The Second Brain and Mastery of the Human Vehicle

The body’s second brain is often referred to as the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). There are hundreds of millions of neurons connecting the cranial brain to the second brain. This is the part of the nervous system that controls and monitors the entire gastrointestinal system from the esophagus to the anus. The really important thing to remember is this. The second brain or enteric nervous system is so extensive that it can act autonomously, with the discovery that if the main connection with the brain – the vagus nerve – is severed the ENS remains capable of coordinating digestion without input from the central nervous system. The second brain and cranial brain are of course in constant communication, however, as the Taoists understand and scientist are beginning to comprehend the second brain is about pure or primal awareness. It is absolutely essential that we bring daily focus into this centre if we are to bring balance back into our bodies and mastery of our human vehicles. Unfortunately as we age we become more disconnected from the gut and second brain preferring instead to constantly be “in the head”. On a superficial level this can be seen when we exercise the mid section less and accumulate fat in this area as a “protection” against life or perhaps more appropriately as a protection against our perceptions of life. It is further demonstrated by our lack of correct breathing techniques often chest breathing instead of abdominal breathing which has a catastrophic effect on the body in the long term.

Our cranial brain performs complex computations and rational thinking. Our second brain gets messages from both our external and internal environment which it sends back to our cranial brain. Unfortunately these messages are often ignored much to the detriment of our bodies and the smooth running of our lives. We often fall back into the rational of the mind. Ignoring these messages of “discomfort” both from our external and internal environment chronically will lead to gastrointestinal issues and mental/emotional issues leading finally to physical diseases.

We now know that the second brain is not just capable of autonomy but also influences the cranial brain. In fact, about 90 per cent of the signals passing along the vagus nerve come not from above, but from the ENS (American Journal of Physiology – Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, vol 283, p G1217). However the subconscious “gut instinct” much spoken about is a double edged sword. When we are in complete balance and not in “our heads” the second brain does send signals to the brain that may or may not be acted upon by the cranial brain. Very often and much to our detriment these signals are not acted upon because they contradict the logical and limited mind. When we do move on them we are often pleasantly surprised by the outcome feeling more “connected” to something much greater. Often though the signals coming from “gut instinct” are actually instigated by the cranial brain because of past subconscious programming or cellular memory, and we shut down an otherwise sound intuitive and inspirational idea because of anxiety and fear.

The network of neurons in the gut is as plentiful and complex as the network of neurons in our spinal cord, which may seem overly complex just to keep track of digestion. Why is our gut the only organ in our body that needs its own “brain”? Is it just to manage the process of digestion? Or could it be that one job of our second brain is to listen in on the trillions of microbes residing in th

Courtesy: David Kyle

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