The autonomic nervous system along with the endocrine system controls the body’s internal organs and regulates many body functions such as blood flow, basal metabolism, muscle tone and our ability to relax or stay alert and ready for action.
This system is divided into 2 parts; the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. A balanced system is vital for our health & wellbeing.
An unbalanced system is characterized by:
Sympathetic dominance which can be caused by being in a state of stress, trauma, worry or pain and is often referred to as fight or flight. Due to the stresses of life many of us although we may not know it are functioning via the sympathetic system. Symptoms of this include; muscle tension, poor digestion, joint pain, shallow breathing, insomnia and emotional overwhelm.
Para sympathetic dominance is often referred to a freeze state . If we find ourselves stuck in sympathetic nervous system dominance for too long there is a danger, we could end up here in freeze state. Symptoms of this include depression, withdrawal and chronic fatigue.
An unbalanced system also reduces nitric oxide production and in extreme cases a complete shutdown of production. This can then lead to a depressed immune function which may manifest initially as fatigue, joint pain, depression and poor digestion. Over a period of time if nitric oxide rhythms are not re stimulated these symptoms can escalate into major diseases.
Sound can help accomplish a shift in this balance by raising or lowering the pitch of the system. Toning the vagus nerve is the key to achieving this balance , and the easiest way is with the breath and the voice.