On either side of your neck, there’s this fascinating bundle of fibers known as the vagus nerve. Sometimes referred to as a “pacemaker for the brain,” it serves as a crucial link between your brain and most of your body’s major organ systems.
Historically, the vagus nerve has operated quietly in the background, but recently, it’s gained almost an exaggerated reputation among podcasters, social media influencers, and those in the wellness community. Trouble sleeping? People suggest zapping it. Stressed? Keep electrifying it. Dealing with brain fog, inflammation, or digestive troubles? You guessed it, the vagus nerve is the go-to.
“There are countless mentions and posts about the vagus nerve out there,” notes Dr. Kevin Tracey, a neurosurgeon and head of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health. “Much of this hype comes from influencers urging, ‘Stimulate your vagus nerve, and your problems will vanish.’”
Notable figures like Kelly Ripa and health gurus like Andrew Huberman have praised the perks of vagal stimulation. Some advice is straightforward—like humming or practicing deep breathing—but others recommend wearing devices around the neck or ears that emit electrical pulses. Predictions suggest this vagus nerve stimulation could possibly turn into a billion-dollar market by 2030.
While certain vagus nerve stimulators are legitimate medical devices approved for specific health conditions, many online gadgets don’t actually function as claimed, according to Dr. Tracey. They often capitalize on the credibility of medical-grade stimulators that require surgery or a prescription.
In essence, vagus nerve stimulation is based on enough scientific principles to seem credible, yet it’s shrouded in enough uncertainty to appear almost limitless, Dr. Tracey suggests.
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is a major information highway in our body, featuring around 200,000 fibers that extend from the brain to vital organs like the heart, lungs, and stomach, finally reaching the colon.
About 80% of these fibers transmit continuous updates from the body back to the brain, while the remainder sends signals outward. This dual functionality enables the brain to oversee and adjust numerous automatic processes—like heartbeat, respiration, and digestion—often without us even realizing it. Plus, it’s a key player in the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps with digestion, managing inflammation, and relaxation.
What does vagus nerve stimulation actually do?
Nerves communicate through electrical impulses, so by supplying jolts to them, scientists can modify the signals. Given that the vagus nerve interacts with several organs, researchers believe that this technique might pave the way for therapies targeting a variety of medical issues, as mentioned by Tracy Centanni, a neuroscientist at the University of Florida.
To date, the FDA has approved vagus nerve stimulation devices for various conditions like certain forms of epilepsy, treatment-resistant depression, stroke recovery, and most recently, rheumatoid arthritis. These devices are surgically placed in the neck or under the chest skin to directly stimulate the nerve.
The FDA has also permitted a few noninvasive prescription devices, although they must meet lower standards regarding safety and effectiveness. One such device, gammaCore, targets cluster headaches and migraines. There are others too—NSS-2 Bridge, Drug Relief, Sparrow, and NET—that may assist in alleviating symptoms related to opioid withdrawal.
Initial studies hint that these devices might help with issues like anxiety, insomnia, and inflammation, according to Dr. Centanni. However, the need for more validation hasn’t stopped companies from making bold claims.
What about the consumer devices?
It’s wise to be cautious if you’re considering a vagal stimulator that doesn’t involve surgery or a prescription. The oversight for these consumer devices is minimal, and they aren’t required to prove their efficacy to the FDA, warns Dr. Kristl Vonck, a neurologist from Ghent University in Belgium.
They may resemble their prescription counterparts, often worn in the ear or around the neck. Users might feel some tingling or mild shocks, along with variations in heart rate. However, as Michael Kilgard, director at the Texas Biomedical Device Center, points out, that just happens when electricity passes through skin and doesn’t necessarily imply it’s effectively impacting the vagus nerve.
Dr. Kilgard mentions that the unusual sensations can be somewhat distracting, leading people to believe the devices are effective, yet not painful enough to cause concern.
In reality, there’s minimal evidence showing these devices work. The companies promoting them often make vague claims about boosting energy, enhancing sleep, fostering brain-gut connections, and improving memory, but many times, these gadgets may just be placebos dressed up as neuroscience, according to Dr. Kilgard.
Many of these “low risk” devices can evade FDA scrutiny by making broad wellness claims instead of being held accountable for actionable health benefits, Dr. Vonck explains. Some companies might even lean on minor, low-quality studies to back their products, using the rhetoric of genuine research as a marketing strategy.
So what’s the harm?
Online stimulators might cause some mild redness or tingling, but it’s unlikely they would inflict any real harm, according to Dr. Vonck. Generally, their batteries are too small to cause skin burns, as Dr. Kilgard mentions.
A bigger concern is the false hope they create. Dr. Kilgard has seen patients who buy these gadgets, leading them to postpone effective treatments.
“The immediate sensation can be deceiving,” he explains. “They might feel different, better, or something they’ve never experienced before. I think a lot of people end up convincing themselves.”
