The Vagus Nerve Solution: Optimize Total Body Health with Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress, Soothe Anxiety, Improve Digestion, and Ease Chronic Pain

by Lorilee Lucas

The Vagus Nerve Rebuild Your Health. Reclaim Your Calm. Restore Your Life.

After years of chronic illness, the author lost her career to Covid, her home to a California wildfire, and her marriage under the weight of it all. Forced to rebuild from the ground up, she discovered one healing begins when your nervous system feels safe again. The Vagus Nerve Solution is the compassionate, science-backed guide born from that journey, a roadmap to help you move your body out of survival mode and into healing through nervous system regulation and vagus nerve stimulation.

If you’ve lived with chronic stress, anxiety, fatigue, digestive issues, or pain, you already know how exhausting it is to keep pushing through. This book will help you finally exhale. Through gentle polyvagal exercises, somatic awareness, and daily self-regulation tools, you’ll learn to retrain your body to feel calm, improve digestion, and experience real relief.

Backed by science yet written in clear, everyday language, this book transforms complex research on the vagus nerve, trauma recovery, and the mind-body connection into simple habits anyone can follow. You’ll discover practical techniques for a nervous system reset, emotional balance, and stress management strategies that support healing from the inside out.

What You’ll Experience

Relief from chronic pain, tension, and fatigueCalmer moods and improved focusBetter sleep and digestionA stronger immune systemRenewed sense of peace, clarity, and energyInside You’ll Learn

The science of the vagus nerve and how it regulates your body’s stress responseStep-by-step vagus nerve stimulation and polyvagal exercises to restore balanceHow to activate your body’s natural healing through breath, movement, and somatic therapy techniquesSimple practices for emotional regulation and mental health improvementEffective tools for stress reduction and better sleepTrauma-informed methods for nervous system regulation and recoveryPractical routines to support digestion, immunity, and total body wellnessHere’s What Readers Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “After years of pain, this book showed me the missing piece… simple vagus nerve exercises that work.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Clear, useful manual… lowered my stress, improved digestion, and eased pain.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Amazing guide to vagus nerve health… the best book I’ve found on natural healing.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Eye-opening! Breathing and tapping exercises I use every day. This book makes it simple.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Readable and helpful! Blends science and holistic practices into daily healing.”

If you’ve tried everything and still feel stuck in survival mode, this book will help you reconnect with your body’s natural ability to heal.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2024

Reviews

[Katharine Transue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really enjoyed this book! As someone who was already somewhat familiar with the vegus nerve, I was so surprised to discover how little I actually knew. This book provided so much more depth and breadth on the topic. Lorilee Lucas’ writing style is so smooth and easy to follow, which allowed her to share more of the science behind the Vegus Nerve concepts, while still keeping the content really digestible, interesting, and surprisingly fast to read. I was already implementing a few of the techniques presented in this book, but I had no idea how far reaching the effects could be in my life and health. Now Lorilee has given me even more tools to use and more reasons to want to use them! A really great book, and a must read for everyone, but especially someone who wants the cheat code for how to really thrive in their body and life!

[Rozsa Gaston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening and instantly helpful

This book offers simple, immediately applicable breathing and tapping exercises to calm anxiety and strengthen the vagal nerve pathways. Chptr. 11 contains breathing exercises that are easy to remember and can be done anywhere. A helpful and informative book.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

great information!

Great information! Will be using this to supplement my therapeutic practices with my clients and their families! Somatic therapy is so important!

[Cara Bramlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book!

I really enjoyed this book and the evidence based approach to the vagus nerve. Everything is spot on! I specifically liked the breathing and cold therapy.

[Nancy Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book! It starts with a science-based, biological explanation of how the Vegas nerve works and how it effects the other systems of the body. The explanations are detailed but easy to understand. The part that I enjoyed the most was the clear instruction on how to start doing exercises to help tone the Vegas nerve. Most of the exercises are easy. They don’t cost a lot of time and money to implement but they are also powerful and effective. The final section helps with implementing these exercises into the routine of your daily lifestyle. This is really helpful because I think many of us absorb information, and then go back to our regular lives, never fully implementing what we have learned. This book makes sure you are not left alone in figuring that part out! I’ve read books on the Vegas nerve before, and I’ve felt like screaming “Okay. I’m convinced! Now tell me what to do! ” Often the advice is to find a specialist that costs a lot of money and lives a million miles away to get help. This book tells you what to do with small, easy steps you can do at home that are free or very inexpensive! I highly recommend it!

[Diana Mikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vagus Nerve Solution is the book I didn’t know I needed. As someone brand-new to the topic, I’m grateful for how clearly it explains what the vagus nerve is, how it influences the parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” response, and why vagal tone matters for stress, mood, digestion, and overall resilience. Complex ideas—like the gut–brain axis and polyvagal theory—are translated into plain language without losing credibility, which made me feel informed rather than overwhelmed.

What I appreciated most is the book’s practicality. Each chapter closes with simple, evidence-informed techniques I could start immediately: gentle breathwork (box breathing and 4-7-8), humming/chanting to stimulate the vagus, brief cold exposure (face splashes or short showers), posture cues, and short movement or yoga sequences. The daily “Vagal Reset” routines—morning, midday, and evening—helped me create a repeatable rhythm instead of random experiments. There’s also thoughtful guidance on sleep, nutrition, and co-regulation in relationships.

Within a week, I noticed steadier energy, fewer stress spikes, and a calmer baseline. The tone is warm, encouraging, and beginner-friendly while still feeling thorough. If you want a complete breakdown and a toolkit you’ll actually use, this book delivers—clear, compassionate, and genuinely actionable. Highly recommended.

[Taylor Matijevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is an excellent guide that can be helpful for those struggling with stress, chronic pain, anxiety, or digestive issues. It explains the vagus nerve with a scientific background yet in simple enough terms to get across how important the vagus nerve really is in regards to health and healing.

I like that it covered breathing exercises, food tips, and real stories that are encouraging and make the content feel practical and approachable. This is overall a very powerful book for those that are looking to work on improving their health without medicine.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because stress and digestive pain had been weighing on me for a long time. What I liked is the clarity of the explanations and especially how easy the techniques are. I did not need any special equipment and I could integrate them little by little into my routine. The breathing exercises help me sleep better and I have noticed less tension day to day. It is a practical and encouraging guide, accessible to everyone.

[Tish Turrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, very informative resource book on the Vagus Nerve. After reading this book and learning how critical this nerve is to the proper functioning of so many parts of the body, I am just amazed that I had never heard of the Vagus Nerve before!!
Kudos and thanks to the author, Lorilee Lucas, for educating me!!

[Michelle Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its clear explanations, practical techniques, and holistic approach make it an empowering guide for those seeking natural and effective ways to manage stress, anxiety, digestive issues, and chronic pain.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It really explains the benefits that the vagus nerve provides and how to use the exercises for optimal health! I would highly recommend this book to anyone out there but especially those having experienced trauma or high levels of stress.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - there was a bit of repetition that felt like she was trying to hit a word count but that's my only critique.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vagus Nerve Solution by Lorilee Lucas is a game-changer for anyone looking to improve their overall health and well-being. Lucas masterfully breaks down complex concepts surrounding the vagus nerve and offers simple, actionable techniques to reduce stress, soothe anxiety, and improve digestion. The practical steps are easy to follow, and the book is filled with useful insights that make you feel empowered to take control of your health. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or just looking for ways to optimize your body’s natural functions, this book is a must-read!