The Second Brain - More metaphors and science

I read an article in O by Chip Brown on gut thinking which referred to the enteric nervous system and vagus nerve that link the gut to the brain. Not only doe it regulate digestion and play a role in the body's immune system, it's also full of biochemicals characterized as the "the molecules of emotion" by Candace Pert. He also discusses a book by Lisa Sarasohn, The Woman's Belly Book, in which she explores Japan's use of the word hara as a metaphor linking the brain and the belly. The validity of gut thinking feels right and seeing how science can support the metaphors confirms my intuition.