🌿 The Vagus Nerve: Your Pathway to Calm, Connection & Healing
- Wendy Wood
- May 2
- 4 min read
Have you ever felt like your mind and body are constantly in a state of “go, go, go” — struggling to slow down, switch off, or feel truly relaxed?
If so, your vagus nerve might be crying out for support.
✨ What is the Vagus Nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in your body and plays a central role in the parasympathetic nervous system — also known as your rest and digest mode. It connects your brain to your gut, heart, lungs, and other vital organs, acting like a two-way superhighway for communication between your body and brain.
When your vagus nerve is functioning well, you feel:
Calm and grounded
Emotionally resilient
Able to rest and digest properly
More connected and present
But when the vagus nerve is underactive or disrupted, you may experience:
Anxiety or chronic stress
Digestive issues
Sleep problems
Brain fog
Inflammation and low immunity
Difficulty regulating emotions
🌼 How to Support Your Vagus Nerve Naturally
The beautiful thing is that we can nourish and stimulate our vagus nerve through simple, natural practices. Here are some of my favourites:
💧 Essential Oils for Vagus Nerve Support
Certain doTERRA essential oils can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and calm the body:
• Frankincense – calming, anti-inflammatory, and emotionally grounding.
Apply to the base of the neck or over the heart.
• Balance® Grounding Blend – deeply relaxing and stabilising.
Roll behind the ears (along the vagus nerve path), wrists, or feet.
• Lavender or Adaptiv® – beautiful for stress relief and promoting vagal tone.
Diffuse or apply to pulse points throughout the day.
• Clove – helps stimulate the vagus nerve and supports circulation.
Use in a roller blend diluted with Fractionated Coconut Oil.
DIY Vagus Support Roller Blend (10ml):
4 drops Frankincense
3 drops Balance
3 drops Lavender
2 drops CloveTop up with carrier oil and apply daily.
💪 doTERRA Supplements to Enhance Nervous System Health
Supporting your body internally is just as important:
• Lifelong Vitality Pack (LLV)
Full-spectrum nutritional support for brain health, energy, and inflammation reduction.
• Adaptiv® Capsules
Formulated for emotional balance and stress resilience — a must for vagus nerve health.
• PB Assist+® Probiotics
Because your gut and vagus nerve are closely linked, a healthy gut means a healthier vagus tone.
🌙 Reiki for Nervous System Reset
Reiki is a deeply relaxing and restorative healing practice that gently helps regulate the nervous system, calm the mind, and bring the body back into balance.
During a Reiki session, many clients experience:
A sense of stillness and emotional release
A drop in physical tension (especially around the jaw, shoulders, and stomach)
A shift from fight or flight into rest and repair
Renewed clarity and emotional ease
Regular Reiki sessions create space for the vagus nerve to do what it does best: support healing, calm, digestion, and emotional resilience.
🌿 Daily Self-Care to Support the Vagus Nerve
In addition to essential oils, supplements and Reiki, there are some beautifully simple daily practices that can tone and strengthen the vagus nerve. These can be woven gently into your everyday routine — no pressure, just presence.
✨ 1. Deep, Slow Belly Breathing
Even just 5 minutes a day of deep breathing activates the vagus nerve and shifts you into a calm, grounded state.Try: Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale slowly for 6.
✨ 2. Cold Exposure
Brief exposure to cold stimulates vagus nerve activity and builds resilience.Try: Splash cold water on your face in the morning or end your shower with 30 seconds of cool water.
✨ 3. Humming, Chanting, or Singing
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords. Making sound vibrations helps tone it!Try: Gentle humming, chanting “Om,” or even singing in the car.
✨ 4. Gentle Movement
Yoga, stretching, walking in nature or mindful movement can reduce stress hormones and support vagal tone.Try: A short walk outdoors each day or a few gentle yoga poses before bed.
✨ 5. Meditation or Guided Relaxation
Mindfulness-based practices can strengthen your ability to self-regulate and activate parasympathetic healing.Try: 10 minutes of quiet meditation, or one of my Essential Meditations sessions with oils.
✨ 6. Laughter + Connection
Laughing, cuddling, and connecting with safe, supportive people can calm the nervous system and boost vagus function.
✨ 7. A Nourishing Evening Routine
Creating a predictable wind-down routine tells your nervous system it’s safe to relax and release the day.Try: Diffuse calming oils like Lavender or Adaptiv®, sip a herbal tea, dim the lights, and journal.
These practices, combined with the natural power of essential oils, doTERRA supplements, and regular Reiki, create a supportive foundation for healing from the inside out.
If you’d love support tailoring these to your life, I’d love to help.
📩 Book your FREE Essential Oil Consultation and I’ll create a personalised wellness guide just for you — full of my suggestions, rituals, recipes, and oil recommendations.👈 Click here to book now
With love,Wendy x
The Reiki Room – Farnborough, Hampshire & Surrey

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