Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Restoring Balance
Reset and Rebalance Your Nervous System
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is an advanced, non-invasive treatment designed to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system.
This treatment is demonstrated by Dr. Groysman in the clinic or on a video call, allowing patients to confidently administer it at home as part of their recovery plan. For patients with Long COVID, where dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system is common, VNS can help alleviate a range of debilitating symptoms.
What is vagus nerve stimulation?
The vagus nerve plays a critical role in regulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s rest-and-digest processes. Long COVID often leaves the body stuck in a heightened state of sympathetic activity (fight-or-flight mode). VNS gently stimulates the vagus nerve, helping to:
- Restore parasympathetic tone.
- Reduce systemic inflammation.
- Improve autonomic function and overall healing.
How VNS Works
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) uses a small external device to deliver gentle electrical pulses to the vagus nerve, often through the ear or neck. These pulses activate both the “visceral” and “somatic” vagal projections in the brain, increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity. This stimulation promotes relaxation, recovery, and healing by:
- Lowering stress hormone levels like cortisol.
- Enhancing communication between the brain and key organs.
- Activating the body’s natural anti-inflammatory pathways.
Understanding the Nervous System’s Role
Your nervous system is split into two primary branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. These systems work together to regulate key bodily functions:
- The sympathetic system activates the “fight or flight” response, preparing your body for immediate action. It speeds up breathing, increases heart rate, and releases stress hormones like cortisol to sharpen your focus.
- The parasympathetic system oversees “rest and digest” functions. It controls relaxation, digestion, and healing, promoting a sense of well-being.
In a healthy state, these two systems maintain a balance, creating equilibrium, or homeostasis, in your body. This balance allows you to shift between activity and recovery as needed.
Long COVID and Autonomic Dysregulation
Long COVID disrupts this delicate balance, causing autonomic dysregulation.
Patients often experience excessive sympathetic activity—being stuck in “fight or flight” mode—while parasympathetic tone remains too low. This imbalance leads to many Long COVID symptoms, including brain fog, fatigue, chest discomfort, and palpitations. It’s as if your body is constantly running in first gear, leading to physical and mental strain.
For some patients, treatments like the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) can effectively calm the overactive sympathetic system. However, for others, this may not be enough. VNS steps in to boost parasympathetic tone, helping to recreate the equilibrium your body needs to fully heal
Who Can Benefit from VNS?
Patients experiencing the following symptoms may benefit from vagus nerve stimulation:
- Persistent fatigue and brain fog.
- Anxiety, stress, or feelings of being overwhelmed.
- Chest discomfort, palpitations, or dysregulated heart rate.
- Digestive issues, including bloating or irregularity.
- Sleep disturbances and insomnia.
Does the VNS treatment have side effects?
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is generally considered safe and well-tolerated.
However, as with any treatment, some patients may experience mild or temporary side effects. These include:
Common Side Effects:
- Tingling or mild discomfort around the stimulation site.
- Itching or slight redness where the device is applied.
Less Common Side Effects (Reported in <1% of Cases):
Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting.
- Headache or dizziness.
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat.
- Vocal changes, such as hoarseness.
- Facial muscle twitching or drooping.
- Nasal irritation or nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nasal passages).
In most cases, these side effects are temporary and resolve as the body adjusts to the therapy. If you experience persistent discomfort, consult your healthcare provider to adjust the protocol or settings.
Personalized Care with Dr. Groysman
At Covid Institute, we understand that Long COVID affects every patient differently. Dr. Groysman will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan may include:
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a foundational therapy.
- Supplements and prescription medications to enhance recovery.
- Complementary treatments such as Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT) or Stellate Ganglion Block.
Patient Stories
“I’m on to week 4 of tVNS therapy. I switched to my right ear after not noticing a difference after week 1 with the left ear. I use two ear clips, one on the tragus and the other on the conch with a tENS 7000 unit. I’ve had significant improvements, eating cooked garlic and spaghetti sauce/pizza were big ones. I ate steak fajitas last night and from what I remember they tasted pretty close to what they used to. Nothing is “normal” yet, and I still have many smells that make me gag, peanut butter and coffee smells are still a no go, but food is getting easier and better to eat. And some old smells that I was unable to pick up on or they smelled bad are returning here and there, but not consistently yet. This is the big hormonal week for me when my parosmia usually gets really bad, so it’s a big test to see if I lose any progress I just made. I will keep updating, but I’m very hopeful. Thank you Dr. Groysman MD Robert you are changing lives. I will keep updating as the weeks pass!“ – B.C. 11/2022
FAQ for Vagus Nerve
When the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is kicked into overdrive, it’s out of balance with the parasympathetic and vagus nerve tone. This is most likely due to the initial cytokine storm that can occur during the acute COVID-19 infection. At the same time the vagus nerve of the parasympathetic (PNS) is thickened and suppressed.
This part of our nervous system handles all of the automatic functions that we don’t even think about such as digestion of food, stimulating the acid to be released in your stomach, regulating the diameter of your lung airways, breathing rate, heart rate, pupil size, sweating, and much more. It also directly and indirectly helps maintain body temperature, regulate your immune system, and control inflammation. It has 2 components: the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). They work like a see-saw with each on either end. Both are active at all times, but what actually happens depends on which one is in the driver’s seat or in control.
Your body is meant to have the PNS in the driver seat most of the time. PNS allows your body to heal and take care of maintenance. SNS is like a wrecking ball to our inside, or better yet, a bull in a China shop (although, I can’t think of any time I would want that). It’s great for short term when needed but not 24/7. You are being exposed to epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol all day long. You will not only be on edge and have anxiety, but you will also have a difficult time shutting down to go to sleep.
The parasympathetic (PNS) is responsible for body maintenance and building new tissue, healing, controlling inflammation, and your immune system. This is your fun and relax system. Keep the heart rate slow, reduce how fast you take breaths. Digest all that food you ate. The vagus nerve leaves your brain and travels throughout the body following the carotid artery and then the aorta. It helps regulate most of digestive organs including the gallbladder. It also controls the pacemaker of the heart or the sinoatrial node. It even helps to decrease blood glucose by getting it turned into glycogen and stored in your liver.
The vagus nerve is part of our parasympathetic (PNS). It modulates the immune system and inflammation. When it’s not working like it should, we see autoimmune conditions sprout up. We see chronic inflammation of nerves, muscles, and joints.
Initially this happens because of direct damage from the covid-19 virus to the supporting cells of the nerves of your nose and tongue, however this tends to heal within a few weeks after recovering from the virus. The smell and taste problems may spontaneously resolve after a few weeks, or they may turn into a lasting effect. The abnormality is fueled by stress and illnesses because both increase sympathetic drive.
There have been many different treatments proposed, but the ones that appear to be most successful and reliably reproduced are the stellate ganglion block and the external ear vagus nerve stimulation. There are many other treatments for other symptoms of long covid.
You can eat, watch TV, read, or walk around if you like. Some people need to support or hold the ear clips to avoid the clips from falling off. Don’t drive, take a bath or shower during stimulation.
Take the Next Step Toward Healing
If you’re struggling with persistent symptoms of Long COVID, Vagus Nerve Stimulation could be the key to your recovery. With guidance from Dr. Groysman, you can confidently administer this effective treatment at home as part of your personalized recovery plan. Schedule a consultation today to learn how Dr. Groysman can help you reclaim your health and vitality.
Start your journey to recovery today. Relief is within reach.
Learn more about Disautonomia
Everything about Dysautonomia is discussed in this book.
- How does dysautonomia cause Long Covid?
- How can you treat it?
- What conditions cause dysautonomia?