“I can’t shake off my tiredness lately.”
“I don’t feel refreshed even after sleeping.”
“My head feels heavy and I can’t concentrate.”
Do you ever feel this way?
If you’re not ill but your body keeps feeling a little off, one possible cause is an imbalance in your autonomic nervous system.
In this article, we look at the role of the autonomic nervous system, what throws it off balance and simple ways to restore it in daily life.
What Is the Autonomic Nervous System?
The autonomic nervous system works 24 hours a day without our having to think about it.
It controls functions essential to keeping us alive, such as breathing, body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and sleep.
It has two branches:
• the sympathetic nervous system (active, alert mode)
• the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and relaxation mode)
During the day, the sympathetic nervous system takes the lead so we can be active; at night, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, switching the body into rest mode so we fall asleep naturally.
When these two switch smoothly and stay in balance, our bodies remain healthy.
Common Effects of an Imbalanced Autonomic Nervous System
Ongoing stress, lack of sleep, an irregular lifestyle and long hours on smartphones or computers can easily throw the autonomic nervous system off balance.
When that happens, you may experience problems such as:
• trouble falling asleep
• light, shallow sleep
• a heavy head
• stiff neck and shoulders
• lingering fatigue
• trouble staying focused
These are some of the issues that may appear.
Of course, these symptoms can have many causes, so not all of them are necessarily due to the autonomic nervous system.
Still, reviewing your lifestyle and consciously making time to relax are important for keeping your mind and body in good condition.
Head Massage and the Autonomic Nervous System
The relationship between head massage and the autonomic nervous system has also been studied.
In a study of healthy women, researchers reported that after a 15-minute scalp massage, activity of the sympathetic nervous system (dominant when we’re active) decreased, while activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (dominant when we’re relaxed) increased.
The researchers suggest that scalp massage may help guide the mind and body into a relaxed state.
Of course, head massage is not a medical treatment and does not cure autonomic imbalance.
However, we believe there is value in making head massage one of the ways you create time to slowly rest your mind and body amid busy days.
What You Can Do Starting Today to Restore Balance
Daily habits also matter for keeping your autonomic nervous system in balance.
For example:
• get some morning sunlight after you wake up
• do light exercise such as walking
• keep a regular sleep schedule
• take a long, relaxing bath in lukewarm water
• practice deep breathing and stretching
Consciously make time to relax.
Small steps like these, built up over time, can help bring your autonomic nervous system back into balance.
Looking for a Head Massage in Shinjuku? Visit La HEAD
La HEAD is a head massage salon with fully private rooms, a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station.
Through technical collaboration with nationally licensed staff at an osteopathic clinic (seikotsu-in), we incorporate knowledge of body structure and muscle connections into our treatments.
By caring for the head, neck, shoulders and arms as one connected whole, we tailor each treatment to your individual condition.
“I haven’t had time to relax lately.”
“I want to slowly soothe the fatigue in my head, neck and shoulders.”
If that sounds like you, please come and visit La HEAD.
We look forward to welcoming you.