I've watched a talk of his on youtube and am on his mail list, I find it interesting.
You might find it interesting to read some of Stephen Porges work on the polyvagal theory. I first heard about
the vagus nerve and how stimulating it can help with treatment resistant depression and PTSD through a talk by him. Googling it led me to find out about
the trials of it for RA and Crohn's.
Feeling safe is vital to well-being I think. It's known that people with doctors who they trust tend to have better outcomes. A well functioning vagus nerve would seem to help convince the body that it does not have to be on the attack and that all is safe. I think meditation can contribute to the body going into a "safe" state as quiet, sitting focussed attention is not something that one would be doing when under threat and the whole body will sense it. I think doing this in groups probably has even stronger effect to enhance the sense of safety. I don't think it is a coincidence that all human societies seem to have had a culture of creating group focussed attention through prayer or meditation or storytelling.
The theory that I saw Mate talk about
, that people with autoimmune disease are, in his opinion, people who don't say no to others, would go with the idea I think that these are people always trying to create a safe place, to make everything OK.
For me, as someone whose body is massively reactive to illness by creating inflammation (CRP shoots up on any infection) and seems to have that deeply in my DNA as every member on one side of the family has autoimmune disease, I do think that this vagus nerve connection has meaning for me.
Small blog intro about
the subject here
www.khironhouse.com/blog/the-vagus-nerve-safety-and-social-interaction/Great to hear about
a therapist who specialises in IBD patients. As a therapist myself I have been wondering about
going this way or if I am too close to it.