Calm Down: Parasympathetic Regulation through the Neck and the Vagus Nerve

Dao Dan Pai Qigong exercises are a series of standing exercises that harmonize and balance the major energy channels of the body. This series of exercises was first taught in the West by Taoist Master Share K. Lew, a Taoist monk from the Yellow Dragon Temple in the Lo Fo Shan mountains of Guangzhou, China. It integrates movement with breath and posture to activate and balance qi flow.

When Neil D. Theise, MD, published a study in Scientific Reports describing a network of fluid-filled compartments beneath the skin, the interstitium, as a newly discovered organ, it sparked thousands of news articles, billions of online views, and an ongoing debate among scientists worldwide regarding the implications of his discovery. Covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Nature, Newsweek, Frontiers, and many more, Theise’s conclusions have set off a discussion with potentially far-reaching implications about the understanding of the nature of the human body and human beings. “Everything we know about the body is a reflection of the methods we use to examine it; it’s all interwoven,” according to Theise, who explains that the more modern ability to view tissue at the microscopic level has allowed us to see more than ever before, opening more conversation about the connections between Eastern and Western understandings of physiology.

Explore the relationship between the vagus nerve and the liver meridian in the context of Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA). Discover how YNSA diagnosis and point selection can enhance the treatment of disorders related to the vagus nerve and liver meridian by calming the sympathetic nervous system.

If you’ve ever had a patient with pneumonia, you may be familiar with the purplish cast of the face that it can cause. Lung pathologies create unique markings and colorations on the face, primarily in the cheek area. We can assess wei qi and the role of grief or chronic stress, both of which impact our immune system, and analyze lung pathologies and immune system dysfunction as they show on the face.

Dao Dan Pai Qigong exercises are a series of standing exercises that harmonize and balance the major energy channels of the body. This series of exercises was first taught in the West by Taoist Master Share K. Lew, a Taoist monk from the Yellow Dragon Temple in the Lo Fo Shan mountains of Guangzhou, China. It integrates movement with breath and posture to activate and balance qi flow.

Explore clinical applications of Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) for trauma and post-traumatic stress through an overview of polyvagal syndromes and diagnosis and YNSA protocols that regulate the vagus nerve and the autonomic nervous system. Practice manual techniques that can be taught to patients to regulate the vagus nerve and help them feel more in tune with themselves and their nervous system. These points and protocols have been utilized for veterans in hospital rehabilitation in Israel.

Neil Theise’s book Notes on Complexity, which Deepak Chopra said “will change the way you understand yourself and the universe,” is a startling introduction to the science of how complex systems behave that explains the interconnectedness of all things. Notes on Complexity encourages us to shift from a narrow, individualistic worldview to one that recognizes the universe as an interconnected, living system greater than the sum of its parts. Neil Theise, drawing on his background as a physician, scientist, and philosopher, explores the frontiers of human knowledge while revitalizing our appreciation of the everyday. His research in liver pathology, which revealed new understandings about interstitial connections in Western physiology, builds bridges between Eastern and Western thought with implications for cross-disciplinary communication and practical applications in medicine and beyond.

Discover the multiple benefits of current for health conditions such as facial pain and Bell's palsy, or how it can be used in exercising facial muscles to improve facial asymmetry and enhance appearance. Examine the differences between TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and microcurrent. Learn when to use which alone or in combination. This class includes a demonstration and hands-on practice.

Menopause symptoms affect 70-85% of women. This symptom cluster includes vasomotor disturbances, pain, sleep disruptions, mood alterations, and cognitive impairments. Notably, minoritized menopausal women face disproportionate challenges in healthcare access and support, often experiencing prolonged and more severe symptoms than their White counterparts. Swanson’s work in community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a promising approach to addressing these disparities, by involving community members in all stages of research and intervention development while working with midlife women to develop and evaluate culturally appropriate interventions for menopausal women from minoritized communities. In this presentation, Dr. Taylor-Swanson will discuss her collaborative work with an interdisciplinary Latina team and American Indian/Alaska Native women, along with the adaptation of MENOGAP, an education and self-management curriculum, to meet the unique needs of these communities, highlighting the potential of CBPR in addressing health inequities among diverse menopausal populations.

TBD