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The mindbodygreen Podcast

594: The vagus nerve could revolutionize how you heal your body & mind | Kevin Tracey, M.D.

The mindbodygreen Podcast

mindbodygreen

Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.62.1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 May 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“Vagus nerve health is a gateway to understanding inflammation,” explains Kevin Tracey, M.D.  Kevin Tracey, M.D., neurosurgeon, scientist, and entrepreneur, explains everything you need to know about the vagus nerve, including:  - What is the vagus nerve (~1:15) - Assessing vagus nerve health (~3:50) - The relationship with heart rate (~4:55) - Vagus nerve & inflammation (~10:30) - The power of electricity (~16:30) - Improving vagal nerve tone (~21:40) - Vagus nerve implant (~24:00) -  Ear-brain-body connection (~30:15) - Cold plunges (~39:50) - The future of vagus nerve therapy (~45:15) Referenced in the episode:  - Learn more about Tracey (https://feinstein.northwell.edu/institutes-researchers/our-researchers/kevin-j-tracey-md)  - Pick up his book (The Great Nerve)  - Check out his research (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Tracey%20K%5BAuthor%5D)  - Research on rheumatoid arthritis (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04539964) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32873554/)  - Research on pediatric Crohn's disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37849000/)  - Research on lower resting heart rate & longevity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3591616/)  - Research on the vagal nerve implant (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27382171/)  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to the My Buddy Green podcast. I'm Jason Wachib, founder and co-CEO of My Buddy Green, and your host.

0:07.2

Oikos presents 15 seconds of string. Here we go. Steve's got a trunk full of groceries and no one to help him.

0:13.0

Oh, that's tough, Jim. Looks like a five-trip load at least. He grabs the first bag. the second, Bob, it looks like he's trying to do it on one trip. He shimmies the door open, steps over the dog, oh, and he stumbles.

0:23.6

Oh, right into the kitchen without missing a beat.

0:26.1

Jim, now that's a man who eats his protein-packed, Oikos.

0:29.2

With 15 grams of complete protein in each cup, Oikos Triple Zero can help build strength for every day.

0:34.7

Oikos, stronger makes everything better.

0:40.3

So you've probably heard of the vagus nerve in the context of breathwork or meditation, but its

0:45.1

influence on health goes far beyond relaxation. Today's guest, Dr. Kevin Tracy, has spent decades

0:50.8

uncovering the groundbreaking potential of the vagus nerve and his discoveries

0:54.5

are reshaping how we think about inflammation, immunity, and healing. Dr. Tracy is a neurosurgeon,

1:00.2

scientist, and entrepreneur whose research has revolutionized our understanding of the body's

1:04.8

built-in healing mechanisms. He's the pioneer behind the inflammatory reflex, a discovery that

1:10.1

reveals how the vagus nerve can

1:11.7

control inflammation, and in some cases, even reverse diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, IBD, and

1:18.4

Alzheimer's.

1:19.3

In today's show, we'll explore the science behind the vagus nerve, its crucial role in regulating

1:23.6

your body's vital systems, and how simple lifestyle strategies like breathwork, exercise,

1:29.0

and even cold exposure can enhance its function. Plus, we'll discuss the cutting-edge potential

1:33.7

of vagus nerve stimulation how this emerging therapy is helping patients reclaim their health.

1:39.3

Dr. Tracy's new book, The Great Nerve, sheds light on the fascinating field of neuroimmunology, showing us how we can

1:45.9

tap into our body's own intelligence to optimize health, combat disease, and extend longevity.

...

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