Nurturing the Nerve: Essential Oils for a Healthy Vagus Nerve
Hey there, Delune friends! 💚 Did you know there’s a single nerve quietly working behind the scenes to regulate your heart, digestion, breath, and even your stress response? It's called the vagus nerve, and it’s one of the body’s most powerful pathways for healing and calm. In today’s blog, we’re exploring how essential oils can gently support vagus nerve activation — naturally, of course. 🌸
✨ What Is the Vagus Nerve, and Why Does It Matter?
The vagus nerve (from the Latin vagus, meaning “wandering”) is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It runs from your brainstem, winding through your chest and into your abdomen, connecting with your heart, lungs, stomach, and beyond. It’s a key player in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is all about rest, digest, and chill.
When your vagus nerve is healthy and active, it helps regulate mood, lower heart rate, support digestion, and promote resilience to stress. ✨
But when we’re chronically stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed — you guessed it — vagal tone drops, and the body gets stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode. That’s where nature’s helpers come in...
🌼 Essential Oils That Support the Vagus Nerve
Some essential oils can help gently stimulate and support the vagus nerve, especially when used with breathwork, massage, or mindfulness.
1. Lavender 🌾
A gentle classic. Lavender calms the nervous system, lowers cortisol levels, and helps your body shift from sympathetic stress to parasympathetic peace.
2. Frankincense 🕊
Spiritually grounding and emotionally centering, frankincense is known to deepen the breath and support vagal activation through mindful inhalation and meditation.
3. Bergamot 🍋
Bright yet soothing, bergamot has been shown to ease anxiety and uplift mood. It’s especially helpful when used with slow, diaphragmatic breathing.
4. Chamomile Roman 🌙
A favorite for nervous tension, Roman chamomile soothes both the mind and gut, making it ideal for vagal support through the gut-brain axis.
5. Clary Sage 🌸
Regulating, hormone-balancing, and calming to the central nervous system, Clary Sage is a beautiful choice for stress relief and inner steadiness.
💧 How to Use Essential Oils for Vagal Support
Here are a few ways to use essential oils to nourish your vagus nerve and shift into a state of calm:
🧘♀️ Deep Inhalation
Place 1–2 drops of oil in your palms, rub together, and cup over your nose. Breathe in slowly for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 6–8. Repeat. Instant calm.
💆♂️ Neck & Chest Massage
Dilute your chosen oil with a carrier oil (like fractionated coconut) and gently massage the sides of the neck (where the vagus nerve runs), around the ears, or the chest.
🌬️ Diffuse During Breathwork
Diffuse calming oils during slow breathing, humming, or chanting exercises — all of which help tone the vagus nerve naturally.
🛁 Evening Rituals
Add a few drops to an Epsom salt bath, or use a roller blend on your wrists and temples during wind-down routines to support deeper rest.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Incorporating essential oils into your vagus nerve care routine is a simple, beautiful way to reconnect with your body’s natural rhythm and resilience. Whether you’re looking to ease stress, sleep better, or simply breathe a little deeper, the vagus nerve — and your favourite Delune blends — are here to help.
With love and calm,
The Delune Team 💚
