The Connection Between the Skin and the Nervous System
- jordanmoon14
- Sep 27, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 2, 2023
By: Jordan Moon, Herbalist, RYT200, Student of Medical Astrology
Everything is connected. We, as beings, are a part of the whole (nature, global community, friend group, family unit, etc.). The parts of us are also parts of the whole that is our body. Zoom out, Zoom in. Macrocosm, microcosm.
Our skin and our nervous systems are each parts of the whole that is our body.
The nervous system originates in the brain and runs down the spinal cord, and proceeds to literally all parts of the body, including the skin. The nervous system is how we interface with the world around us.
For a moment, think about what it feels like to hug a loved one- you sense the temperature, firmness or softness of their touch. You also sense their energy and their mood, all of which evoke feelings within you. Think about what it feels like to slam your finger in the door… Ouch! Or what it feels like touch a baby’s bottom. All of the ways that we are perceiving are through our nervous system. Even the energy that we sense with our heart is translated through our nervous system.
The skin of a young adult is estimated to be innervated by around “230,000 tactile afferent fibers” (1) , also known as nerve endings. The nerve endings extend to the layer of skin called the dermis, which is just below the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. One of my
early herbalist teachers stressed the importance of not putting something on your
skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth. The skin is a highly absorbable organ (which it why it is so important to choose your skincare products, sunscreens, perfumes, deodorants, etc. wisely!)
Much of what we put on our skin is absorbed through the the outer layer of skin, the epidermis and into the dermal layer of skin, which houses nerve endings, blood vessels, hair follicles, lymphatic vessels and sweat glands.
The myelin sheath is a tissue made up of lipids and proteins that coats the nerve fibers and allows for proper electroconductivity through the nerves. Fats and oils are vital to the proper functioning of the nervous system. Fats and oils are associated with the water element. Staying hydrated is drinking water as well as taking in a sufficient amount of healthy fats and oils. Some people experience stress through skin ailments, whether it be dry skin, itchy skin, rosacea or impaired wound healing, this is because a cascade of physiological functions of the body in response to stress.
I have this beautiful vision about healing that comes from multiple spectrums. Imagine the ailment in the middle, and in order to heal we approach the ailment from multiple directions and dimensions. For example, in someone with a stressed out nervous system we could approach healing by: adjusting fat and oil intake in the diet, making sure there is adequate intake of B and D vitamins and possibly supplementing, implementing the practice of dry brushing and full body massage with high quality oils (whether this is a self massage or by a practitioner), adjust the lifestyle exposure to stress and practice training the nervous system to become more resilient to stressors that do come in by practices like meditation. It is possible to go even more deeply to the underlying energetic causes of imbalance; for example according to best- selling author, Louise Hay, the skin protects our individuality and causes of skin ailments can be due to anxiety, fear, old and buried things, or being threatened (2). It is interesting to see that many of the causes Hay mentions also have a physiological action within the nervous system.
All in all, here we can see how the skin and the nervous system are intricately connected parts of the whole. As someone who has needed a tremendous amount of healing of my skin and my nervous system, I have crafted a collection of exquisite herbal massage oils and integrated them into my personal self-care practice. Along with other therapies I have had soothing, nourishing and real results. If you are stressed out, or would like to more fully nourish your skin and nervous system with 100% natural, organic, wildcrafted or homegrown ingredients with absolutely no chemicals visit the Embodied Elements Self-Care Shop to explore or purchase an herbal massage oil.
1. Journal of Neurophysiology
2. Causes of Symptoms According to Louise Hay
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