Nervous System Regulation
The nervous system is the foundation upon which every physiological function in the body is built upon. It dictates and impacts your experience of this world and disease risk. We’re always aiming to shift in the direction of what a regulated nervous system looks and feels like (versus dysregulated).
It’s calm. Balanced. Appropriately reactive to stimuli. Motivated. Responsive. Disciplined. Open. Vulnerable. Self aware.
It’s not anxious. Depressed. Manic. Destabilized. Overwhelmed. Restricted. Over reactive. Lethargic. Unaware.
It’s clarity of thought. Stable energy. Full breaths. Rested. Pain free. Smooth digestion. Balanced hormones. Weight management. Mood regulation. Physical strength.
It’s not brain fog. Fatigue. Shortness of breath. Insomnia. Muscle tension. High or low blood pressure. Headaches. Menstrual irregularities. Emotional eating. Cravings. Burn out.
A lot of the conversation around regulating the nervous system revolves around things like journaling, breathwork, meditation, and other mindfulness practices — rightly so — because they are incredibly effective tools. I’ve talked about them before, and will continue to.
BUT, there’s an entire world of basic, evidence based, clinically functional interventions that extend beyond mindfulness. Diet, supplements, herbs, acupuncture, and exercise all play a huge role in nervous system regulation.
3 things I always assess for:
Blood sugar: Does the patient have stable blood sugar? Are they eating in a way that encourages that? Lab values are a nice to have, but there’s far more information in my patients’ symptoms and daily habits.
Iron (Ferritin) & B12: Does the patient have *OPTIMAL* levels of iron and B12? Not just “normal” as told by their MD. Lab work is a great tool here, in addition to assessing how the patient feels daily and what iron/B12 sources they're eating/not eating.
Protein & Fat Intake: Does the patient consume optimal levels of protein and healthy fat for their needs? What sources of each are they consuming? Protein makes the brain happy and soothes it, and fat coats the nerves for proper nerve transmission.
Optimize the building blocks first, get fancy later.
