June 24, 2024 Puzzle Piece
Vagal Nerve Stimulation & Bodywork to Address Long COVID
[I found this article from Dr Fashong correlates very well with our
findings and treatment and gives helpful insights. I share it with you
unchanged. JB, DC]
Fashong Vagal Massage Covid 2024
Vagal Nerve Stimulation & Bodywork to Address Long COVID
• January 29, 2024
• Bruce Fashong, D.Ac, MDMA, Prof. IntMed.
Learn how noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation may be combined with
CranioSacral Therapy and Manual Lymph Drainage to effect relief for
long-haul COVID-19 clients.
COVID-19 is a contagious disease resulting in widespread lung
inflammation, inflammatory cytokine storms, and severe imbalances within
the autonomic nervous system. In reading the literature, it becomes
clear that COVID-19’s high related mortality rate is primarily due to
the cytokine inflammatory responses, called a sympathetic storm, that
can quickly spread through the bloodstream to cause multi-organ failure.
At the time of this article, worldwide COVID-19 infections have reached
over 770 million, with over 100 million in the U.S. While most infected
individuals recover, a significant proportion experience symptoms and
complications long after their acute illness. It is reported that up to
41% of COVID-19 patients experience symptoms and complications after
their acute illness, a condition referred to as post-acute COVID-19 or,
more colloquially, as long COVID.
Long-COVID patients report prolonged systemic neurological and cognitive
comorbidity symptomology and significant disabilities long after the
infection. By seven months, many of those with long-COVID have not yet
recovered and continue to experience a wide range of physical and mental
or psychological symptoms that can diminish quality of life.
Long-haul symptoms can include:
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Depression or anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Insomnia
• Higher blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal problems and IBS
The Role of the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve may contribute to some of the symptoms of long-haul
COVID, according to new research. The vagus nerve is the primary nerve
of the parasympathetic nervous system, and it mediates and modulates the
immune response to inflammatory processes in the body.
The vagus nerve has two branches, the dorsal right, and the ventral
left. They are the brakes of our body, countering stress activation to
bring homeostasis back into our lives. Statistically, 90% of humans will
expire due to a stress-related disease, so the health of the left and
right vagus nerves is vital to both our health and longevity.
New research reports that the COVID-19 virus attacks the vagus nerve,
contributing to long-haul COVID, according to infectious disease
specialist Gemma Lladós, MD, lead researcher at University Hospital
Germans Trias I Pujol in Barcelona, Spain.
This study and other papers report how most people experiencing long
COVID had a range of significant structural and functional alterations
in their vagus nerve, suggesting vagus nerve dysfunction as a central
cause of long-haul COVID.
This hypothesis helps to explain the long list of post-COVID
symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, joint pain, cough, digestive
problems, dizziness, tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate) and chest
pain, all of which are linked to stress activation and lowered vagal
tone.
Therefore, one approach to successful long-haul COVID patient
recovery appears to be enhancing the vagus nerve through sympathetic
stress reduction.
Noninvasive Vagal Stimulation
One modality that targets the vagus nerve is noninvasive vagal
stimulation, which is the application of tiny electro-currents to the
ear lobe or tragus targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve,
known as the endogenous systemic brakes of the body.
Vagus nerve activation reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines,
stimulates immunity, and improves respiratory dysfunction. Noninvasive
vagal stimulation is reported to alleviate many conditions, including
epilepsy, depression, pain, and stroke rehabilitation.
Noninvasive vagal stimulation is widely reported to increase vagal tone and improve respiratory-pulmonary functioning.
Early evidence suggests that noninvasive vagal stimulation could help
alleviate symptoms related to the long-haul COVID. In a report written
by the independent Canadian Journal of Health Technologies titled “Vagus
Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Post-COVID-19 Condition,”
noninvasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation was recognized as a
potential treatment for long-haul COVID.
The Dolphin Neurostim vagal nerve stimulator is the first medical device
authorized by Health Canada, a federal institution that engages in
health policy, testing, and drug and product approvals, to provide an
effective treatment for long-haul COVID. [Editor’s note: The author of
this article is co-owner and head of research and development for MPS
therapy and Dolphin Neurostim.]
According to its “List of Medical Devices for Expanded Use in Relation to COVID-19,” Health Canada states:
“Dolphin Neurostim (NS) applied as a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) is
authorized for emergency use in the acute treatment of adult patients
with known or suspected COVID-19. Intended for those: who are
experiencing exacerbation of longhaul symptoms and/or asthma-related
dyspnea and reduced airflow and for whom approved drug therapies are not
tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief as assessed by their
health care provider.
Using noninvasive VNS applied to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve
(ABVN) during the COVID-19 pandemic can help with symptom relief.”
People who have long COVID say that noninvasive vagal stimulation helps
alleviate many symptoms related to long-term effects of COVID-19, and
report that manual techniques integrated with vagal stim is an effective
approach for successful alleviation of long-haul symptoms. Further,
bodywork practitioners are utilizing the Dolphin Neurostim vagal nerve
stimulator in routine (not emergency) sessions with clients who present
with long-haul COVID.
Bodywork Complements Vagal Stimulation
Not all types of massage therapy techniques activate vagal tone, as
manual pressure applied during treatment influences the stress response.
