What if we told you that boosting your mood was a lot easier than you might think? In fact, it can be as easy as putting on a pair of special headphones and listening to soothing sounds or great music while you stimulate the vagus nerve! It’s true—this is what a vagus nerve stimulation device such as Xen by Neuvana can offer you. Today, we’ll tell you more about how a vagus nerve stimulation device can play an influential role in helping you feel like your best and brightest self.
What is the Vagus Nerve?
We’ll begin by talking about the vagus nerve, which is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It begins in the brainstem and extends all the way down to your abdomen. This nerve plays an important role in a number of functions, including:
- Controlling heart rate
- Regulating blood pressure
- Assisting with digestion
- Influencing inflammation
- Transmitting information from your gut to your brain
Notably, the vagus nerve is also integral to the parasympathetic nervous system. It’s the system that’s responsible for “rest and digest” functions in the body. In other words, it helps you to relax and feel at ease. Essentially, it counters the “fight or flight” response that is activated by the sympathetic nervous system.
Now that we’ve talked a bit about the vagus nerve and its role in the body, let’s discuss how vagus nerve stimulation can help to improve mood.
How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Can Help Improve Mood
Vagus nerve stimulation (also called vagal nerve stimulation or VNS) is a therapy that involves sending electrical impulses to the vagus nerve. This therapy has been used for many years to treat conditions like epilepsy and depression. More recently, it has also begun to be used as a treatment for anxiety.
1. Reducing inflammation
There are a few ways that vagus nerve stimulation can help improve mood. First, this therapy can help to reduce inflammation. Because chronic inflammation has been linked to a number of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia, reducing inflammation can result in a number of health improvements.
2. Gut and brain communication
Second, vagus nerve stimulation can help to improve communication between the gut and the brain. This is important because the gut-brain connection is believed to play a role in mood regulation. In fact, some people refer to the gut as the “second brain” because of how closely it is connected to the brain!
3. Heart rate and blood pressure
Vagus nerve stimulation can also help to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. This is beneficial because high heart rates and blood pressure are often associated with anxiety and stress. Reducing these levels can help to promote a more relaxed state of mind.
4. Rest and digest
When we come back to the “rest and digest” response, this also highlights how VNS can help improve your mood. By stimulating the vagus nerve, you can help to activate this response and promote a more relaxed state. This can be extremely beneficial if you’re struggling with anxiety or stress.
All of these benefits come together to create a powerful mood-boosting effect. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your mood, vagus nerve stimulation is one option to explore.
But it isn’t just your mood that could benefit from vagus nerve stimulation! There are a number of other VNS benefits, which we’ll explore below.
Other VNS Benefits
Image source: wikipedia.org
In addition to its mood-boosting effects, vagus nerve stimulation can offer a number of other benefits as well. These include:
1. Reduced inflammation
As we mentioned, vagus nerve stimulation can help to reduce inflammation. In terms of improving your health, this is helpful because chronic inflammation has been linked to a number of diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Improved sleep
VNS has also been shown to improve sleep quality. And couldn’t we all benefit from better sleep? If you’re struggling with insomnia or other sleep issues, vagus nerve stimulation could be a helpful treatment to explore.
3. Reduced pain
Another potential benefit of vagus nerve stimulation is reduced pain. This therapy has been shown to be helpful for treating conditions like migraines and fibromyalgia in some patients.
4. Improved focus
If you find yourself struggling with memory, concentration, or focus, VNS might be worth looking into. In some, VNS can improve cognitive function, including memory and focus.
As you can see, vagus nerve stimulation offers a number of potential benefits. If you’re struggling with any of the issues mentioned above, VNS could be worth exploring as a potential treatment option.
If you think vagus nerve stimulation might be right for you, talk to your doctor about whether this therapy could be an option. They can help to determine if VNS is appropriate for your particular situation and guide you through the next steps in the process.
How to Use a Vagus Nerve Stimulation Device
Now, let’s talk more about using the Xen device by Neuvana vagus nerve-stimulating headphones. This vagus nerve stimulation device includes headphones and a handheld device that pairs with your phone. Users can control their vagus nerve stimulation sessions through the app, enjoying the benefits of this therapy in as little as a few minutes per day. Users can customize their sessions, intensity, and patterns, and they will enjoy a mild warming, tingling sensation while their vagus nerve is stimulated.
To get started with your Xen by Neuvana, simply download the app and follow the instructions. Then, use the headphones and the app to start your vagus nerve stimulation session. It’s as easy as that!
One thing to note is that vagus nerve stimulation is not necessarily a “quick fix.” Instead, the benefits of this therapy are cumulative, meaning they build up over time, but you can eventually start to reap its rewards quicker and quicker. So, don’t expect to see immediate results. Instead, give yourself a few weeks to experience the full benefits of vagus nerve stimulation.
