Accelerating and slowing down

The sympathetic nervous system mobilises us for action: heart rate and alertness increase, and energy is made available.

The parasympathetic nervous system, in which the vagus nerve plays a central role, supports rest, digestion and recovery.

Both are essential.

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The problem arises when the body remains in a state of alert for too long and is no longer able to shift back effectively.

Health does not require permanent relaxation.

Health requires flexibility.

​What happens when the body stays on high alert for too long?

Ongoing work pressure, poor sleep, relationship stress, persistent worries or recurring anxious thoughts can keep the stress response activated.

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This can affect:​

• cortisol and other stress hormones

• sleep quality

• glucose regulation

• digestion

• recovery after exertion

• gut function and immune regulation

 

That is why, when someone has issues with fatigue, digestive problems, poor recovery or sleep difficulties, I do not look at nutrition alone.

I also ask:

What state of regulation is this body living in for most of the day?

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The connection with the gut

The vagus nerve is an important communication pathway between the brain and, among other organs, the heart, lungs and digestive system.

Prolonged stress can influence stomach acid production, gut motility, digestion and the environment in which the gut microbiota functions.

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That is why disturbed autonomic regulation can have consequences that go far beyond simply “feeling stressed”.

HRV can reveal what you may not consciously notice yourself.

Many people do not feel consciously stressed.

But the body can become accustomed, over many years, to being constantly “switched on”.

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HRV can help reveal whether the body still has enough flexibility to shift between demand and recovery.

In an HRV assessment, I look at factors such as:

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• variation between heartbeats

• the pattern of that variation

• response to breathing

• autonomic flexibility

• the relationship between breathing and heart rhythm
   

The image at the top of this page comes from a HeartMath emWave measurement. The system makes it possible to see how heart rhythm changes and how coherent the pattern becomes during a session.

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The reason HRV is central to The Regulation Method

Other measurements mainly tell me what is happening in the body.

HRV tells me something about how the body regulates itself.

That is why I interpret HRV alongside BIA, OligoScan, Live Blood Analysis, microcirculation, lifestyle and recovery.

Together, these help show how well the system is still able to adapt.

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For me, HRV is therefore much more than a measure of stress. It is a measure of adaptability.

Not permanently relaxed. Not permanently performing. But able to shift when needed.

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That is regulation.

And that is exactly what The Regulation Method is about.

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