vagus nerve slows, or shuts down, allowing “fight or flight, freeze or fright” to keep us protected so we have enough energy to ward off what’s attacking us. However, this shut down of the vagus nerve also keeps us from digesting our foods and creating fuel from those foods we eat. Therefore, extended “fight or flight, freeze or fright” mode creates a negative environment for our skull brain, impairing it’s ability to “process and repair” and our gut from “resting and digesting” so it can fuel our skull brain for processing, learning, balance and coordination during movement, and our sensory system navigation.
Think of a person in the hospital. They usually have symptoms of constipation and it used to be they wouldn’t be sent home unless “digestion” is occurring. That “digestion” is known as bowel movements. When the vagus nerve is allowed to rest, it digests.
What we feed our gut, feeds our skull brain. What we feed our brain, mindset, feeds our gut (second brain). It is imperative we allow time for our bodies to rest, process, repair, and digest so the second brain can fuel the repair and learning process.
So, the next time you feel anxiety, stress, worry, be mindful of how that’s affecting your gut (second brain) and your mind (skull brain). Breathe, listen to calming music, focus on the gift and abilities you have. Restore your mind and your body to good breath leading to good health.
Chay Mission 