Regarding the vagal nerve, I looked it up: “The vagus nerve affects several organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and digestive tract, as it runs from the brain to the abdomen. It also influences various functions such as heart rate, digestion, and immune responses through its extensive network of nerve fibers.” You mentioned you wanted to support the vagal nerve.
Maybe you would be interested in the following information I put together for my personal needs:
A method of acupressure (self-treatment) for improving vagal tone:
· Measure a distance just below the crease of your left wrist the distance across 2 and a half of your finger widths (ring finger through index finger), about 2 inches down. The way I measure it is by placing those 3 fingers on my wrist.
· Next place the thumb or index finger of your free hand just above the index finger already in place (that’s about 2 and half finger widths down from wrist crease).
o Your finger or thumb should be placed between the two tendons on your wrist.
o The instructions never specify which wrist is to be treated; perhaps it does not matter; maybe both sides could be treated, since most internal organs, including the heart, have a left and a right side.
· Press firmly (holding steady pressure) for 30 to 60 seconds.
· Repeat 1 to 3 times daily for maintenance and when symptoms are occurring.
· The above procedure was obtained from this website: https://acupressureguide.com/pressure-point/p-6-inner-gate/
I did extensive searches about this acupressure point, and found another simple set of instructions, (Top 5 Acupressure Points for Anxiety Relief (From an Anxiety Sufferer).
Here it is: At this same spot, apply pressure for 30 seconds in a pulsating up and down motion. Release. Repeat for a total of 5 minutes. I would use this as an alternative method (or the one above) if I had symptoms of AFIB. However, usually, for daily maintenance, I do both wrists, and only for 15 seconds each (sitting on the side of my bed), just before I lie down to sleep for the night - this method (along with avoiding excessive caffeine and taking care to stay hydrated, and being sure to include supplementary magnesium at meal times)
Some background about this important, greatly researched point:
Its stimulation may:
· Modulate vagal tone, reducing the heart rate.
o See the following still relevant 1997 article, titled, “Heart Rate Variability in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Is Related to Vagal Tone”:
§ https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.cir.96.4.1209 or
§ https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.96.4.1209 The article’s authors are listed here: Maarten P. van den Berg, Jaap Haaksma, Jan Brouwer, Robert G. Tieleman, G. Mulder, and Harry J. G. M. Crijns; correspondence to Dr M.P. van den Berg, The Thorax Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, Netherlands. The email is: J.Haaksma@thorax.azg.nl
· Improve autonomic balance.
· Reduce nausea.
· Influence brainstem areas involved in cardiovascular regulation and emotional processing.
· Enhances local circulatory flow.
· Enhances neuromuscular relaxation.
- Another result I fortuitously discovered: Stimulating this acupressure point stops hiccoughs in its tracks!