Davin8r
#41
I found that for me at least, doing mine lying down (Scosche arm band w/Morpheus app first thing in the morning) would vastly overestimate my Recovery score. Changing to sitting down after being up and about for a few minutes each morning provides a much more accurate score that is in line with my quality of sleep, muscle soreness and how I’m feeling in general.
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I think @Steve_Combi is right. You need to maintain a standard system of measurement. Otherwise you cannot compare results.
It may be that sitting up later in the day is better than lying in bed. However, all my records are from lying in bed just after waking up.
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adssx
#43
Starting the day with 30 minutes of meditation with (or without tbh) tVNS is life-changing…
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adssx
#44
@Steve_Combi: have you heard about Zenbud? https://zenbud.health/
The device is mentioned by Marcus Kaiser in this video:
It’s is an ultrasound vagus nerve stimulator. They claim that it is more effective than tVNS and that “80% of users feel calmer within 5 minutes” and “On average users feel 41.77% better after using for 5 minutes”
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cl-user
#45
The issue with that claim is that they don’t show the slightest evidence for it. Their science section lists several papers which show the positive effect of VNS but with other modalities and devices it seems.
They don’t even give any specs.
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There are literally over 200 studies on tVNS that demonstrate it’s ability to increase HRV which is a proxy for increased vagus nerve “health”.
This is a measurable result, not a how do you feel result.
You can even see it work in real time. Get your fav HRV monitor in place and hooked to you, run tVNS and watch your HRV change in real time.
When they have at least 10 independent studies, that indicate verifiable performance, that would help. In the mean time I’ll continue to use the $100 amazon solution that provides a measurable improvement and is based on the proven studies related to tVNS using an ear clip and various devices providing the electrical stimulation.
The interesting thing on the “various devices” aspect is that this method does work with a wide variety of electrical stimulation devices that can be adjusted to the same parameters. From precise lab quality equipment to lowly off the shelf TENS units.
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Davin8r
#47
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Although the research is from China, it’s a coin flip for me, and I don’t know whether I trust it.
However, I think it has a good shot of working… Or at least not being harmful.
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Davin8r
#49
From the journal’s web site: “JAMA Network Open’s Journal Impact Factor is 10.5, the third highest ranking among general medicine open access journals. JAMA Network Open follows the same peer review, editorial, and publishing standards of JAMA and the JAMA Network journals.”
Seems legit.
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adssx
#50
Good journal but shitty research institutions.
And two trials apparently previously found no benefits: Brain stimulation techniques as novel treatment options for insomnia: A systematic review 2023
Two transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation trials found no superiority of active stimulation for most outcome measures.
At least it seems safe so worth trying? In any case taking 20-30 min every day to do tVNS is like meditating so can’t be too bad (but might not be better than just meditating).
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The US Air Force has commissioned several studies on tVNS for fatigue and learning enhancement.
Study Suggests Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (nVNS) is effective in accelerating United States Air Force Pilot Training
https://investor.electrocore.com/news-releases/news-release-details/study-suggests-non-invasive-vagus-nerve-stimulation-nvns
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Do a search on your favourite condition/interest and add tVNS to it > heart tVNS <> strength tVNS <> HRV tVNS <> memory tVNS <> ANS mode tVNS < and you may be surprised at the number of studies.
tVNS may reduce blood pressure
Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation Acutely Improves Blood Pressure Control in a Placebo Controlled Study
https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.848.8
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Davin8r
#53
Except for one BIG difference – you can do other things (reading, watching TV, etc) while using TVNS, which makes it so much more appealing and easier to do than dropping everything I’m doing.
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And the “focus” required to meditate properly is not my strong suit LoL!
Anybody remember Carlos Castaneda from the 60’s and 70’s, read one of his books in the 70’s and tried the meditation thing then and a few times since then, including a few years ago.
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Curious
#55
Yes, I remember Carlos Castaneda. While backpacking I met a girl who was sold on Castaneda, since I was sold on her, I therefore read two of Castaneda’s books. Those were the days.
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adssx
#56
I remember reading years ago that it was bad to do tVNS while doing something not relaxing as it would teach your brain to be in parasympathetic mode during activities don’t require it. So the author said you should meditate, or watch a movie maybe but not much more. In particular you shouldn’t use it while working. I don’t remember the source (probably not high quality) and I didn’t check the research on that but it “made sense” to me.
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Davin8r
#57
That makes sense. I won’t be exercising or doing anything more stressful than watching Netflix or browsing anti-aging forums while using my tVNS 
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I got Covid in August 23. It was like a moderate flu, no hospital and I was “recovered” in around 10 days, but the Long Covid that followed was truly awful and I had to develop my own protocol to get over it. I am, I reckon, 98% recovered but still have a few issues.
I plan to write about it at some point fairly soon.
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