The Vagus Nerve and Science of Healing Chronic Pain
The Convergence of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Neuroscience
Mantra repetition, a practice rooted in millennia of yogic tradition, holds far more than symbolic or spiritual significance. It resonates deeply within our nervous system, particularly influencing the vagus nerve—the longest and most complex cranial nerve in the human body. The vagus nerve’s expansive network links the brainstem to the heart, lungs, digestive tract and beyond, playing a critical role in regulating parasympathetic nervous system activity, often described as the body’s “rest and digest” mode.
Modern neuroscience confirms that stimulating the vagus nerve can mitigate chronic inflammation, reduce stress hormones like cortisol and enhance heart rate variability (HRV)—a key marker of autonomic balance and resilience. Poor vagal tone is implicated in numerous chronic conditions, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and neuropathic pain syndromes. Thus, activating this nerve can be therapeutic.
How Mantra Activates the Vagus Nerve
Chanting mantras or engaging in repetitive vocalizations such as humming or singing causes vibration in the muscles of the throat and vocal cords, physically stimulating the vagus nerve. This stimulation sends afferent signals to the brainstem, triggering a parasympathetic response that can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate and promote a sense of calm.
The rhythmic and repetitive nature of mantra practice also entrains neural circuits and brainwave patterns. It has been observed to downregulate the default mode network (DMN)—a brain system involved in self-referential thinking, often hyperactive in chronic pain conditions and associated with rumination and anxiety. By quieting the DMN, mantra repetition offers relief not only physiologically but psychologically, breaking the cycle of suffering that chronic pain patients often experience.
Yogic Perspective on Sound and Healing
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali elevate sound (nāda) as a primary method to stabilize the fluctuations of the mind (citta vritti nirodha). Mantras are more than mere words; they are vibrational vehicles that align consciousness with subtle energetic frequencies. The sacred sounds of Sanskrit mantras—such as Om, So Hum, or Om Namah Shivaya—carry specific vibrational qualities believed to harmonize mind, body and spirit.
Classical texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita emphasize mantra alongside breath and posture as pillars of yogic practice, illustrating a holistic approach to healing.
Practical Integration for Chronic Pain
A practice that combines mantra with breath awareness and gentle asana can target chronic pain on multiple levels:
Mantra calms the nervous system and interrupts pain rumination.
Pranayama (breath control) stimulates vagal tone and oxygenates tissues.
Asana encourages circulation and releases muscular tension.
For chronic pain sufferers, such an integrated approach can create a personalized toolkit that honors the complexity of pain—acknowledging its physical, emotional, and neurological dimensions.
Further Reading and Research
Brewer, J.A., et al. “Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity.” PNAS, 2016.
Porges, S.W. The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory. W.W. Norton & Company, 2017.
Lad, Vasant. Yoga and Ayurveda. Motilal Banarsidass, 2002.
Hunt, L. “The Healing Power of Mantra: Resonance and the Vagus Nerve.” Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2021.
