594: The vagus nerve could revolutionize how you heal your body & mind | Kevin Tracey, M.D.

“Vagus nerve health is a gateway to understanding inflammation,” explains Kevin Tracey, M.D.  Kevin Tracey, M.D., neurosurgeon, scientist, and entrepreneur, explains everything you need to know about the vagus nerve, including:  - What is the vagus nerve (~1:15) - Assessing vagus nerve health (~3:50) - The relationship with heart rate (~4:55) - Vagus nerve & inflammation (~10:30) - The power of electricity (~16:30) - Improving vagal nerve tone (~21:40) - Vagus nerve implant (~24:00) -  Ear-brain-body connection (~30:15) - Cold plunges (~39:50) - The future of vagus nerve therapy (~45:15) Referenced in the episode:  - Learn more about Tracey (https://feinstein.northwell.edu/institutes-researchers/our-researchers/kevin-j-tracey-md)  - Pick up his book (The Great Nerve)  - Check out his research (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Tracey%20K%5BAuthor%5D)  - Research on rheumatoid arthritis (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04539964) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32873554/)  - Research on pediatric Crohn's disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37849000/)  - Research on lower resting heart rate & longevity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3591616/)  - Research on the vagal nerve implant (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27382171/)  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices