Your Autonomic Nervous System

Amy Olson
Jan 20
2 min read

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulates the internal body processes that require no conscious awareness. For example, the rate of heart contractions, breathing, and the speed at which food passes through the digestive tract. The ANS is divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic sides. They can be thought of as the body’s gas pedal and brakes.

Each of the two sides of your nervous system uses specific counter balancing minerals and nutrients to fuel their controlling mechanisms. There are certain symptoms that can indicate dominance of either side, which may be helped through supplementing deficient minerals and nutrients that support the opposite side.

Parasympathetic is primarily alkaline ash minerals, including potassium. Sympathetic is primarily acid ash minerals, including phosphorus. Sometimes people can have both sympathetic and parasympathetic dominance which means your body has a difficult time maintaining balance between the two states and swings between both extremes. This indicates a need for nutritional support for both sides.

Sympathetic Dominance

The sympathetic side relates to the speeding up of body processes as it responds to both external and internal stressors. At its most extreme influence we are in what is called “flight or fight” mode - our response to extremely stressful or emergency situations. While sympathetic dominance is necessary, even lifesaving, it prevents the proper operation of the parasympathetic side, which is equally as important.

Sympathetic dominance can be indicated by the presence of symptoms that show a keyed up, hyper functioning, over alertness which causes an under-functioning of the parasympathetic with symptoms such as poor digestion, difficulty relaxing, getting a good night’s sleep, racing or erratic pulse, or difficulty with bathroom functions.

Primary indicators of Sympathetic Dominance symptoms:

Acid food upsets
Unable to relax, startles easily
Reduced appetite
Dry mouth, eyes
Cold sweats, get chilled often
Extremities cold, clammy
Sour stomach
Cuts heal slowly
Nervous stomach
Strong light irritates

Parasympathetic Dominance

The parasympathetic side influences resting, nourishing, and repair aspects of our body. While parasympathetic influence is necessary, allowing recharge and recovery from stresses, imbalance of the parasympathetic can also prevent the proper operation of the sympathetic side.

Parasympathetic dominance can be indicated by the presence of symptoms that both show a slowed down, under-energetic nature, and an under-functioning of the sympathetic side such as frequent illness, slow to heal injuries, dislike of exercise, and lack of motivation.

Primary indicators of Parasympathetic Dominance symptoms: