Regulating your nervous system is critical for maintaining a healthy mental and physical wellbeing. When you have a balanced nervous system, your body can handle challenges and stress with a clearer approach, rather than overwhelming the nervous system. We spoke to Naturopath Melanie Hartskeerl to find out her expert tips on how to regulate that nearvous system and keep you body and mind in check.

“Generally if you have unhealthy habits, ongoing stress or trauma your body might suffer from chronic dysregulation. If you can find tools and techniques to calm and support your nervous system, you might find the perfect way to help regulate it.” Says Melanie

If you’d like to book with Melanie head to her website at Wildsoul Wellness

Contrast Therapy

Contrast therapy involves alternating between hot and cold plunges, offering many benefits for the body and mind. Particular popular in muscle recovery, the sudden and drastic shifts in temperature can help stimulate circulation, aid muscle recovery and reduce inflammation. Contrast therapy can also help build a mental fitness in resilience by challenging the nervous system and training it to return to a calm state given the physical shock of the temperatures. Repeat sessions of contrast therapy can aid regulation and enhance overall wellbeing.

Sauna’s

Time in a sauna is another effective way to help regulate your nervous system. The frequent exposure to a sauna can help shift the body into a calm, more relaxed state and out of a stress response. The heat from the sauna is also known to improve circulation and aids in releasing endorphins, and thus the more exposure to sauna sessions the more your body can stabilise its nervous system function.

Breathwork

Breathwork and mindfulness is a powerful tool in regulating your nervous system. Breathing we know directly influence’s the body’s response to stress and thus when you engage in deep, slow breathing, you can activate a healthy nervous system response, encouraging calm and relaxation. With practice and use, breathwork can help improve your nervous system regulation and encourage more of a restorative state.

Tea and powders

The use of natural tea’s and herb leaves can help regulate the nervous system through promoting balanced mood’s and reducing stress. Calming herbs such as lavender, lemon balm and chamomile are known to have mild effects that soothe the nervous system and aid in the ease of anxiety. When used consistently, natural remedies such as super-powder’s and tea’s may assist in supporting to balance the nervous system function.

Regular physical activity

Consistent fitness and physical activity plays an important role in regulating the nervous system, particularly in maintaining mood and stress. Through physical activity, your body is releasing “happy hormones” which in turn, supports emotional stability and can regulate the autonomic nervous