Vagus Nerve Stimulation - Do VNS Devices Work? - Dr Gill

Vagus Nerve Stimulation - Do VNS Devices Work? - Dr Gill

Edit 15/04/24
Nurosym makers have offered a 5% discount to viewers using this link

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices have been found to be effective for certain medical conditions. They are primarily used for treatment-resistant epilepsy and depression.

Research suggests that VNS can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in some epilepsy patients and improve mood in some individuals with depression

The interaction between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system is thought to be a key element in the fatigue of long covid, and hence vagus nerve stimulation, whether through box breathing, ro VNS devices may have a benefit

THE PAPERS
Application of Non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Stress-Related Psychiatric disorders

Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Healthy Humans Reduces Sympathetic Nerve Activity

The Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Cycling Ergometry and Recovery in Healthy Young Individuals

Therapeutic Effect of Implanted and Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Heroin-Induced Anxiety.

#drgill #Vagus #fatigue

00:00 - Introduction to Vagus Nerve Stimulation
00:50 - Addressing Patient Desperation and Health Quackery
03:28 - What is the Vagus Nerve?
04:50 - The Autonomic Nervous System
05:05 - The Somatic Nervous System
05:16 - Structure of the Autonomic Nervous System
05:39 - How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Works
05:59 - Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Cardiac Arrhythmia
06:54 - Simulating the Vagus Nerve
08:55 - VNS Techniques for Anxiety and Panic Attacks
09:45 - Long COVID, Fatigue, and Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
11:38 - Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Long COVID
13:01 - Nurosym Device
13:40 - VNS for Refractory Seizures
14:11 - DIY Vagal Nerve Stimulation
14:47 - Independent Research on VNS
18:48 - Personal Testing of the Nurosym Device
26:37 - Conclusion and Personal Take on VNS Devices
30:22 - Final Thoughts

[johnme]

I have a VNS implanted onto my heart, it ended my seizures and changed my life forever. After over 10 years of seizures, i put in a VNS at the age of 18 and and can now finally drive- something that I never thought I would be able to do.

[johannaharrison]

The Nurosym is actually simply a locked setting TENS machine with an ear clip electrode. This particular product is priced excessively for what it is. It is identical to a licensed physiotherapy TENS machine with adjustable settings. The settings that are noted in the papers are frequency 20HZ; pulse width 200 micro-s. Its predecessor the Parasym was literally just an adjustable TENS machine.

[jamesmanning]

Dr. Gill, thank you so much for the very detailed explanations of both vagus nerve stimulation in general and your specific experience. At about 11:59 you seem to say "now there's two easy options you can do at home box breathing or there is also the utilization of a physiological sigh - they're both relatively similar and I'll put simple links in the description where you can find ways to access those techniques"

I see the links to the papers about the vagal nerve stimulation, but I don't seem to be able to find the links to box breathing, physiological sigh, or Valsalva maneuver. There are certainly lots of google results, but since the links not being present seemed like it was probably more an accidental oversight, I thought it might be worth asking.

[Zanyotaku]

I was about to be like “oh gosh, my heart rate doesn’t have much variability!” It hasn’t for years. Then I remembered I have a chronic inflammatory illness and my body is definitely what you’d call physically stressed. That’ll do it. Maybe I should try vagal stimulation for my fatigue, chronic as it is. I’m curious now. I never considered it for stress or anxiety before, but I knew about the SVT benefit from nursing school.

I use a TENS unit for pain sometimes, especially if I wind up chasing pain and need more help coping, or I can’t take medication for some reason. so electric stimulus for symptom relief isn’t the weirdest idea in some ways. Interesting video! And thanks for sharing your filtering out of the articles while picking them lol. Always a good reminder to check source bias when learning.

[deweyhall]

The doctor we wish that we could have...❤❤❤😊😊😊

[microrevolutions]

Thank you! I found the video very interesting. I especially liked your point about doctors focusing on practicing medicine rather than just doing medicine. 😊 Also, I really appreciate the research you've done and how you're mindful of biases!

