About Clinical Vagal Nerve Stimulation & Learning about HRV

A powerful combination of a treatment and tracking  metric to see and feel real time shifts in YOUR ability to recover from injury, adapt to your training program, and see results.

Understanding Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is like tuning in to your body's unique radio station for well-being. Imagine it as the rhythm of your heart's dance, reflecting the subtle variations in the time between beats.

HRV is not simply heart rate, it is the indicator of the autonomic nervous system - the system that carries out stress responses (fight, flight, freeze) and into restorative and recovery states during rest. 

Higher heart rate variability indicates as system that is adaptable and will gain the most benefit from the strategies you are undertaking to improve your health, manage your diagnosis, or improve your strength, endurance, power and overall performance. 

Lower HRV gives us insight into why the changes you are making may be taking longer than expected.

HRV is a powerful ally in representing in real time the day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month efforts you are making to shift course in your health. Allowing us to rely less on change in symptoms and waiting for bloodwork and imaging,  because we can see the data that your wholistic system is adapting to the changes you are working hard to make. If you have a fitness tracker - Garmin watch, Apple Watch, or Fitbit of a recent model - they are already tracking your HRV in some degree.

There’s more - enter the vagus nerve, the unsung hero in this narrative. This nerve orchestrates the delicate balance between stress response and relaxation within your autonomic system. You know all the cold plunging, floatation tanks, nature walks, and breath work you are seeing flood your social media - you got it, all have some evidence for improving HRV by stimulation your vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve originates from the brain stem, it is primarily responsible promoting rest, relaxation, and recovery by counteracting the stress response. The vagus nerve influences heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and other essential bodily functions, contributing to overall homeostasis and well-being. 

Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation has research evidence showing  it's impact on Heart Rate Variability. This method comparable to a soothing massage for your vagus nerve and is a treatment that, in under 20 minutes, can potently change your HRV and increase parasympathetic activity. This fine-tunes the balance of your autonomic system AND acts as a catalyst for health improvements, steering you toward enhanced well-being and a more restful sleep.

By enhancing your HRV, you're giving your body the tools it needs to better navigate the health challenge you take on - recovering from injury, training program, or managing a medical diagnosis. It's like upgrading your internal GPS for optimal physical and mental health. 

So, here's to decoding your body's signals, embracing the power of HRV, and stepping into a future filled with improved well-being and rejuvenated sleep. Your body, your rhythm, your well-being journey!

1. Deep Breathing Exercises: Engage in slow, deep breaths, focusing on inhaling and exhaling to promote relaxation and balance in the autonomic nervous system.
2. Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice meditation to reduce stress, enhance emotional well-being, and positively impact heart rate variability.
3. Yoga and Tai Chi: Incorporate gentle, mindful movement practices like yoga or Tai Chi, which have been linked to improved HRV.
4. Aerobic Exercise: Regular aerobic activities, such as jogging, cycling, or swimming, contribute to cardiovascular fitness and can enhance heart rate variability.
5. Cold Exposure: Gradual exposure to cold, like cold showers or immersion, has been associated with increased HRV, possibly due to its impact on the autonomic nervous system.
6. Adequate Sleep: Ensure you get sufficient, high-quality sleep, as sleep is closely tied to HRV and overall cardiovascular health.
7. Balanced Nutrition: Adopt a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods, supporting overall health, which in turn can positively influence heart rate variability.
8. Hydration: Maintain proper hydration levels, as dehydration may adversely affect HRV.

Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Simulation  
The concept of passive or active electrically stimulating the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) is now gaining recognition in literature.  (Barone L et al; 2007, De Couck M et al; 2012).  Called - non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) - VNS has been reported to improve HRV (Constantinescu V et al., 2019, Levin C et al.) , activate the parasympathetic system, (Clancy JA et al., 2014) to reduce inflammation (Kaniusas et al., 2019), respiratory dysfunction (Tracey, 2007),  and the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tracey, 2007; Stavrakis et al., 2015), 

Dolphin Vagus Nerve Stimulation activates Vagal Tone  
Dolphin Vagal Nerve Stimulation has been proven in science to activate the parasympathetic system (Armstrong 2019), which reduces lung inflammation (Kaniusas 2019),  and pro-inflammatory cytokines to improve respiratory dysfunction (Tracey, 2007). 

Dolphin Vagal Stimulator Clinic Scenarios::

• PRE-MANUAL RELAXATION: Dolphin VNS may be applied pre-manual therapy to relax muscle tone & increase circulation. 
• PAIN THERAPY: Dolphin VNS can reduce both stress and pain in any hospital or clinical setting (applied in under 15 min/patient
• STRESS DE-ACTIVATION: Dolphin may be applied t preventatively to reduce stress and improve immunity and reduce COVID-19 infections risk 

Dolphin VNS is a safe clinical procedure and could be an effective treatment for stress reduction & vagal tone enhancement. 

Learn more about vagus nerve stimulation at https://www.dolphinmps.com/what-is-vagus-nerve/