The Autonomic Nervous System

Holistic care of a child understands the impact of emotions on the nervous system, and the impact of the nervous system on health.

EMOTIONS -> NERVOUS SYSTEM -> HEALTH

In children, if we can keep the nervous system settled, most issues will resolve themselves. 



The Parasympathetic Nervous System & The Sympathetic Nervous System

For good health on all levels there must be a balance of activity between the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) & the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Both are part of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The PSNS & SNS work in a ratio. When one increases activity, the other decreases its activity.

The SNS is responsible for our fight/flight - when activated it mobilises us for action and keeps us alert.

* Accelerates heart rate & relaxes bronchi in lungs for increased airflow

* Stimulates glucose release from liver (hence sugar cravings!)

* Stimulates adrenal medulla for release of epinephrine (adrenaline) & norepinephrine

* Inhibits immune system, emptying of bladder & mobility of intestines


When the SNS is chronically overstimulated, it depletes the body of:

* dopamine (the predominant neurotransmitter in your prefrontal cortex- cognitive behaviours & learning)

* GABA (calms the brain down & relaxes, essential for speech & language)

* serotonin (regulation, calm & focus)



The PSNS is responsible for our rest, digest, detox & heal functions. When activated it:

* Stimulates processing

* Stimulates vagus nerve which 'switches on' digestive organs - Intestines, pancreas, gall bladder, elimination of bladder and stimulates release of enzymes which break down food into nutrients.

* Constricts of bronchioles (breath out)

*** I've found that most issues in childhood can be linked to the lack of PSNS stimulation.

For example if the PSNS is not stimulated enough it can cause:

* Our body to become acidic, creating an environment for candida overgrowth & Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

* Lack of vagus nerve stimulation = decreased digestion - constipation, reflux, lack of HCl production (= decrease in protein digestion - zinc, magnesium, amino acids)

* Lack of reflex inhibition

* Sleep issues

* Lack of emotional processing

* Disruption to immune system

* Behavioural & mood disruption

Video:  The Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Divisions Professor Dave Explains



THE MOST SIMPLE WAY TO STIMULATE THE PSNS & SWITCH OFF SNS:

Is to breathe!

Using the breath to regulate the nervous system response is simple and it helps the child to learn how to positively influence their own nervous system.

To begin with, I keep it simple and focus on teaching them to make the out breath longer than the in breath.

I may begin this with small children by teaching them to play games such as blowing ping pong balls across a table with a straw or blowing bubbles each day.

Here is a video to pass on to older children:

Relationship With Breath

An exercise for home is to teach the parents how to apply deep proprioceptive pressure to the joints to calm the ANS (the webinar will explain this more).


Additional Resources:

  • How does deep breathing help? The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system (RISE)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5XgnC9jDiE


  • Bordoni B, Purgol S, Bizzarri A, Modica M, Morabito B. (2018)

The Influence of Breathing on the Central Nervous System. Cureus. 2018 Jun 1;10(6):e2724. doi: 10.7759/cureus.2724. PMID: 30083485; PMCID: PMC6070065. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6070065/


  • Zaccaro A, Piarulli A, Laurino M, Garbella E, Menicucci D, Neri B and Gemignani A (2018

How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 12:353. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353 -https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353/full







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