Vagal Nerve Stimulators Face Scrutiny as Influencers Push $1 Billion Market by 2030
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 18
Vagal Nerve Stimulators Face Scrutiny as Influencers Push $1 Billion Market by 2030
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 18
Medical experts are challenging online claims that vagal nerve stimulators can broadly treat sleep, stress, brain fog, inflammation and digestive problems.
Dr. Kevin Tracey said many gadgets sold for the neck or ears do not actually work and borrow credibility from medical-grade stimulators available only through surgery or prescription.
The vagus nerve does have legitimate clinical uses, with federally approved stimulation devices cleared for only a handful of conditions rather than the wide wellness claims circulating online.
Celebrity endorsements and billions of social-media impressions have helped turn vagus stimulation into a fast-growing wellness trend, with some forecasts projecting a $1 billion industry by 2030.
Amid celebrity hype, how can you tell if a neuro-gadget is a medical breakthrough or a marketing gimmick?
Vagus nerve gadgets promise to fix our stress. Is this a wellness revolution or a billion-dollar placebo?