- tVNS / taVNS -
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation
Our bodies are controlled not only by will and thoughts, but also by a large “autopilot system” in the background: the autonomic nervous system. This system regulates, among other things, heart rate, breathing, digestion, pain perception, sleep and stress response.
For many people who live with long-term ailments – such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleep problems or symptoms of autonomic imbalance – this autopilot can be left on “alarm alert” for too long. This makes it more difficult to recover, even when you are actually safe and at peace.
Why the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the main pathway into the parasympathetic nervous system – the part responsible for calm, recovery and digestion. It is closely connected to the brain, immune system and our organs.
When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it can affect several important regulatory systems:
- how the body turns off the stress response
- how we experience pain and sensitivity
- sleep and rest
- gut-brain communication
- inflammatory response in the body
You can think of the vagus nerve as a “brake” in the system. tVNS tries to give this brake a little better working condition.
How does tVNS work?
When the vagus nerve of the ear is stimulated, signals are sent to the brainstem and on to networks that regulate autonomic activity, pain, mood, and inflammatory response. Studies show that auricular stimulation can affect physiological measures such as heart rate variability (HRV) and other markers of vagal activity. tVNS can also be performed on the neck in the area where the cervical vagus nerve is most accessible, and is called cervical tVNS.
Conditions where tVNS is often used
Research and clinical use are aimed at, among other things:
- Epilepsy (non-invasive stimulation as a possible addition)
- Pain and sensitivity disorders, including chronic pain
- Migraine/headache
- Cluster headache
- Tinnitus
- Depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders
- Dysautonomia/POTS-like symptoms (autonomic dysregulation)
- Inflammation-related conditions (currently mostly at the research level)
tVNS may also be relevant for people who experience:
- stress and overactivation
- sleep problems related to agitation/hyperarousal
- nonspecific autonomic symptoms (e.g., palpitations, inner restlessness, “fight/flight feeling”)
- chronic pain or sensitivity complaints
- symptoms where low vagal tone or poor regulation is suspected
- Types of tVNS/taVNS we use in the clinic -
Neurosym
Nurosym (from Parasym) is a CE-marked tVNS system that stimulates the ear with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) with electrical impulses sent to the brain that we use here at the clinic.
Learn more about Neurosym hereCereMod™ Alpha (by Hoolest®)
The CereMod™ Alpha from Hoolest is a neuromodulation device developed for clinical use, with preset, research-based programs for stimulation of peripheral nerves, including the vagus nerve. It is designed to be easy to use in practice without complicated parameter setup, while offering various protocols aimed at neuroplasticity and regulation of the nervous system.
For tVNS, the CereMod Alpha is applied to the neck, over the course of the vagus nerve, in a similar manner to GammaCore. The clinician places the electrode against the skin in the area where the cervical vagus nerve is most accessible, and runs the device’s vagus/tVNS program to deliver gentle electrical pulses through the skin. This provides non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve via the neck, consistent with clinical practice for cervical tVNS.
Learn more about Ceremod here
Safety and side effects
tVNS is generally considered a safe, non-invasive method. In studies, mostly mild side effects are reported, such as:
- local irritation/redness in the ear
- tingling or tenderness
- transient headache, fatigue, or lightheadedness
Use should be clarified with a healthcare professional in the following cases:
- pacemaker/implanted defibrillator
- serious heart rhythm disorders
- unexplained epilepsy or other serious neurological disease
- pregnancy (often “after medical assessment”)