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Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation, a treatment option for ME/CFS?

Emootje

Senior Member
Messages
356
Location
The Netherlands
Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) promotes recovery of the body, digestion and relaxation. One way to activate the PNS is to stimulate the vagus nerve. Electronic vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an invasive procedure requiring surgical placement of a wire to deliver electrical impulses to the left vagus nerve only. VNS is expensive and can cause side effects. There are, however, simpler and safer methods to stimulate the vagus nerve using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulators or trough yoga breathing.

Indications for (transcutaneous) Vagus Nerve Stimulation::
  • Epilepsie
  • Migraine
  • Pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Tinnitus
  • Schizophrenia
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Mild cognitive impairment
  • Dementia
  • Inflammatory diseases (VNS promotes the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway)

http://www.cerbomed.com/ (t-VNS device)
http://www.acupuncture-australia.com.au/aa-acuslim.html "AcuSlim also stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholinergic_anti-inflammatory_pathway