The Brain--Body Connection - Meadows Behavioral Healthcare Brain Centers -

Why the Brain Spa? ANS () Our body’s ANS supports HEALTH, GROWTH, AND RESTORATION An unbalanced ANS Allows you to pay special leads to: attention to the “tone” of your • The is the main controller of the ANS and is the longest cranial nerve in the body • Insomnia vagus nerve; vagal tone is the • Digestive problems • The vagus nerve connects the brain to many important organs, internal biological process that • Stomach pains including the gut (intestines, stomach), heart, and represents the activity of • • Vagus nerve sends information from the the vagus nerve. • Constipation body to the brain (about 80%) and Your gut may • also from the brain to the body Having a higher vagal tone be telling you • Aches and pains (about 20%) means that the body can relax something! • Mental stress ?faster after stress. Major benefits of CES (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation) alpha include: • Brainwave entrainment is a method to stimulate Research shows CES is useful for the brain into entering a specific state • Reduced sleep, anxiety, depression, and • Reduced blood pressure • CES stimulates alpha waves improved cognition functions. • Greater digestion function • Alpha waves are the building blocks of resiliency • Relaxed muscles and capacity • Increased oxygen and blood Healthy Alternatives flow to the brain! Two external sources that increase alpha are alcohol Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and acupuncture increase alpha Alpha allows for CALM FOCUS! and marijuana. SELF-MEDICATING THE BRAIN?

HRC (Heart Rate Coherence)

A participatory learning HRC is the clearest, A biofeedback device that • Spending 20 minutes on each tool that helps us gain cleanest window into teaches mastery over machine, three times per voluntary control over the ANS; helpful in: physiology and supports a week during your outpatient breathing patterns, • Reducing stress balanced nervous system experience, supports a positive è attention, focus, and è • Gaining clarity feedback loop between high A way of improving our energy, which are nor- • Developing self- vagal tone, positive emotions, response to stress mally regulated without awareness of and good physical health. conscious awareness internal reactions • The more you increase your vagal tone, the more your physical and mental health CHI MACHINE will improve, and vice versa. • Passive aerobic exercise “We need to teach ourselves • Figure eight, goldfish movement provides maximum how our brains and bodies work; oxygenation benefits – most beneficial to the heart and lungs being in control of ourselves • Supports both the sympathetic and para-sympathetic branches requires becoming familiar with of the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) – THE VAGUS NERVE Increases lymphatic our inner world and accurately • Helps restore the vital balance the vagus nerve needs to flow and improves identifying what scares, upsets, immune system. function at its best! or delights us.” – Senior Fellow, BRAIN HEART BODY CONNECTION = Brainwave activity pre- and post-Survivors Dr. Bessel van der Kolk SELF-REGULATION AND RESTORATION The Body Keeps the Score: Workshop, showing proof of MORE When the ANS is balanced, side effects of Brain, Mind and Body in the regulated, coherent, and organized brain. Healing of Trauma adverse childhood experiences start to lessen.

Meadows Behavioral Healthcare | www.meadowsbh.com | 800.244.4949