Types of Nerves in the Body

What do activities like lifting weights, digesting delicious food, applying skincare, and even breathing all have in common? All these functions, plus a whole lot more, can be done with the nervous system found throughout the body.

Think of this system, composed of many nerves, as an expressway that lets signals travel freely through it so your body functions properly and you’re able to go through daily routines with ease.¹ With a scale this massive, though, one can wonder: How can these nerves constantly work with precision, given the many tasks you do daily?

The answer may come in many types of nerves grouped into systems and have specific roles. Understand why the nervous system is important to the human body a little better with the help of this guide and see how you can keep your nerves healthy in the long run.

How Many Types of Nerves Are There in the Human Body?

There are three types of functional nerves found within the body, all of which have their different purposes:³

• Autonomic nerves: These take care of processes you don’t even have to think about, like breathing, digesting food, or keeping your heart beating. These are further divided into two types. The sympathetic nerves help your body react when stressed, such as by speeding up your heart rate. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nerves help you calm down afterward by slowing down your heart rate.
• Motor nerves: These are your movement makers. They send signals from your brain to your muscles so you can walk, smile, wave, or dance.
• Sensory nerves: These let you feel and experience the world — from the warmth of the sun to the taste of your favorite dish. They send information like touch, smell, sight, and sound to your brain.¹

How These All-Important Nerves Stay Powered and Energized

Nutrients are essential in maintaining optimal nerve health, ensuring proper function while reducing the risk of problems like ngalay (pain), manhid (numbness), and tusok-tusok (tingling). This is where certain B vitamins can come in and help boost nerve health:

While the individual capabilities of these three B vitamins are impressive on their own, it’s a different ballgame when they work together synergistically. Findings have revealed that vitamins B1, B6, and B12 can help speed up the regeneration and recovery of injured nerves,⁵ promote enhanced motor control, and assist in relieving neuropathic pain.⁶

These abilities allow B vitamins to positively impact and protect a very crucial component of daily function that many people may overlook. If you haven’t paid closer attention to your nerves yet, take this guide as a sign to get things started.

*Based on findings from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Bank on These Sources of Beneficial B Vitamins

The food you eat daily can be a vital source of B vitamins that not only assist in delivering energy to the body but also help lower the risk of deficiencies that can trigger problems like ngalay, manhid, and tusok-tusok. Examples of B-vitamin-rich food include eggs, whole grains, avocados, poultry, and fish.⁸

Some people can also benefit from taking supplements like Vitamin B1+B6+B12 (Pharex® B-Complex). Together with proper diet and exercise, the three B vitamins in this formula may help:

• Promote the optimal health of nerves found within the body
• Facilitate smooth delivery of signals between nerve cells
• Prevent and address B vitamin deficiencies
• Relieve neuromuscular pain

Suggested use of Vitamin B1+B6+B12 (Pharex® B-Complex) is one (1) to two (2) tablets daily, or as recommended by a doctor. It is available in leading drugstores nationwide and online via Lazada and Shopee at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php5.50 per tablet.

Consult your healthcare professional before use, especially if already on medications.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.