Salt, Lemon Juice and Vinegar. A valuable brainstem stimulator
I hope it’s ok to share this post which I found so fascinating of how body works. Post was written by Edythe Heus, fascia and movement expert. Found in the Skool group Rev6 Edythe Heus 2d • General discussion Salt, Lemon Juice and Vinegar. A valuable brainstem stimulator Years ago, Lois Laynee presented a webinar on the value of the cranial nerves and how to stimulate them to restore health for our community. Recently, I revisited this work and began re-incorporating it into both my patient care and my own daily practice. One of the most effective ways I’ve found to apply this is at the very beginning of a session, using taste to directly stimulate cranial nerve input into the brainstem. Before any movement or structural cueing, I’ll have the patient go through a simple sequence. Place a large grain of salt on the tip of the tongue and hold it just behind the front teeth, allowing it to dissolve slowly. This immediately stimulates salivation, brings awareness forward, and often reduces unnecessary tension in the jaw and face. From there, lightly apply lemon juice across the top of the tongue, along the sides, and into the insides of the cheeks. This sharpens sensory input and begins to shift breathing toward a more natural, less restricted pattern. Finally, a small amount of vinegar can be applied toward the back of the mouth, along the soft palate and arches near the uvula. This posterior stimulation connects more directly into deeper brainstem pathways and, when done gently, can further organize the system. All of this input feeds into the brainstem through cranial nerves, including the Vagus nerve, converging at the nucleus of the solitary tract. This is where breathing, heart rate, and digestion begin to organize. By the time this sequence is complete, you often see clear changes—improved salivation, a softer jaw and neck, a less rigid rib cage, and a more responsive breath without forcing it.