Can VNS Boost Your Mood? - IrishDentist.ie

Here’s where it gets tricky. Although there is some limited research on transcutaneous or noninvasive VNS, most of the clinical research on VNS looks at implantable devices to very specifically address treatment-resistant depression, not necessarily whether at-home methods for stimulating your vagus nerve may have similar effects on mood (for people with mental health diagnoses or not).

Still, it’s fair to look at that research on VNS therapy, and say that vagus nerve stimulation at home may affect your mood in positive ways, too, says Dr. Nahas.

“I don’t think that it’s a major leap,” he says. “If you think about something like yoga, the benefit is that it slows you down and helps you be present in the moment — not in your fight-or-flight system. These things have been shown to help improve quality of life.”

Some more of the research on how non-invasive VNS (such as handheld devices that you can purchase without a prescription and hold against the skin of your neck or ear) has shown it may effectively activate the vagus nerve and improve vagal tone to reduce stress . Those researchers say that VNS devices show promise for potentially being used in prevention of psychiatric disorders that are linked to stress, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, in the future.

Yet the available research has not shown if these types of over the counter devices are effective on mood and who they may work for. “There are a lot of claims made about these devices. People are starting to market these, but we need to be very careful about the scientific claims behind them,” Nahas says.

For example, one consumer non-invasive VNS device notes on a disclaimer label that it is a general wellness product that has not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and includes the commonly seen wording as a result that it is ” not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

And remember, diagnosed anxiety and depression are rarely cured with one simple fix. Will breathing slowly through your nose to switch your body into a parasympathetic state alleviate depression or anxiety on its own? Probably not. But it can be one strategy that you incorporate into your care.

And, for non-invasive TNS, although the research is lacking, they are generally considered safe and may be used as a complementary approach after discussion with your health provider team.

“I don’t see vagus nerve stimulation as a standalone treatment, and it’s not a replacement for (mainstream) medical therapy,” Schwartz says. “For example, you might have therapy to challenge unhelpful beliefs and narratives about yourself while also working on taking care of your nervous system.”

These DIY practices, when combined with a treatment like an oral antidepressant, for example, “can enhance (mainstream) treatment. For patients looking for improved therapeutic outcomes, this strategy might be a promising path,” adds Dr. Ithman.

And if you’re looking for another tool to help cope with day-to-day stress and anxiety, go ahead and try one of the many DIY vagus nerve stimulation activities — deep breathing, gargling and humming, cold exposure (such as splashing cold water on your face or a cold plunge), meditation, yoga, or ear massage, says Schwartz.

Schwartz points out that some have been profoundly impactful for people she teaches them to. See what resonates for you, she says: “Your body will give you feedback.”