Illustration: Kieran Blakey

The Nuance

Science Confirms That the Vagus Nerve Is Key to Well-being

The mysterious nerve network that quiets pain and stress — and may defeat disease

Elemental
Published in
5 min readDec 19, 2019

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TTake a deep breath. Hug a friend. Reach for the ceiling and stretch your limbs. Each of these simple acts bestows a sense of calm and comfort. And each works its soothing magic in part by…

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Markham Heid
Elemental

I’m a frequent contributor at TIME, the New York Times, and other media orgs. I write mostly about health and science. I like long walks and the Grateful Dead.