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Vagus Nerve Tone

Meaning

Vagus Nerve Tone refers to the functional status and responsiveness of the Vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve, which serves as the primary component of the parasympathetic nervous system, mediating the body’s “rest and digest” and anti-inflammatory responses. Clinically, a high vagal tone is associated with greater heart rate variability, robust digestive function, efficient stress recovery, and reduced systemic inflammation, all of which are critical for hormonal homeostasis. Conversely, low vagal tone is a physiological marker of chronic stress and HPA axis dysregulation, contributing to an unfavorable inflammatory and metabolic environment. Optimizing this tone is a key non-pharmacological strategy for improving overall systemic resilience.