Wonderbringers Newsletter with Monica Parker
View this email in your browser
Hello Wonderseekers!
A ground-breaking new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis gained FDA approval this week. The innovative pill-sized implant, called the SetPoint System, is surgically placed in the base of the neck to stimulate the vagus nerve. Unlike standard medication treatments for autoimmune conditions, this device delivers a gentle electrical pulse that triggers the body’s own anti-inflammatory response. This treatment represents a significant advancement over traditional medications, which not only suppress the autoimmune response but also compromise the immune system, increasing vulnerability to infections.
The results are impressive. Over a third of patients with hard-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis experienced significant improvements, and with far fewer side effects than typical drugs. (Side effects that are so bad that as many as three-quarters of patients stop taking them.)
The vagus nerve, called the ‘wandering nerve’ because it is the longest cranial nerve in the body, stretches from the brainstem down through the neck, heart, lungs, and gut. It is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to regulate involuntary ‘rest-and-digest’ functions like heart rate, digestion, breathing, and immune response.
Initially viewed as a bit ‘woo’, vagus nerve treatments have become something of a popular science darling. By acting as a communication superhighway between the brain and the body, a healthy vagus nerve (what’s known as having good ‘vagal tone’) has now been shown to provide a raft of benefits, with approved treatments for everything from epilepsy and pain management to depression and PTSD.
This approach represents a paradigm shift in treatment for diseases previously managed only with drugs, and is already being explored for other chronic and treatment-resistant conditions linked to inflammation and nervous system signalling, such as migraines and inflammatory bowel disease.
So how can you strengthen your vagal tone? With wonder of course!
Chronic stress weakens vagal tone, but wonderbringing activities shift the body from a stress state (‘fight or flight’) to a calm and relaxed state (‘rest and digest’), lowering stress hormone production and improving heart rate variability (HRV). A biomarker for vagus nerve health, higher HRV denotes greater resilience, emotional stability, and physical wellness.
Wonderbringing activities to improve vagal tone:
Breathwork and deep breathing: Slow, diaphragmatic breathing and specific techniques like the 4-7-8 method activate the vagus nerve and promote relaxation.
Meditation and mindfulness: Regular meditation, especially when focused on the breath or present-moment awareness, increases vagal tone and reduces anxiety.
Singing, humming or chanting: These activities stimulate the vocal cords and throat muscles, activating the vagus nerve and increasing heart rate variability. This leads to better regulation of mood and greater overall well-being.
Laughter: Genuine laughter triggers diaphragmatic breathing, which stimulates the vagus nerve and increases vagal tone.
Pro-social connection: Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, says that engaging in acts of compassion, gratitude, and meaningful interactions creates a ‘physiology of safety’, enhancing vagal tone and deepening feelings of calm, belonging, and social connection.
Some wonderbringers for me this week:
The wonder of our wandering nerve: How our longest nerve orchestrates the mind-body connection.
8 ways to find humor in your everyday life: ‘One of the fastest and most powerful ways to increase overall health and wellbeing.’
Watch: The psychological benefits of humming: A surprisingly effective tool for managing stress, improving our mood, and even enhancing sexual arousal.
So, I’m a numpty and sent last week’s newsletter on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I wasn’t having a senior moment and thinking it was actually Wednesday (I was as surprised as you were when it arrived in my inbox a day early!) No, apparently, I put the wrong date into the email system.
This is a sign that I am spinning a few too many plates at the moment, so I am taking a month off to get my noggin back in order. Fear not, though, you’ll still get your Wonder Wednesday fix. I’ll be doing a month of repeats and sharing some of the most popular Wonderbringers from the archives.
See you WEDNESDAY the 10th of September!!
With wonder,
Follow Me
Why am I getting this email?
Good question!
You’re getting this email because you are on HATCH Analytics’s or Monica Parker’s mailing list.
If you don’t want to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at the bottom.
(We do hope you stick around, though.)
Copyright ©*|CURRENT_YEAR|* Monica C. Parker. All rights reserved.
Want to unsubscribe? That’s ok! We’re sad to see you go, but you’ll still be a part of our Wonderbringer community in spirit.
Mailing address:
10 Colosseum Terrace
London, UK NW1 4EB