Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve

Description

This practical handbook, aimed at understanding the cranial nerves and their impact on our mental and physical health, builds upon Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory—an influential recent advancement in human neurobiology. Leveraging over thirty years of experience as a craniosacral therapist and Rolfer, Stanley Rosenberg delves into the vital role of the vagus nerve in shaping our emotional and psychological states. He highlights that various common psychological and physical symptoms, ranging from anxiety and depression to migraines and back pain, can signal dysfunction in the vagus nerve.

Using straightforward self-help exercises, the book demonstrates how we can effectively regulate the vagus nerve to induce deep relaxation, enhance sleep quality, and aid in the recovery from injuries and trauma. Moreover, by examining the connection between a well-regulated vagus nerve and social interactions, Rosenberg’s insights and techniques offer new possibilities for improving social behavior and potentially alleviating some symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Beneficial for psychotherapists, medical professionals, bodyworkers, caregivers, and anyone experiencing chronic stress and depression symptoms, this book illustrates how we can enhance autonomic functioning in ourselves and others. It underscores the importance of bringing the body into a state of safety, activating its innate healing capacity.