Does Vagus Nerve Stimulation Work?CategoriesVagus Nerve Education

Does Vagus Nerve Stimulation Work?

As a functional medicine practitioner, I’m always exploring innovative treatments to help my patients achieve optimal health. One tool that has gained significant attention in recent years, and that I’ve seen firsthand benefits from, is vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). But does vagus nerve stimulation really work? Let’s take a closer look at the science, real-world […]

Exercise for Vagus Nerve StimulationCategoriesVagus Nerve Education

Exercise for Vagus Nerve Stimulation: More than Just Fitness Gains

When we think about the benefits of exercise, we often focus on the big wins: lowering A1C levels, crushing our personal best 10K time, making new friends on the pickleball court, or swapping bad habits for healthier ones.  But there’s one powerful benefit that often gets overlooked—exercise for vagus nerve stimulation. And it’s a big […]

Can Stress Cause Vagus Nerve Dysfunction? Understanding the Types of Stress and How to Address ThemCategoriesVagus Nerve Education

Can Stress Cause Vagus Nerve Dysfunction? Understanding the Types of Stress and How to Address Them

As a functional medicine practitioner, I’ve witnessed time and again how deeply stress can affect our health—often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. At the center of this stress-response cycle lies the vagus nerve, a vital part of our nervous system that plays a key role in regulating essential functions like heart rate, digestion, mood, […]

heart rate variabilityCategoriesVagus Nerve Education

Heart Rate Variability: A Key Indicator of Nervous System Health

As a functional medicine practitioner, I’m always looking for ways to assess and optimize the body’s innate healing capabilities. One powerful tool that I use with my clients is the measurement of Heart Rate Variability (HRV). This simple yet profound metric offers a unique glimpse into the functioning of our autonomic nervous system, particularly the […]

Vagus Nerve Anatomy 101CategoriesVagus Nerve Education

Vagus Nerve Anatomy 101

For the past hundreds of years in medicine, we have worked to separate the body into separate sections called systems and further broken down these systems into organs. It’s important to understand the underlying and unique functions of each of the cells and organs in each system to provide a deeper understanding of the particular […]

Why TENS Units aren't recommended for vagus nerve stimulationCategoriesVagus Nerve Education

Understanding the Risks: Why TENS Units Aren’t Recommended for Vagus Nerve Stimulation

If you’re venturing into the world of vagus nerve stimulation, chances are you’ve encountered transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) along the way. Yet, here’s the kicker: while TENS units work wonders for some pain and nerve-related issues, they’re not the go-to for stimulating the vagus nerve. Ready to uncover why? Let’s dive right in. First, […]