[MrZomg]

@Dr James Gill i will heed your warnings! Thank You for this Knowledge.

[cwkb]

Good day Dr., Can a TENS unit with electrode pads be used on the neck and act the same as clipping on the tragus?

[susangratwick]

Thank you! I was suspicious at first because of the adverts! Since last September have been suffering from post viral fatigue. Sleeping or lying down in the day time, brain fog and just managing a walk outside once every 10 or 11 days. ... 8 months now. Started Nurosym maybe 10 days ago. I have hope. Still weak and aching but managing a short walk maybe every 5 or 6 days. I had much doubt before buying then tossed a coin 3 times to decide!! I think that I do feel different. It actually sorted certain bowel issues to do with IBS. That was a surprise! So on we go! I was having doubts recently so this talk has given me a bit more confidence and hope so thank you!

[anardine]

Thank you again for the information. Interesting topic. On a side note, I have been getting into cold water 7-12 °C, for about 10 min in the mornings for a while now and I can tell you the positive effects I get from it are quite real. You can just feel it, it temporarily improves my focus and general well-being. I am a bit of a water adorer anyway since my childhood, maybe that has some psychological implications. As I get older I realize it is the obvious and small things that matter, like walking a lot, eating healthy and music.

[richiet]

Thanks Dr. Gill. I am currently experiencing a phase of anxiety as I come out of a period of SAD. This normally lasts 1-3 weeks before I return to a state of good mental health until November/December time normally. I am not on medication for such a relatively short period each year. I'm not a medic, but I'm assuming this anxiety is triggered by fluctuating levels of serotonin in the synapses as production starts to increase again following SAD? It's very similar (though nothing like as severe and frightening) as to when I tried SSRI medication a few years ago - for which the cure was worse than the illness in my case! I'm very grateful for this insight and will practice some of the techniques in an attempt to control the symptoms of anxiety until it passes. I think blowing through an empty syringe (or biro in my case) is the most pragmatic and easy to achieve. Thanks again for what you do.

[blazingstar]

Huh, interesting! My mom bought me one of those a few years ago. I tried it once and it seemed to have an effect, but since the advice to use it had come from a naturopath who had also peddled some serious quackery, I attributed it to placebo and shoved it in the back of my closet. Interesting to see there's actual science backing it up- I guess even a stopped naturopathic clock is right twice a day! Might dig it out of the bowels of my closet and give it another go :)

[edoardomottini]

Hi Doctor, do you think it could word for IBS?

[starfishgurl]

I have to admit when I first saw the video was posted I imagined that the vns was a device for people with back pain and had no idea you’d be talking about anxiety and long Covid and seizures and such but as someone with anxiety (and ptsd induced anxiety) I found this very interesting and informative!

[wambo-MundK]

thank you for being reflected doc! We have enough docs who are in there for the payments not for the patients ❤

[chuciepink]

Thank you for the video! Do you have any product recommendations for those of us in the US who aren't able to order Neurosym? Thank you!

[Chris-sie]

Hello there and thank you so much for this interesting video. Are there any alternatives to the neurosis Device (it is rather expensive) that you would recommend? Thank you for answering 😊

[kindnessisstrength]

Dr Gill what are your thoughts on Pulsetto?

[DrPatriciaWorby]

Great content thank you! However I think there's a slight error at 16:26 Dr Gill - you say VNS devices show a shift towards sympathetic dominance when the opposite is true. They should increase HRV yes but decrease sympathetic dominance as they are increasing parasympathetic stimulation. Also I think you should check out Stanley Rosenberg's fantastic book Accessing the Power of the Vagus Nerve (no affiliate links here) for more nuanced info on the ventral and dorsal vagus which have complementary but diffferent effects. I have found understanding polyvagal theory and the importance of the social engagement system (the province of the ventral) to be absolutely essential to understanding why some people struggle to feel safe in their bodies and to recover from long covid/ chronic fatigue.

[collinwilk]

Fantastic video. Thank you for being so thoughtful about word choice and acknowledging variables and ambiguities in evidence.