One of our primal defense mechanisms is sensory touch, which is part
of our sympathetic nervous system (SNS). All skin pressure activates
sympathetic stress. SNS stress triggers the
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, causing in the fight-flight-freeze
stress response the production of such local pro-inflammatory factors as
cortisol and critical hormones, called catecholamines, which can direct
immune cells from the bloodstream into the skin or stimulate
pro-inflammatory skin cells.9
Massage therapy is a tension-based therapy applying finger pressure
to the skin, so it is no surprise that it is not supported by research
to activate vagal tone or help clients recover from long-haul COVID.
However, two specialized manual techniques are synergistic when applied
with noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation. These subtle
therapies—CranioSacral Therapy and manual lymph drainage—are highly
sensitive to stress activation (vasoconstriction) and stress
de-activation (vasodilation).
Integration of CST and Vagal Stimulation
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was developed by John E. Upledger, DO (1932-2012).
He described the craniosacral system as “a membrane system that
surrounds the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system and the
dura mater membrane that houses the cerebrospinal fluid.” CST achieves
health benefits with tiny manipulations of the cranium and sacral
regions, which affect the pressure and circulation of cerebrospinal
fluid. Upledger recognized that all bodily systems rely on the brain and
spinal cord, as life needs to keep this environment healthy and free
from interference.
“By integrating vagal stimulation with CST, practitioners aim to
activate the parasympathetic nervous system to enhance the flow of
cerebrospinal fluid before performing CST,” said Lisa Upledger, DC, the
ex-wife, and a student of John E. Upledger, and founder of the Upledger
Center for Integrative Therapy (which is not affiliated with John E.
Upledger’s Upledger Institute International).
When a body has held restrictions or contracture for a long time, she
added, it can take many sessions for the layers of fascial release to
eventually re-program into the nervous system and for it to download
into a more parasympathetic mode and remain there, and, she said, the
Dolphin Neurostim vagal nerve stimulator is unique in its ability to
free up tissues and allow for increased fluid flow.
“Using vagal stimulation during CST gives the body the needed input and
retraining in real time, speeds the treatment, healing and recovery, and
locks in the effects more rapidly, making it a tremendous asset during
CST treatment,” Lisa Upledger said. “Vagal stim aids in
resetting the body’s nervous systems and allows for a more powerful CST
session. This innovative new approach enhances the flow of cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) while performing C.” The two together are mutually
beneficial and deliver enhanced positive outcomes, especially for
individuals who suffer from chronic pain, anxiety, neurological
disorders, and other health conditions,” Lisa Upledger added.
Integration of MLD and Vagal Stimulation
The integration of vagal stim work with manual lymph drainage (MLD) is
another highly synergistic combination that holds great promise in the
field of long-haul COVID recovery.
Noninvasive vagal stimulation de-activates stress and anxiety,
reducing muscle tone and enhancing lymphatic movement. When paired with
MLD, which utilizes gentle massage techniques to promote lymphatic
drainage and circulation, clients can experience significant
improvements in lymph flow and overall lymphatic health. Improved
lymphatic health is theorized to be an essential step in recovery from
long-haul COVID.
“When I learned about Dolphin Neurostim vagal nerve stimulation MPS, I
was impressed with how it significantly improves the healing potential
and the overall outcomes when integrated with MLD, said Elisa DiFalco,
founder of MLD Institute International.
“Manual therapy improves the mobility of lymphatic fluid, and when that
fluid becomes solidified or is blocked by stress, the effectiveness of
MLD techniques is compromised,” she added. “I find that [Dolphin
Neurostim vagal nerve stimulation] is an essential tool for promoting
the movement of lymph, and I highly recommend it to my students, so much
so, that Dolphin Neurostim training is part of our master certification
at the MLD Institute International.”
Practitioner Laine Miller, PTA, LMT, also uses noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation in sessions. “I
typically start a lymphatic therapy session with vagal nerve therapy to
help my clients decrease the sympathetic activation in the body and
increase the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system,” she
said. “I find that the two modalities produce a powerhouse combo that
has been life-changing for many of my clients.”
As people continue to suffer from the effects of long-haul COVID,
researchers are exploring causes of the syndrome and treatment options.
One promising avenue is the integration of noninvasive vagal nerve
stimulation with subtle bodywork therapies.
Studies have shown that stimulating the vagal nerve can help to
de-activate stress and enhance lymph and cerebral spinal fluid flow,
leading to improved overall health outcomes when combined with MLD and
CST. This approach could be particularly beneficial for people
experiencing long COVID who require a multi-pronged approach to overcome
the vast range of physical and psychological symptoms they continue to
experience.
It is evident that vagal nerve stimulation holds great promise in the
field of manual health care and recovery from long-haul COVID.
About the Author
Bruce Fashong, D.Ac, MDMA, Prof. IntMed., is the co-developer of
Microcurrent Point Stimulation (MPS) Therapy, an innovative, autonomic
nervous system-based approach to chronic stress and pain management. He
has co-authored several Neuro-Acupuncture books, including “Acupuncture
for Healing” (2012), and “Functional Acupuncture for Pain Management”
(2013) and has published several peer-reviewed studies. He resides in
the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Yours in Health and Wellness,
John W Brimhall, DC, BA, BS, FIAMA, DIBAK, Formulator, Patent Holder
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