I have been in an ongoing process of disentangling myself from stories about the vagus nerve while still continuing to learn about this beguiling system. I have come around to thinking of the ‘vagal system’ rather than placing my focus on the ‘vagus nerve’ itself. When I see it as a system that involves the brain, sense organs, some of the muscles of expression, vocalization, swallowing, breathing, the organs of the thorax (heart and lungs), abdomen and pelvis, it becomes clinically useful and much more interesting. The “vagal system” reflects a body sensorium. 

This vagal-system-sensorium is often involved in some of the weird symptom pictures folks come to us wanting help with. When we understand it as a system, it can serve as a map to orient us in the treatment room and offer guidance for how to approach treatment.