Hypnosis for Hot Flashes
Researchers at Baylor University have found that compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnosis was more effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes. I’ve been interested in hypnosis for decades, and use it myself for relaxation and creative visualization. But this use sounds great, and it helps to improve autonomic balance leading…
Read MoreMicroneedle biosensor for real-time monitoring of hydrogen sulfide release from paraventricular nucleus of hypertension rats stimulated by electroacupuncture
Acupuncture therapy reduces blood pressure in hypertension patients by stimulating acupoints located at specific anatomical positions with needles. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) release and accumulation in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) might be a pivotal step for triggering blood pressure reduction. I treat hypertension in the clinic with decent results. Pei J, Tang L, Kang C,…
Read MoreAcupuncture effects and neuroimmune regulation: a breakthrough in “treating diseases at the root”
I’m doing a YouTube video on this topic. It’s nothing new to readers of the blog and my book, Radical Resilience. One of the main points of the book is that by leveraging your autonomic nervous system through acupuncture and other means, you stay healthy, have a better mood and longer life. This abstract confirms…
Read MoreCT Scans Harms. 5% of all cancers
Popular CT Scans Could Account for 5% of All Cancer Cases A Year Radiation from imaging could lead to lung, breast and other future cancers, with a 10-fold increased risk for babies. “The danger is greatest for infants, followed by children and adolescents. But adults also are at risk, since they are the most likely…
Read MoreTAVNS Effect On Exercise in Health Volunteers
Nice, but small study showing that TAVNS at 100 Hz(?) improved exercise stress tests. No effect on Blood Pressure however, a bit surprising. HRV exercise 4.16.2025 advpub_CR-24-0136 Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Hemodynamics and Autonomic Function During Exercise Stress Tests in Healthy Volunteers Yosuke Yoshida, PT; Satoshi Okayama, MD, PhD; Daisuke Fujihara,…
Read MoreWhy Dementia Rates are Rising and What To Do
Why Dementia Rates Are Rising — And What We Can Actually Do About It This article on Dementia is from the National Geographic Magazine . We’ve discussed dementia on the blog here, here and here. I have an ebook on Longevity, with more information based on the Longevity chapter in my book, Radical Resilience….
Read MoreAnti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of vagal nerve stimulation combined with electroacupuncture in a rodent model of TNBS-induced colitis
This is an older paper, but it was well done. They even did a youtube video explaining the study. They found that the combination of vagal nerve stimulation and electroacupuncture was better at reducing inflammation than either therapy alone. We’ve discussed inflammatory colitis here and here. and here Anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of vagal nerve…
Read MoreEffects of Auricular Stimulation on Inflammatory Parameters: Discussion of Findings
This is a more thorough discussion of this blog post. Hua, K., Cummings, M., Bernatik, M., Brinkhaus, B., Usichenko, T., Willich, S. N., Scheibenbogen, C., & Dietzel, J. (2025). Effects of Auricular Stimulation on Inflammatory Parameters: Results of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurom.2024.12.007 Abstract…
Read MoreEffects of Auricular Stimulation on Inflammatory Parameters: Results of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
This paper looks at biomarkers for inflammation and note a decrease across a number of trials of auricular stimulation, both TAVNS and acupuncture. This is fascinating and important. We’ve looked at TAVNs and HRV (which correlates with inflammation) here and here. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39998453/ Hua K, Cummings M, Bernatik M, Brinkhaus B, Usichenko T, Willich SN, Scheibenbogen…
Read MoreNon-Invasive Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Decreases Heart Rate Variability Independent of Caloric Load
In this study, the authors looked at the effect of TAVNS comparing right and left sides. They found no difference between the two sides in the cardiac effects. HOWEVER! They found that TAVNS DECREASED HRV leading to arousal. This is in contradistinction to most studies which show an increase in HRV. The researchers used the…
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