this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2023
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Science

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[–] TheBaldness@beehaw.org 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

This is very interesting. And now I'm searching Amazon for any kind of vagus nerve e-stim unit that has even a hint of legitimacy.

[–] StringTheory@beehaw.org 9 points 1 year ago

Apple Watch “Breathe” app or any of the free slow-breathing/mindfulness meditation apps will do the job, too.

Or… breathe in for a count of 4, pause for a count of 4, breathe out for a count of 4, pause for a count of 4. Do that for 5 or 10 minutes.

[–] storksforlegs@beehaw.org 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't think you need a device, theres lots of simple exercises you can do that also work well.

Here are a few good videos on the subject:

Four Ways to Turn On thr Parasympathetic Response (the vagus nerve)

Vagus Nerve Massage for Stress and Anxiety Relief

[–] Logic_Zero@beehaw.org 7 points 1 year ago

There are lots of vagus nerve videos on youtube that will explain how to stimulate, stretch, exercise and possibly reset your vagus nerve. YMMV.

[–] fades@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Just breath slowly, in thru the nose …… out thru the mouth. Do that and you will feel the vagus nerve interaction they talk about. It’s a great tool to help stabilize you in a moment of distress or discomfort. It doesn’t last long but you can keep doing the exercises!

Maybe you should try to learn more about the nerve and its interactions before you buy some wild bullshit off Amazon lol

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 4 points 1 year ago

🤖 I'm a bot that provides automatic summaries for articles:

Click here to see the summaryIf the testimonials are to believed, incorporating this stimulating habit into my daily routine could help to reduce stress and anxiety, curb inflammation and digestive issues, and perhaps improve my sleep and concentration by tapping into the “electrical superhighway” that is the vagus nerve.

From plunging your face into icy water, to piercing the small flap of cartilage in front of your ear, the internet is awash with tips for hacking this system that carries signals between the brain and chest and abdominal organs.

Manufacturers and retailers are also increasingly cashing in on this trend, with Amazon alone offering hundreds of vagus nerve products, ranging from books and vibrating pendants to electrical stimulators similar to the one I’ve been testing.

“They noticed that even if the device didn’t help their epilepsy, some of these patients started to have a better outlook on life,” says Kevin Tracey, a professor of molecular medicine and neurosurgery at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York.

Tracey’s discovery also caught the attention of mind-body practitioners, including the Dutch motivational speaker and “Iceman” Wim Hof, who claimed that he could control inflammation in his body through a combination of breath work, meditation and cold water immersion.

Although this is primarily a medical device designed for patients with chronic health conditions that affect involuntary processes such as heart rate or digestion, Dundovic believes that healthy individuals like me may also benefit from auricular stimulation – albeit to a lesser extent.


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