Vagus nerve central to the gut-brain axis

ASK THE DOCTORS

Dear Doctors: I keep reading about how the vagus nerve has a lot to do with things like mood, digestion and keeping your brain healthy. Where is it located? Supposedly there is even a kind of technique where rubbing it can help with anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome? I want to know if that is true.

Dear Reader: The vagus nerve is a long, branching and meandering nerve that serves …