Bodywork and the nervous system

Image credit: The Horse Herbalist

A balanced nervous system for a balanced equine partner

A resilient and balanced nervous system enables an individual (animals and humans) to maintain internal stability while adjusting  to external changing conditions (homeostasis).  Processes such as respiration, cardiovascular function, digestion, as well as emotional regulation and the immune system are able to function properly.

The nervous system is divided into the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) and a vast network of nerves (peripheral nervous system) that branches off the central nervous system into all parts of the body.

The peripheral nervous system allows the brain and spinal cord to send and receive signals from all areas of the body. It is further divided into the autonomic (involuntary functions) and somatic nervous system (voluntary movement).  

Taking a closer look at the autonomic NS, it is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions such as breathing, reproduction, digestion, heartbeat, and fluid flow. The parasympathetic and sympathetic branches are responsible for driving these functions.

Parasympathetic Response - Initiates Rest, Relaxation, and Digestion in the body.

Sympathetic Response - Initiates Fight or Flight responses in the body.

Image credit: The Horse Herbalist

Nervous System out of balance

Any accident, trauma, chemicals, and stressors can cause an imbalance in the nervous system. Included are high stress situations, living conditions or a diet that is not optimal for the body. When facing threats, the NS sends the body into a fight or flight response, actively engaging the sympathetic nervous system. Breathing and heart rate increase, blood is shunted to the lower extremities and prepare the body to flee. If fleeing is not possible and fighting is not an option (fleeing is the preferred option, as horses are prey animals), the body experiences a freeze response or immobility/collapse. If the threat disappears, the body slowly comes out of the freeze response by shaking and trembling the residual energy out of its system, successfully returning to a state of balance.

Horses in the wild are often able to complete this freeze response through mobilization. Domesticated horses however often get caught in the cycle of hyper arousal and immobilization. They often face chronic stressors, isolation, confinement, non-attuned caregivers, and fear. If in constant chronic states of dysregulation, the survival energy remains stuck within the body, causing anxiety, depression, disassociation, numbing, as well as physical problems. Since the horse is a flight animal, their nervous systems also does not easily allow the body to completely let go of tension. Often, pain and discomfort are blocked out to decrease vulnerability. Therefore, many domestic horses display an autonomic nervous system imbalance. These horses do not always show nervous, inconsistent, or defensive behaviour. Many result to subtly disconnecting from their surroundings, seeming calm and regulated on the outside. They have often however withdrawn to the inside, engagement and curiosity have declined.

During bodywork, the parasympathetic pathways can be gently activated. Gentle and non-invasive techniques bypass the sympathetic response that would otherwise be likely to brace or block. There are several ways to engage parasympathetic responses such as the vagus nerve pathyway to facilitate relaxation responses in the body. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve of the parasympathetic NS and innervates vital organs such as the heart and lungs. Keeping this nerve toned facilitates adequate parasympathetic responses, including relaxation and increased blood flow to the tissues and digestive organs.   Healing and restoring can take place, long-held tension can be released, digestion and respiration can be improved. A regular bodywork schedule enables horses to access their parasympathetic nervous system and regulate themselves so that all systems can function properly. The vagal tone will increase and so will the horse's resilience towards internal and external stressors. Also of importance, only when the parasympathetic NS is online, will aspects such as connection and social engagement come alive. A very important aspect for horses, as they thrive on connection within their herd environment, which in turns provides them with the feelings of safety that they so long for.

Bodywork and the parasympathetic nervous system