Heart Rate Variability and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
This article makes a case for evaluating HRV to detect early cognitive decline. It does not suggest improving autonomic balance as a means of improving or maintaining cognitive performance. But I will suggest just that! Be it with acupuncture or with Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, I say why not. Safe and will have other benefits…
Read MoreFDA to take tougher line on fast tracked drugs
This is a welcome development! The FDA has had a priority of releasing drugs and medical devices on an unsuspecting public before they’ve really been tested thoroughly. Drug companies pay the FDA, and it’s a big source of their funding. They’re well aware that once a drug is released they’re hard to pull them back…
Read MoreCircadian stage-dependent and stimulation duration effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on heart rate variability
In this study there were 3 findings. 1. HRV showed significant improvement in vagal activity in the morning. In the evening there were no similar result. 2. HRV parasympathetic markers improved more in patients who had lower vagal activity to begin with. (This has been a consistent finding across studies) 3. The most pronounced changes…
Read MoreHeart Rate and Autonomic Nervous System Activity Relationship During Acupuncture Associated with Postural Change and Effect on Menopausal Symptoms:
In addition to showing that just 4 weeks of acupuncture improved menopausal symptoms, these authors show that vagal activity is enhanced with acupuncture needling in real time. This study looks at the effect of postural change on HR and HRV in menopausal women receiving once per week acupuncture. They compare the verum acupuncture group with…
Read MoreStatins controversies, diabetes risk
Statins are widely prescribed to lower cholesterol in order to prevent blockage of coronary arteries. They do carry some risks though! Click through to read the discussion. from the NYtimes Statins, which help lower levels of LDL (or “bad” cholesterol) in the blood, can cause side effects such as headache, muscle pain, brain fog and…
Read MoreMore on Doctored Images in Research Studies
To follow up on the blog post about the doctored images in a landmark study on Alzheimer’s, this article Is written by a scientist who took it upon herself to look through thousands of journal articles in search of photoshopped and altered images. The Times attempted to contact the lead scientists of the retracted papers…
Read MoreCan acupuncture improve objective sleep indices in patients with primary insomnia? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Nice study. Other sleep study here, and here Zhao FY, Fu QQ, Kennedy GA, Conduit R, Zhang WJ, Wu WZ, Zheng Z. Can acupuncture improve objective sleep indices in patients with primary insomnia? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med. 2021 Apr;80:244-259. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.01.053. Epub 2021 Feb 2. PMID: 33610071. Abstract Background: The efficacy of acupuncture for…
Read MoreTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Inflammation but Does Not Interfere with Cardiac Modulation and Clinical Symptoms of Individuals with COVID-19:
When I went to the Neuromodulation conference in May in Barcelona, there was a presentation by someone from Sevilla, who showed improvement in symptoms in patients in the hospital with Covid. Since inflammation plays such a key role in Covid 19 symptoms and disability, any safe means of decreasing inflammation would be welcome. TAVNS can…
Read MoreDifferent Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Parameters Modulate the Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Inflammation in Mice
In this study, the researchers were measuring inflammatory marker levels as a function of the frequency of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation. They found that 15HZ caused a marked reduction in LPS inflammatory response compared to 25 hz. I will have to try this in the clinic! (Not on mice of course…) Go YY, Ju…
Read MoreEffect of Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Deep Breathing on HRV
Both deep breathing and TAVNS increased HRV in this study. I discourage patients’ deep breathing while I’m measuring their HRV during acupuncture treatment or acupuncture with TAVNS. The deep breathing distorts the readings wildly. I don’t make a practice of measuring HRV after the intervention has stopped. Maybe I should!! Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and…
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