The Nervous System: Functions, Health, and Support

Have you ever wondered how you can hit your arm, and you end up feeling some tingling in your lower leg? This boils down to the complexity and the beauty of our nervous system.

The nervous system is responsible to send messages from various parts of your body to your brain, and then the brain sends a message back out to tell your body what to do. This system is also responsible for thoughts, feelings, learning and memory, movement, breathing, the heart, healing a wound, it supports us to process, pleasure, pain, keeping us alert to safety by working with our senses.

There are the main parts which are:

The central nervous system- This is made up with the brain and spinal cord. The brain reads signals from your nerves to regulate how you think, move and feel.

The peripheral nervous system- This system relays information from your brain and spinal cord to your organs, arms, legs, fingers and toes.

The somatic nervous system- supports voluntary movement

The autonomic nervous system- responsible for supporting the activities you do without thinking about them (involuntary movements).

Here is what the nervous system looks like:

Nerve cells (neurons) are the basis of your nervous system. There are at least 100 billion neurons in your brain and connect to all parts of the body. It is like having multiple branches that represent the central nervous system, and then more branches that connect and represent the peripheral system, the somatic system and the autonomic system. Sounds complex right?!

Areas in the body that can often identify a short circuit in nerves are the feet. Our feet are responsible for keeping us rooted and sturdy. That is why the tingling, numbness or feeling of pins and needles could happen in the toe as an example. Well, the feet have at least 200,000 nerve endings in each foot, it could be felt in the toe but that could actually be impacting our sinuses, our back, shoulder or even our brain; see how it becomes complex? You can often hear about people who have diabetes can experience neuropathy(nerve damage) that creates a sense of numbness in the feet. Another great example of the discomfort of a pinched nerve or pressure on the nerves is sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. When the nerve is pinched, it can create pain that radiates from the neck point, shoulder point, down through the glutes right down your leg into your feet. It can be excruciating. Sometimes a person may not be able to sit because of the nerve being shortened and pressed. One of the culprits that actually makes the nerve damage worse is the onset of inflammation.

Other symptoms that show up when there are nerve issues are:

• Change in mobility and movement

• Pain that causes tingling and numbness

• More issues with coordination

• Behavioral changes

• Mood swings

Changes or decline in thinking and providing a response

It is something we really don't think about until we hear or experience an injury and nerve damage is the end result.

Nerve damage is not always permanent; it is however one of those things that should be taken care of sooner rather than later. Of course, we know that prevention is ideal. If there is suffering with nerve endings, the key along with healing products or complimentary therapies is to be patient. This is especially important if it has become chronic. Remember, it didn't happen in a day so it will not be fixed in a day.

Here are some ways to support your nervous system:

• Eating leafy greens that is filled with nutrients like folate that helps with producing neurotransmitters

• Fruits are filled with vitamin c which is a great anti inflammatory

• Whole grains and legumes are great for fibre, calcium, zinc and magnesium

• Superfoods are nutrient dense and provides phenolic acids and antioxidants

• Herbs like rosemary, mugwort, lemon and chamomile are also known as nervines and help to support the nerves

• Protein is great for helping to heal the tissues in the body

• Healthy fats help to feed the brain and also lubricate the joints as well as reduce inflammation

• Complimentary therapies like pool exercises, reflexology, acupuncture and red-light therapy, halotherapy (salt room) can help with supporting the nerves and reducing inflammation

• Adequate sleep is essential to repair nerve damage and also maintain the overall health of the body

• Hydration to help keep the body flushing out waste and absorbing necessary nutrients

• Keeping the body flexible by stretching, walking each day helps with mobility and conditioning the muscles and joints

Our body is a wonder, and these systems all need each other. While quite a few nutrients will cross over and support another system; it is so beneficial to understand the roles and functions of each.

Cheers to strong nerves!!