The Vagus nerve is the primary nerve of your parasympathetic nervous system. This particular nerve system controls vital functions such as the heart, digestion, the immune system, mood, speech, l and inflammation. It controls some of the most vital involuntary functions of the human body.
Stimulation to the vagus nerve can also help treat neurological issues such as ASD and ADHD. Dr. Kyle Daigle elaborates on vagus nerve stimulation in his book Cracking the Autism Code: Finding the Hidden Voice Within a Child. He mentions this method as a non-invasive technique to activate some of the brain regions affected by autism.
How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Works?
Our body has the Vagus nerve running from the lower part of the brainstem through the neck and the chest to the stomach. Doctors use specific devices to stimulate the vagus nerve through slight electrical impulses. It sends electrical impulses to the brain and brainstem upon stimulation, changing the patient’s brain activity.
Studies show that by doing so, people see a reduction in pain, inflammation, and seizures and improve heart rate variability. All of these are involuntary functions of the body, similar to neurological disorders. A study by Warwick, T. C. Griffith in 2007 shows that VNS has positive effects on the behavior, emotion, of social skills of individuals with ASD and epilepsy.
Types of VNS Devices
Vagus nerve stimulation has both implantable and non-implantable devices to carry out the process. The use of these devices depends on the severity and nature of the patient’s condition.
Invasive Devices
They require a surgical procedure for implantation. The typical implantation location is in the chest while the wires run under your skin to connect with the vagus nerve. The FDA has approved these devices for treating several health conditions.
Non-Invasive Devices
These devices do not require any surgical procedure. They stimulate the vagus nerve by sending electric impulses through your skin’s soft tissue. The FDA has also approved them for treating several health issues.
Benefits and Applications
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Studies on children show positive results. Kids with autism experience improvement in mood following a course of 12 months of VNS therapy.
Rehabilitation Therapies
This therapy shows promise in rehabilitation efforts. Patients with non-recoverable injuries such as spinal cord injury, stroke, tinnitus, brain injury, and others now have a chance to make a significant recovery.
How to Stimulate the vagus nerve?
Stimulation to the vagus nerve can be applied in multiple ways, such as gargling, humming, and vibration therapy to the abdomen. Cranial Electrical Stimulation to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve has been a favorable application site in many studies.
Epilepsy
This process reduces seizure frequency, improving the life of individuals suffering from this spontaneous problem. A large study by Levy ML in 2016 shows that 56% of patients experienced a 50% reduction in seizures after a 12-month-long VNS course.
Conclusion
Dr. Kyle Daigle’s book Cracking the Autism Code: Finding the Hidden Voice Within a Child presents invaluable insights for both common readers and medical professionals looking to understand mental disorders.
You can grab a copy of Dr. Kyle Daigle’s book to learn the benefits of Vagus nerve stimulation at a deeper level. Cracking the Autism Code: Finding the Hidden Voice Within a Child is available online!
