The Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve and The Need for Neck Rotation

I am reading a great book called Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve by Stanley Rosenberg.

He observes many of the same things that Postural Restoration talks about, particularly when it comes to the importance of head and neck rotation via the SCMs and trapezius muscles.

The neck is autonomic, meaning its function is dependent upon, and will alter the function of, your autonomic nervous system. It's intimately tied to all your sensory organs: eyes, teeth, tongue, and nose. These sensory organs allow us to "face the world" and interact with our surroundings.

When any of those sensory organs are not functioning properly, it can cause our vagus nerve to malfunction. Conversely, a malfunctioning vagus nerve can alter our ability to interact with our environment effectively.

For more information about the role of the neck and the right TMCC pattern:

[zzerxes]

From the jaw and neck, to the abdomen and pelvis, all the way down into my legs and feet, your channel has been describing the last 7 years of chronic pain down to the details. I have to thank you and thank God for sharing this information.

[thegreenknight]

THANK YOU! 11 years of dragging myself from neurologists to psychiatrists and then to psychologists, explaining that my head, throat and neck are in constant tension and that I have DPDR and NO ONE knew how to help or explain it. Pure shame. And then I find an explanation on YT, of all places! F-ing unbelievable!

[JDB]

I have watched 1000’s of videos to find this. Truly grateful

[dangatta]

Wow, amazing insight and helps connect the dots around the power of the vagus nerve and the nervous system -- it's survival mode vs. the body feeling safe to perform, trust, thrive etc. I've had hip / pelvic rotation issues for YEARS and made progress with chiro, meditative mind body work, foam rolling, functional fitness, etc but the problem never fully goes away, especially with the unconscous posture twisting. Felt a shift with Neal's feet technique. Neck to feet, it all connects. Thank you!

[MaiLezzzlie]

Okay this is literally what I have needed to hear to reaffirm my journey of adjusting my posture which in turn brought up so much unhealed trauma and coping mechanisms emotionally and physically in my body. Thank you for this and please make more videos about this

[janetryan]

I have become so aware of the tightness, pain and restriction of my neck/my childhood dental trauma/chronic fight or flight/so many things in relation to my lifelong trauma and my right side dominance/back pain and so much somatic pain. Truly fascinated how I keep learning new things and how old understandings are outdated thinking....wow!!

[katiestevenson]

Dude! As massage therapist, I am seeing a huge percentage of my clientele locked in this pattern. 🤯 This book just jumped to the top of my reading list. Very cool stuff.

[jamilchavez]

This information in this video describes so many of the the conditions in my body that are bringing me pain and other health risks. I’ve spent countless hours researching to get to the bottom of it and this is the first time I’m confident that I’ve found an accurate description of my issues. Amazing stuff

[moniccah]

Your title should be professor, great knowledge and wisdom.

[edwarddesenne]

This is an unrecognised, serious health complication which merits far more study by all medical professionals and by the public and recognition on a par with cancer and Covid for its debilitating effect on the mind and body . Thank you. I will try to get the book to pass onto them for further help and understanding !

[caphusnho]

Wow you the first to describe my issues after 4 years going to all the medical so called professionals unbelievable

[sparkscommunication]

I had massive tightness in my left side of my neck that limited me from turning head to the left. Driving was painful when I had to change lanes and look if cars were coming. I had been to chiropractors and also deep tissue massage and nothing. What fixed it in one treatment was acupuncture. One needle, not painful, and I felt the release. I started to cry immediately at the feeling of being able to turn my head again. Very informative video, thank you!

[joannameehan]

Totally made sense to me.

I feel like my multiple surgeries for breast cancer, mastectomy and 5 reconstructions, the way I sleep on my right side to feel safe and protective/recover from surgery and anxiety has contributed to my stress and vagus nerve being restricted by this imbalance you talk about.

I’ve been readying quite abit about vagus nerve and I include humming to reduce tension there, which I believe is calming.

When I stand and focus on my stance and grounded like in “mountain pose” from yoga

In particular arch of right foot and heel of left with eyes closed, I notice a different view in the mirror. Afterwards.

I also am aware of my hip flexors tightness pain in glutes and other neck pain, also around trig aural area activated.

I’m so excited to hear all of this as it pieces back together my cause and symptoms, and treatment together as I suffer from fibromyalgia.

Not sure if my comment made sense but your thoughts would be appreciated ☀️🙏🏼

[DarenHarmon]

Uhm...wow...just blown away at how correct my intuition has been on literally every single one of my issues, described exactly in this vid, being linked together! All the work I have done to get me to this vid has revealed that I am just getting started in healing my nervous system! This is big! Thank you thank you!!

[GMoore]

Incredible! My intuition has felt this for so long, thank you!!

[kariusbaktus]

Man, it is like you are describing me in most of your videos. It strange in that it gives me a sense of relief, but at the same time a sense of hopelessness, which is weird to feel at the same time.
Thanks for all the free info Neal, it really helps!

[lydiaheppell]

Fascinating. I am an orthotist, I think I'll start to incorporate some of these notions in my practice.

[marijastrat]

I love this. I have been wondering for years about why my body turns to the right, when I am relaxing, having to use my strenght to have my body point forward. I have now played with my feet as you described and it makes an immidiate shift. So amazing. Have been conscious about this the whole day an brought my body back into thriving mode several times. Feeling amazing, this is such a great awarness about my body. Thank you <3

[jordsupp]

Thankyou. I've only recently started humming and grinning to try and circumvent anxiety attacks. The idea of neck flexing to promote that healing is an interesting proposition.

[melodyebuskin]

So at 5:40 in are you talking about the dreaded cervical hinge acquired from bad forward posture due to computer use, correct? If so, Kjetil Larson from MSK Neurology talks about this in his vids as well.