In this article called, Hacking the Nervous System, the influence of the Vagus nerve over levels of inflammation in the tissues of the body is discussed.  The Vagus nerve is an important control for the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells our body and minds that it is safe to relax, rest, and recover from the stresses of life.  It turns out that breathing and it’s resulting changes to heart rate can help to regulate the Vagus nerve, thereby demonstrating breath work and meditation’s calming effects on the nervous system which result in decreases of chronic inflammation in the body.