Vagus nerve stimulation can have tremendous health benefits and is especially helpful for managing Auditory Neuropathy symptoms. Light tapping on it can also provide other possible health advantages.
Becoming stuck in fight-or-flight mode can take its toll on both our bodies and minds, yet studies suggest that stimulating the vagus nerve may alleviate PTSD and depression symptoms in those who don’t respond to medications.
How Does Tapping The Wandering Nerve Work?
The vagus nerve, sometimes referred to as the “wandering nerve,” acts as a messenger between brain and body, sending messages that shut off fight-or-flight stress responses and activate parasympathetic nervous systems – the part of our bodies responsible for resting and digesting food. If this nerve fails to function effectively it could result in overactive sympathetic nervous system activity as well as chronic inflammation.
Stimulating the vagus nerve can be achieved in several ways. One popular method is using an electrical device known as VNS implant – it’s similar to a small stopwatch-sized stopwatch inserted surgically into your chest that runs on battery power – to achieve stimulation of this vital nerve. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at alleviating anxiety, depression and other mood disorders while aiding digestive issues like IBS as well as improving immune function.
Implanted Vagus Nerve Stimulation devices will require regular monitoring and maintenance visits with their healthcare provider, much like any medical device. Epilepsy medication may still need to be taken, though less episodes may occur if VNS works correctly. Other less invasive ways of stimulating vagus nerve stimulation include tapping techniques, breath work, yoga meditation or acupuncture.
Tapping and vibration are fast ways to stimulate the vagus nerve. These techniques include lightly tapping pressure points on your neck and jawline with light taps and massage strokes; it has been found to significantly reduce stress levels, enhance communication skills, and offer other health benefits – these techniques can be learned at an acupuncturist or through online videos and books.
Other techniques for improving vagal tone and overall health include deep, slow breathing from the belly; practicing SKY yoga; gargling or singing aloud can also help. Gargling/singing in particular engages all parts of your nervous system – including vagus nerve. All of these approaches may serve as powerful complements to antidepressant medication or other traditional treatments for depression.
Can You Do It?
The vagus nerve, also known as the wandering nerve, serves as an important two-way communication channel between our brain and heart, lungs and digestive organs. As one of the longest cranial nerves, it plays an essential role in controlling breathing, heart rate and speech involuntaries as well as contributing to parasympathetic nervous system activities (or “rest and digest”) responses after periods of stress or danger which activate sympathetic (flight/fight) responses.
Studies show that for people suffering from anxiety and depression, stimulating the vagus nerve can play an integral part. Stimulating it has been shown to boost mood while relieving symptoms not responding to traditional treatments such as antidepressants.
Stimulating the nerve can be accomplished through light tapping, music therapy, voice therapy and other methods. Vibration or tapping techniques have proven most successful for stimulating nerves and inducing relaxation and wellbeing chemicals to be released by stimulating them directly. As vagus nerve stimulation may be overstimulated if done in excess, therefore starting slowly with gradual increases in intensity is advised.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) may help treat seizures and depression for those suffering more serious health conditions. A small device implanted into your chest delivers electrical impulses directly to the vagus nerve through skin penetration. You can program this device to activate at different durations, frequencies and currents according to your individual symptoms; although not suitable for everyone it might be worth discussing this option with your physician if other treatments haven’t provided relief.
Though there has been limited research conducted on the benefits of vagus nerve tapping therapies, many of the noninvasive approaches we’ve outlined above have been shown to produce physiological changes within the body and reduce symptoms associated with PTSD in veterans. Although new approaches should always be approached with caution and care should be taken when trying new vagus nerve tapping therapies, they’re worth considering as natural solutions for improving mood or alleviating other health concerns.
What Are The Risks Of Stimulating The Vagus Nerve?
Stimulating the vagus nerve is generally free from risk; aside from heart conditions or severe breathing issues, there are no known downsides to VNS therapy. Indeed, the more your body communicates with this nerve, the greater its benefits may be. Anyone interested in trying VNS should first visit their primary care doctor to make sure it’s suitable; once this has been determined they’ll program the device according to low levels so you feel comfortable with its impulses before going ahead with treatments and follow up visits regularly with them to adjust settings or make sure its performance as promised.
The vagus nerve, commonly referred to as the “wandling” nerve, connects from the brainstem through neck and throat into chest and abdominal organs. As one of 12 cranial nerves it plays a pivotal role in parasympathetic nervous system function of “rest and digest.”
Researchers have begun identifying its many effects, from helping us manage stress to decreasing blood pressure and anxiety to even helping prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies have demonstrated that stimulating the vagus nerve can also aid in treating chronic treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Stimulating it can boost an individual’s immunity system, lower heart rate and blood pressure and decrease inflammation due to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
However, more research needs to be conducted in this area – especially non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation. At present, the only way to stimulate your vagus nerve is via implant surgery; an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia that puts patients into an unconscious state and involves two incisions being made on either your neck or chest area by a surgeon.
However, you don’t have to go down this route: there are other things you can do to activate your vagus nerve without surgery or electrical vagus nerve stimulator – from submerging your face in ice water for 30 seconds all the way through to piercing a small cartilage flap in front of your ear – there are numerous tips online on hacking your vagus nerve and improving mental and physical wellbeing.
What Are The Benefits Of Stimulating The Vagus Nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in your body, stretching from your brain all the way down to your lungs, heart, and large intestine. This nerve plays an integral part in controlling involuntary sensory and motor functions such as your heart rate, mood, salivation rate and other sensory/motor activities that occur automatically. Furthermore, its main role is switching back and forth between flight-or-fight stress responses and parasympathetic nervous systems to help maintain equilibrium in your body and ensure you experience feelings of calmness when needed.
Stimulating your vagus nerve can bring many advantages, from relieving symptoms of Auditory Neuropathy to alleviating depression and anxiety. There are various techniques you can use to stimulate it – light tapping or vibration with WAVwatch, deep breathing exercises, meditation practices, yoga poses or even acupuncture sessions may all work wonders!
Acupuncture works by stimulating the vagus nerve by inserting needles at various pressure points on your body. Studies have demonstrated how this technique can reduce anxiety, alleviate pain and boost mood while simultaneously diminishing tinnitus (ringing in your ears).
Other non-invasive strategies for stimulating your vagus nerve include laughter, massage and exercise. Laughter has long been recognized for activating the parasympathetic nervous system and improving overall health by increasing digestion, strengthening muscles, increasing lymphatic drainage and decreasing cortisol levels. Exercise also can promote vagus nerve stimulation by inducing endorphin release that makes us feel happier while decreasing stress.
One of the primary uses for vagus nerve stimulation is treating depression and anxiety. The Food and Drug Administration has approved implantable pulse-generating devices that send electrical impulses directly to the vagus nerve to treat treatment-resistant depression. The device comprises a battery-powered generator roughly equivalent to that found on stopwatches which is then placed inside your chest area connected directly with the vagus nerve through a lead wire; studies have demonstrated that such stimulation has successfully decreased depression severity significantly among its users.
Studies indicate that vagus nerve stimulation could also help treat other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. These findings are due to how the vagus nerve regulates immune activity in the spleen while simultaneously decreasing levels of tumor necrosis factor – an inflammatory protein.
