What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

Your autonomic nervous system is split into two branches - the sympathetic branch and the parasympathetic nervous branch. Each branch has opposing functions, and they are activated more or less depending on the situation that you are in and how much stress you are experiencing.

In this article, we’re going to focus on the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will know all of the basics of your ‘rest and digest’ system!

What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

The parasympathetic nervous system is part of your autonomic nervous system. It is responsible for the rest and digest  side of your bodily functions. In other words, it’s activated when you are in a more relaxed state, as opposed to the sympathetic nervous system, which is activated when you are stressed or fearful.

What is the Function of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

The main purpose of the parasympathetic nervous system is to help your body conserve energy. It also functions to regulate a range of body systems, such as digestion and urination.

More specifically, the main functions of the nervous system include:

• Salivation - the production of saliva, which contains salivary digestive enzymes that begin the breakdown of food in your mouth.
• Digestion - alongside saliva production, the parasympathetic nervous system also causes peristalsis, which is the contraction of the muscle walls in the stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. It also stimulates the release of bile, which helps to break down dietary fats.
• Waste elimination - the parasympathetic nervous system causes contraction of the bladder and bowel muscles to stimulate urination or a bowel movement.
• Lacrimation - the production of tears is stimulated by the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

How Can You Activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

The parasympathetic nervous system will naturally be activated in certain situations. However, there are some things that you can do to increase the activation of your parasympathetic nervous system to feel more relaxed and reduce your stress levels.

Here are some great things that you can do to activate the parasympathetic branch of your autonomic nervous system:

• Take some deep breaths
• Practice yoga
• Do some stretching
• Spend time in nature
• Get a relaxing massage
• Play with children or pets
• Laugh with your friends
• Listen to relaxing music
• Do something creative, such as coloring, painting, or drawing