The nervous system consists of two main parts:

Central Nervous System (CNS): This includes the brain and spinal cord. The brain controls thoughts, emotions, and coordination, while the spinal cord helps send messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): This is a network of nerves that extends from the spinal cord and brain to the entire body. It helps transmit information between the body’s organs, muscles, and senses. Together, these two parts of the nervous system ensure that the body can move, think, feel, and respond to the environment.

Taking a closer look at the central nervous system, we encounter the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which are two subsystems within the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates many automatic functions in the body without our conscious control.

These two systems often have opposite effects and work together to maintain the body’s balance:

Sympathetic Nervous System: This system is typically activated in situations where the body needs to respond quickly to a threat or stressor. It is known as the “fight-or-flight” system. When activated, heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and blood flow to the muscles increases, preparing the body for a rapid response, such as running from danger.

Parasympathetic Nervous System: This system is activated in more relaxed situations when the body is not under threat. It is also called the “rest-and-digest” system. It slows down the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and promotes digestion and recovery, allowing the body to rest and recuperate after stressful situations.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work together to maintain the body’s internal balance and adapt to different situations and demands. They function as regulators for many of our vital functions. When the fight-or-flight response is activated, hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released. These hormones have various effects on the body, such as increased heart rate, faster breathing, enhanced blood flow to the muscles, and heightened alertness. This is useful in short-term and acute threat or stress situations.

However, problems can arise if the fight-or-flight response is activated too frequently or for prolonged periods. This can lead to various health issues, including chronic stress, physical health problems like high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and overall fatigue.

Another issue related to the brain and nervous system is memory problems and experiencing a kind of brain fog. This can be due to several factors, including inflammation caused by an inappropriate diet, lack of healthy fatty acids, insufficient exercise and quality sleep, and chronic stress of some kind.

The brain, like other parts of the body, depends on being stimulated and used to remain healthy and robust throughout life.

There are some simple things one can incorporate into daily life to maintain a healthy brain and a well-functioning nervous system. These exercises and measures can contribute to improving cognitive functions such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and learning, as well as promoting the overall health of the nervous system:

Physical Exercise: Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain, reduces stress, and helps release neurotransmitters beneficial to the brain. Aerobic activities like running, swimming, and cycling are especially beneficial.

Take a Walk: Practice focusing on things alternately close and far, up and down. Walk a more challenging route, where you have to cross your legs, jump from grassy area to grassy area, practice walking backward, and with crossovers.

Breathe: Breathe deeply through the nose. You should feel the breath all the way down into the abdomen and also into the sides. Your exhale should be longer than your inhale. Take breaks between breaths, and breathe slowly.

Mental Challenges: Solving crossword puzzles, puzzles, mathematical riddles, and strategic board games can challenge the brain and help improve cognitive skills.

Sleep: Good sleep is crucial for brain health. Ensure you get sufficient sleep every night to support brain functions.

Diet: A healthy diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and nutrients like vitamins and minerals can protect the brain from damage and improve its function.

Learn New Skills: Challenging yourself by learning new skills, such as playing a new instrument, learning a new language, or picking up a new hobby, can stimulate the brain.

Social Interactions: Participating in social activities and building healthy relationships can have positive effects on the brain and nervous system by reducing stress and promoting mental health.

Brain Exercises: Specific brain exercises and apps designed to train different cognitive skills like memory, attention, and problem-solving can be beneficial.

Yoga and Tai Chi: These practices combine physical activity with mindfulness and can help reduce stress while improving balance and coordination.

Seek Challenges: Avoid routine and monotonous activities. Challenges and variation in your daily routine can help stimulate the brain.

When you book a consultation with me, needing help with issues relating to the nervous system, we typically examine your diet, looking for any food your body may not tolerate, resulting in stress. We also look into potential vitamin deficiencies, habits, exercise, various factors that  in your life that act as a constant burden. We take a closer look into your health history as a whole. You will receive a personalized program to follow, incorporating solutions such as diet, exercise, vitamins, herbs, and homeopathy. Laboratory tests may be considered to take a deeper look into the underlying issues.

Additionally, I recommend booking a package that includes four sessions of manual therapy and follow-ups. This approach yields the best results, and my experience shows that it works well, providing strong support to turn your life in the right direction, allowing you more energy to continue with positive habits.

Manual therapy forms that may be used for challenges related to memory and the nervous system typically include reflexology, acupuncture, hypervibe training, connective tissue massage, and craniosacral therapy.

I am looking forward to helping you.