Stimulating the Vagus Nerve Function with Dr. Navaz Habib

Conversations for Health

Dr. Navaz Habib is the bestselling author of Activate Your Vagus Nerve and the newly released Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve. He is also the host of ‘The Health Upgrade Podcast’. After graduating as class valedictorian from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2010 he went on to practice traditional chiropractic for years until he utilized the power of functional medicine to transform his own health. Dr. Habib is the founder of ‘Health Upgraded’, an online functional health consulting clinic, supporting optimal health by elevating the awareness and function of the Vagus nerve.

Together Dr. Habib and I dive into the details of the Vagus nerve, including what exactly it is, how Vagus nerve function is assessed, and tools that practitioners can utilize to optimize Vagus nerve health in their patients or clients. We discuss common conditions and symptoms that can be linked to Vagus nerve dysfunction and the four major possible causes that can lead to Vagus nerve dysfunction including daily, physical, biochemical, and psychological stressors. Dr. Habib highlights the critical role of breath and breathing in Vagus nerve stimulation as well as the importance of reducing stressors, engaging gut function, engaging in stress-reducing psychological therapy, exercise and recovery, and managing daily emotional and psychological stressors to optimize this lesser-known but critical component of optimal health.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Navaz Habib - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/drnavazhabib

Truvaga - https://www.truvaga.com/

gammaCore - https://www.gammacore.com/

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Research Blog: Probiotics and the Vagus Nerve – a New Frontier for Psychiatric Conditions - https://www.casi.org/node/892

Science Update: Recent Review Explores Relationship Between Pain Perception and the Gut Microbiome - https://www.casi.org/node/1567

Research Blog: The Supportive Role of L-Glutamine in Mental Health and Gut Health - https://www.casi.org/Supportive-Role-L-Glutamine-Mental%20Health-Gut-Health

Blog: Lifestyle Choices for Cardiovascular Wellness: The Latest Clinical Research - https://www.casi.org/lifestyle-choices-cardiovascular-wellness-latest-clinical-research

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

01:54 What is the Vagus nerve and what do all practitioners need to know about it?

04:30 Dr. Habib’s personal health journey brought him into the functional medicine world.

06:43 The body-brain connection and the afferent and efferent fibers of the Vagus nerve.

10:14 The influence of the Vagus nerve on the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic.

12:28 Is the Vagus nerve actually the problem or the symptom?

15:01 Common conditions and symptoms that can be linked to Vagus nerve dysfunction.

18:43 Four possible causes that can lead to Vagus nerve dysfunction including daily, physical, biochemical and psychological stressors.

26:00 Dr. Habib’s approach to assessing Vagus nerve function and HRV signals as recommendations for when to push and when to recover.

30:10 Variables and measurements to consider when recommending HRV tools.

32:48 Tactics for improving heart rate variability and Vagus nerve function.

36:46 Expected results from the electric stimulation of the cervical trunk of the Vagus nerve.

39:00 A comparison of the Truvagu and GammaCore nerve stimulator devices.

40:35 Dr. Habib highlights case studies of using electrical stimulation in his practice.

46:40 Three key recommendations for Vagus nerve stimulation at home.

53:25 Enhancing breath control through daily practices of humming, gargling, chanting, and singing.

57:25 Advances in Vagus nerve research and inflammation.

59:51 Dr. Habib personal favorite supplements, top health practices that keep him resilient and healthy, and the daily health practice that he has changed his mind about.