Parasympathetic nervous system

The parasympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system and is often described as the “rest and digest” counterpart to the sympathetic “fight or flight” system.

It regulates functions such as heart rate, digestion and recovery after stress. In pain medicine, the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity is important: chronic pain often leads to sympathetic overactivity and reduced parasympathetic tone, which worsens inflammation, stress and poor sleep. Treatments that restore parasympathetic balance — including relaxation, biofeedback, vagus nerve stimulation and breathing exercises — can reduce pain perception and improve resilience.