The Enteric Nervous System

Most of us are familiar with the Central Nervous System (CNS), some have heard of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), however, few have probably heard of the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), or at least I know I hadn't heard of it before my yoga anatomy class last night.

Some refer to the ENS as our second brain yet it's still fairly unknown territory. We do know, however, that it's as complex as the spinal cord, located in the gastrointestinal system, and made up of considerably more neurons than the spinal cord. It sends and receives messages and responds to emotions just like the brain in our heads. Both of these brains have the potential to work in tandem. For example, when the brain in your head senses a frightening situation it releases stress hormones that prepare your body to either fight or take flight. At the same time, sensory nerves in the stomach are stimulated by the stress hormones produced by the central brain resulting in what we've come to call the 'butterflies'.

Over the past couple of years, I've learned to follow my gut and now, having learned more about the enteric nervous system, I have even more faith in what it's telling me. So, if you don't already, the next time you have an uneasy feeling in your gut, take note.