Every few years, a new device, technique, or trend takes over the health and wellness world.
Right now, one of the most exciting advances that are making waves is vagus nerve stimulation
(VNS). VNS has been used in hospitals and clinics for a while, but now home-based vagus
nerve stimulators allow people to take advantage of the benefits at home.
Today, we’ll tell you everything you want to know about vagus nerve stimulation, including how
the vagus nerve works, the benefits of stimulating the vagus nerve, and your options for
stimulating the vagus nerve, as well as the best vagus nerve stimulation device for doing so.
The vagus nerve runs from your brain stem down through your chest and abdominal organs,
sending signals back and forth. Some of the essential functions it plays a part in include
controlling your heart rate, digestion, and respiration. It also plays a role in the body’s fight-or-
flight response. This response results in a number of physiological changes that are meant to
help us defend ourselves in dangerous situations.
For example, the fight-or-flight response increases your heart rate, which may help you run
away from a predator or fight off an attacker. It also slows down your digestion so energy can be
directed away from the digestive system and toward your muscles.
The problem with this response is that it doesn’t know when to turn it off for many of us. So, even
when we’re not under threat, our body is still in fight-or-flight mode. This can lead to a range of
physical and mental health issues. Fortunately, vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to help
with these issues by calming the vagus nerve, allowing it to resume its normal function. Then,
your body can enjoy being in a state of rest and digestion. Unlike fight-or-flight, this state entails
slower breathing and heart rate, better digestion, and lower blood pressure.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder VNS has so many benefits people are eager to explore.
VNS treats conditions like depression, anxiety, epilepsy, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and
more. It’s also been studied as a potential treatment for other conditions such as chronic pain,
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. VNS works by stimulating the vagus nerve which
helps regulate the activity of certain parts of the brain that control mood and behavior. By
stimulating this area of the nervous system, VNS may help to reduce symptoms of depression,
anxiety, and other mental health issues.
In addition to mental health benefits, vagus nerve stimulation has also been shown to improve
digestion by stimulating the vagus nerve that controls the digestive system. This can help with
conditions like IBS or GERD. Finally, vagus nerve stimulation has been used as a pain-relieving
therapy for those with chronic pain.
Even for those who don’t have medical conditions, vagus nerve stimulation can provide a
number of benefits. These include a brighter mood, better sleep, faster recovery, and overall
enhanced well-being.
So, now that you know more about vagus nerve stimulation and its benefits, you may be
wondering how to get started. Luckily, there are now several options for vagus nerve stimulation
at home.
One of the best vagus nerve stimulation device options is Xen by Neuvana. These vagus nerves-
stimulating headphones connect to the user’s handheld device which syncs with their
smartphone. The headphones deliver mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve directly
through the ear. The user can then adjust the intensity of the vagus nerve stimulation and
monitor its effect on their mood, sleep, and overall well-being.
One of the best things about this option is that it’s non-invasive. It can also be used from the
the comfort of your home while you go about your day.
This device is a fantastic place to start but it isn’t the only way to stimulate the vagus nerve.
Other ways to stimulate the vagus nerve include yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises,
gargling, singing or humming, and cold exposure therapy. All of these methods work by
activating the vagal pathways which help calm down the body’s fight-or-flight response.
This ancient practice is a great way to stimulate the vagus nerve. By combining physical poses
with mindful breathing, yoga can help to calm the nervous system and reduce stress. It also
helps to improve blood flow and promote relaxation which can further improve vagal tone.
Meditation is another wonderful way to activate the vagus nerve. This practice helps you focus
on your breath, bringing awareness to your body while calming down the nervous system.
Meditation can also help reduce anxiety and depression by helping us become more present in
our bodies and minds.
Deep breathing exercises are an excellent way to slow down the heart rate, lower stress levels
, and stimulate the vagus nerve. The idea behind deep breathing is to take slow, mindful breaths
that fill your belly and chest with air. Then, as you breathe in and out, focus on the sensation of
the breath entering and leaving the body.
Interestingly, gargling can also stimulate the vagus nerve. This is because the act of gargling
creates vibrations in the throat that can target the vagus nerve. This vagal stimulation then helps
to calm the body down and reduce stress levels.
Similar to gargling, singing or humming is another way to activate the vagus nerve. The
the vibration of the voice can be calming to both the vagus nerve and the body as a whole.
Finally, cold exposure therapy is a good way to stimulate vagal tone. This therapy involves
exposing your body to cold temperatures for short periods such as taking an icy shower or
submerging into icy water. The vagus nerve responds to this change in temperature by slowing
down the heart rate which can help reduce stress levels and improve vagal tone over time.
Now that you know more about vagus nerve stimulation and how it can benefit your health, try
one (or all) of these vagus nerve stimulation options at home. With dedication and consistency,
you can experience the benefits vagus nerve stimulation has to offer in no time!
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