06/15/2025
I was away at an advanced functional medicine cardiology conference in Arizona, put on by the AAMP. I learned a TONNE! Cardiac disease, cardiac events, remain the number one cause of death. There are so many exciting advancments in this field to much better moniter, heal, and repair. I feel well equipped to help!
And this fun insight, which clinically we know to be true and know, the science caught up:
Thanks to Dr. Parcell for sharing:
The Heart Is Our Second Brain
The second brain idea is supported by research in the field of neurocardiology. The heart contains an intrinsic nervous system made up of about 40,000 neurons, sometimes referred to as the "heart brain“, which can sense, feel, learn, and remember independently of the brain in the head. This neural network communicates with the brain via the vagus nerve, hormones, and electromagnetic fields, influencing emotional processing, cognitive function, and decision-making.
Studies suggest that the heart plays a central role in emotional regulation and can even affect brain rhythms and performance, reinforcing the idea that it is more than just a pump—it's a key player in our cognitive and emotional systems.
MC C R A T Y , R . , B R A D L E Y , R . T . , & T O MA S I N O , D .
( 2 0 0 9 ) . T H E H E A R T - B R A I N C O N N E C T I O N : T H E
N E U R O S C I E N C E O F T H E H E A R T ’ S I N T R I N S I C C A R D I A C
N E R V O U S S Y S T E M. I N " N E U R O C A R D I O L O G Y :
E X P L O R I N G T H E B R A I N - H E A R T C O N N E C T I O N " ,
I N S T I T U T E O F H E A R TMA T H
