The Vagus Nerve and Healing Require Neural Plasticity, Not Just Nutrients

By: Marcy Schoenborn

You’ve probably seen claims that a supplement can “heal your vagus nerve.” But the truth is, no pill alone can retrain your nervous system or build the resilience you need for deep healing.

However, with our comprehensive SchoFit Program, which integrates healing nutrition, targeted movement, and teachings that support neuroplasticity, you can restore and heal your vagus nerve. This approach doesn’t just mask symptoms; it helps you rewire your body’s stress response, improve digestion, enhance your mood, and build a true foundation for long-term health.

1️⃣ The Vagus Nerve and Healing Require Neural Plasticity, Not Just Nutrients

• The vagus nerve’s tone and function depend heavily on neural plasticity and autonomic conditioning, which require behavioral and lifestyle inputs (e.g., breathwork, cold exposure, meditation, social safety) for lasting change (Porges, 2007; Porges, 2011).

• Supplements can support underlying conditions (inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, mitochondrial support), but they do not train the vagus nerve’s response to stress or rebuild its tone alone.

Citation:

• Porges SW. The polyvagal perspective. Biological Psychology. 2007;74(2):116–143. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009

• Porges SW. The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2009;76 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S86–S90. doi:10.3949/ccjm.76.s2.17

2️⃣ Supplements May Support Vagal Function, But Are Adjuncts

• Omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., EPA/DHA) may increase heart rate variability (HRV), reflecting improved vagal tone:

  • A study found fish oil supplementation increased HRV, suggesting parasympathetic (vagal) support (Kobayashi et al., 2013).

• Probiotics (specific strains) can influence the gut-brain axis via vagal pathways, supporting mood and stress response, but this is partial and strain-specific (Cryan et al., 2019).

• Magnesium supports nervous system relaxation but does not “heal” the vagus nerve without addressing lifestyle stressors.

• You're always better off to use food to do these jobs, then add a supplement to fill in gaps if needed.

Citations:

• Kobayashi M, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on heart rate variability in women. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2013;22(4):580–585. doi:10.6133/apjcn.2013.22.4.13

• Cryan JF, O’Riordan KJ, Cowan CSM, et al. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Physiol Rev. 2019;99(4):1877–2013. doi:10.1152/physrev.00018.2018

3️⃣ Why Supplements Alone Cannot Heal the Vagus Nerve

• Vagal tone and resilience are primarily determined by:

  • Breath patterns

  • Emotional safety

  • Social connection

  • Physical activity

  • Gut health

  • Sleep quality

• Supplements can support the environment for healing but cannot replace the neural repatterning required for vagal healing.

Supporting evidence:

• Lifestyle interventions (meditation, breathing, HRV biofeedback) consistently improve HRV and vagal tone in studies (Lehrer & Gevirtz, 2014; Laborde et al., 2017).

Citations:

• Lehrer PM, Gevirtz R. Heart rate variability biofeedback: how and why does it work? Front Psychol. 2014;5:756. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00756

• Laborde S, Mosley E, Thayer JF. Heart Rate Variability and Cardiac Vagal Tone in Psychophysiological Research – Recommendations for Experiment Planning, Data Analysis, and Data Reporting. Front Psychol. 2017;8:213. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00213

✅ Bottom Line:

No supplement can fully heal the vagus nerve.
Supplements can support your biological terrain (inflammation, deficiencies) to aid vagal function, but lifestyle practices, breathwork, and addressing stress patterns are necessary to rebuild vagal tone.