Prof Owen Epstein, a renowned and pioneering professor of gastroenterology at the Royal Free Hospital, introduced and explained the role of the vagus nerve, the information superhighway of the body, that monitors and maintains “inner balance”. He also outlined a new system called Bodyguard2 that measures stress, sleep quality and provides a physiological measurement of wellbeing. This innovation helps us understand our body’s stress level which in turn, helps understand symptoms where “hardware” tests fail to explain ill-health. Prof Epstein also discusses treatment designed to restore physiological wellbeing.