Boundless Life What You've Been Told About the Vagus Nerve is WRONG (& How to Increase HRV Based on *Science*!) With Dr. Navaz Habib and JP Errico.
Jan 15, 2026
In a thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Navaz Habib, a chiropractor and author of "Activate Your Vagus Nerve," teams up with JP Errico, a neuroimmunology expert with a focus on vagus nerve stimulation. They explore the crucial connection between the vagus nerve and the immune system, challenging traditional views. Learn about how to boost your heart rate variability (HRV) through techniques like breathwork and meditation. They also delve into the role of macrophages in organ maintenance, emphasizing the importance of autonomic flexibility for overall health.
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Vagus Is Mostly Body-to-Brain Sensory Highway
- The vagus is primarily an afferent highway carrying ~80% of signals from organs to the brainstem.
- Those signals let the brain interpret body status and run 'programs' like the sick response.
HRV Reflects Brainstem Interpretation, Not Just Heart
- HRV reflects how the brainstem interprets incoming vagal information and runs adaptive programs.
- Low HRV can signal the brain has flipped into a 'sick program' or inflammatory response.
Train Sympathetic Bursts And Rapid Recovery
- Build autonomic flexibility by training sympathetic bursts and quick parasympathetic recovery.
- Pair exercise with deliberate recovery protocols to raise HRV over time.
