Empowered Wellness Education
Understanding the deeper systems that influence energy, metabolism, and long-term health




  • Jacqueline McLaughlin
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The vagus nerve, often called the “wandering nerve,” is the longest cranial nerve in our bodies, traveling from the brainstem to the abdomen and impacting multiple organs along the way. It plays a crucial role in our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the "rest and digest" functions, and is essential for maintaining a state of calm and resilience. A well-toned vagus nerve helps regulate heart rate, digestion, immune response, and mood, while a poorly functioning vagus nerve can lead to stress, anxiety, and digestive issues. Here, we’ll explore how Young Living essential oils can support and nourish the vagus nerve, helping to balance and calm the nervous system.

How Essential Oils Benefit the Vagus Nerve
Essential oils have been used for centuries to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall wellbeing. Through aromatic and topical application, certain essential oils have the potential to stimulate the vagus nerve, creating a ripple effect throughout the nervous system. Whether applied to specific points, inhaled, or used in diffusers, these oils can help bring balance to our autonomic nervous system, grounding and calming us while supporting resilience against daily stressors.

Key Essential Oils for Vagus Nerve
Each essential oil listed below has unique properties that can positively impact the vagus nerve and the broader nervous system:
  1. Lavender ~ Known for its calming effects, lavender is a natural choice for supporting the vagus nerve. It helps promote relaxation, reduces anxiety, and encourages restful sleep. Lavender's gentle aroma can calm an overactive nervous system, allowing the body to return to a balanced state.
  2. Lime ~ Lime essential oil has uplifting and energizing effects. Its fresh scent can help reduce stress and increase mental clarity. Inhaling lime oil can stimulate the vagus nerve by invoking a sense of refreshment and calm focus.
  3. Clove ~ Clove oil is rich in eugenol, an antioxidant compound with anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce physical tension, which can relieve stress on the nervous system, promoting a more balanced state of calm and helping the vagus nerve respond more effectively to stress.
  4. Bergamot ~ Bergamot is highly valued for its mood-enhancing properties. It is commonly used in aromatherapy to reduce stress and anxiety by stimulating the production of serotonin and dopamine. This oil’s calming influence on the nervous system makes it an excellent support for the vagus nerve.
  5. Juniper ~ Juniper is both grounding and cleansing. Its balancing effect on the nervous system can reduce feelings of anxiety, making it easier to achieve a state of calm. Juniper’s subtle woodsy aroma also has a stabilizing effect, which can encourage a sense of peace and centeredness.
  6. Roman Chamomile ~ Roman chamomile is famous for its relaxing effects. It can reduce tension, soothe irritability, and ease the mind. This oil can be diffused or applied topically to encourage deeper relaxation and enhance vagus nerve function by helping to quiet the mind and release tension.
  7. Vetiver ~ Vetiver has grounding properties that make it ideal for reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Known for its deep, earthy aroma, vetiver can support nervous system balance and provide relief from anxious thoughts, helping the vagus nerve operate smoothly.
  8. Melissa ~ Melissa, or lemon balm, is a calming oil that supports emotional balance. It can help relieve stress and promote relaxation, which aids in restoring vagal tone. Known for its mood-lifting properties, melissa oil is ideal for times when the nervous system needs extra soothing support.
  9. Orange ~ Orange essential oil is cheerful and uplifting, helping to reduce feelings of tension. Inhaling its sweet aroma can stimulate a positive response in the nervous system, helping to alleviate stress and enhance the function of the vagus nerve.
  10. Petitgrain ~ Petitgrain is derived from the bitter orange tree and has a calming, floral aroma. It can help reduce stress, relieve insomnia, and support relaxation, making it an excellent choice for nourishing the nervous system and enhancing vagal tone.

Using Essential Oils for Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Essential oils can be used in several ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and support the nervous system.  One very convenient method is using a Roll-On.  Here's a great Roll-on Recipe including all the oils mentioned in this blog.  
Vagus Nerve Roll-on Recipe:
Fill any size roll-on bottle 3/4 full with equal drops of each of the following oils.  Top off with your favorite carrier oil.  Roll the bottle between your hands to blend them together.  Apply to the mastoid bone behind each ear. 
  • Lavender
  • Lime
  • Clove
  • Bergamot
  • Juniper
  • Roman chamomile
  • Vetiver
  • Melissa
  • Orange
  • Petitgrain
I've created a "Wish List" for these oils that you can find here:  VAGUS NERVE WISH LIST
I would love to hear back from you if you decide to make this roll-on!  I find it extremely calming and nourishing to my nervous system and hope you do, too! 
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About Jacque

With over two decades of experience in natural wellness, Jacque McLaughlin helps women understand the deeper systems that influence energy, metabolism, brain function, and long-term vitality.

Her work focuses on restoring balance through natural, systems-based approaches that support the body’s innate intelligence.

If you're new, this is the best place to start.
Explore foundational wellness education designed to help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you.

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Brain & Cognitive HealthEmotional WellnessEnergy & MetabolismFoundational WellnessHormonesStress & Nervous System

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Empowered Wellness Education explores the deeper systems that influence how your body functions and adapts over time. This work focuses on understanding first—because when you understand what your body has been doing and why, the path forward becomes clearer, calmer, and more effective.


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For decades, I lived and worked in a high-stress environment as a court reporter, balancing demanding 80-hour workweeks while raising my son as a single mother.

From the outside, I was strong and capable. But internally, the chronic pressure was quietly reshaping my body in ways I didn’t yet understand.

Over time, the effects of prolonged stress began to surface—fatigue, imbalance, and eventually an autoimmune diagnosis that forced me to pause and reconsider everything I thought I knew about health.

What I discovered changed the trajectory of my life.

I began to understand that the body is not fragile or broken. It is adaptive, intelligent, and constantly responding to its environment. Symptoms were not random failures. They were signals—evidence of deeper systems working hard to protect and preserve balance under prolonged strain.

This realization shifted my focus completely.

Instead of chasing symptoms or forcing solutions, I began studying the underlying systems that influence energy, metabolism, brain function, hormones, and long-term vitality. As I supported those systems using natural, sustainable approaches, my body began to restore balance in ways I had not thought possible.

That experience became the foundation of my work.

For more than two decades, I have helped others understand their bodies through this same systems-based lens—helping them move from frustration and confusion to clarity and confidence in their wellness journey.

My work is not about quick fixes or temporary solutions. It is about helping you understand what your body has been communicating, so you can support it in restoring balance naturally and sustainably.

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