{"id":11435,"date":"2025-08-27T18:30:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T22:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/824-dr-kevin-tracey-stimulating-the-vagus-nerve-to-tame-inflammation-alleviate-depression-treat-autoimmune-disorders-e-g-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-much-more-824\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T18:30:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T22:30:31","slug":"824-dr-kevin-tracey-stimulating-the-vagus-nerve-to-tame-inflammation-alleviate-depression-treat-autoimmune-disorders-e-g-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-much-more-824","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/824-dr-kevin-tracey-stimulating-the-vagus-nerve-to-tame-inflammation-alleviate-depression-treat-autoimmune-disorders-e-g-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-much-more-824\/","title":{"rendered":"#824: Dr. Kevin Tracey \u2014 Stimulating The Vagus Nerve to Tame Inflammation, Alleviate Depression, Treat Autoimmune Disorders (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis), and Much More (#824)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Stimulating The Vagus Nerve to Tame Inflammation, Alleviate Depression, &amp; Treat Autoimmune Disorders\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CAVoeiFiick?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><strong>Kevin J. Tracey, MD<\/strong> (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kevinjtraceymd\">@KevinJTraceyMD<\/a>), is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, a pioneer of vagus nerve research and author of the recent book, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/059371699X\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong><em>The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>His contributions include identifying the therapeutic action of monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies and discovering the specific reflex control of immunity by the nervous system, called the \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/www.nature.com\/articles\/nature01321__;!!BWcElQ!wgouvjkfN0UCsMoQAy6gYb_zs-FtgacR72gcDFqyVVKNCN6GfPof_uXJnw7cC7wwX2XuQob1P-GnStXBpCzOiG7pR9Lxbife-aAq$\">inflammatory reflex<\/a>.\u201d These discoveries launched the new scientific field called bioelectronic medicine, which investigates the therapeutic applications of vagus nerve stimulation to cure disease.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Tracey, a neurosurgeon, pursued studies of inflammation after the mysterious death, from sepsis, of a toddler who was in his care. His lab has since revealed molecular mechanisms of inflammation and identified the use of vagus nerve stimulation to treat it. An inventor on more than 120 US patents and the author of more than 450 scientific publications, he is among the most highly cited scientists in the world. He co-founded the Global Sepsis Alliance, is the author of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fatal-Sequence-Kevin-J-Tracey\/dp\/193259406X\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Fatal Sequence<\/em><\/a>, and is a national and international lecturer.<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Listen to the episode on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/824-dr-kevin-tracey-stimulating-the-vagus-nerve-to\/id863897795?i=1000723633538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/5fEmZB11g3MA1G9QtqiaRM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sp<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/3Jm5E7s5B06Kzak7X9M8FY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">otify<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/+AAKebvXw_Eg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Overcast<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcastaddict.com\/podcast\/2031148#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Podcast Addict<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pca.st\/timferriss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pocket Casts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/castbox.fm\/channel\/id1059468?country=us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Castbox<\/a>,\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/music.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLuu6fDad2eJyWPm9dQfuorm2uuYHBZDCB\">YouTube Music<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/9814f3cc-1dc5-4003-b816-44a8eb6bf666\/the-tim-ferriss-show\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon Music<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/podcast\/The-Tim-Ferriss-Show\/B08K58QX5W\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Audible<\/a>, or on your favorite podcast platform. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CAVoeiFiick\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Watch the conversation on YouTube<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/824-dr-kevin-tracey-stimulating-the-vagus-nerve-to\/id863897795?i=1000723633538\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/apple-podcast.png?ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/apple-podcast.png?ssl=1\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><\/noscript><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Apple Podcasts<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/3Jm5E7s5B06Kzak7X9M8FY\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"35\" height=\"35\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/spotify.svg\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"35\" height=\"35\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/spotify.svg\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><\/noscript><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Spotify<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/+AAKebvXw_Eg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/overcast.svg\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/overcast.svg\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><\/noscript><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Overcast<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"podcast-player\">\n<div class=\"podcast-player-inner-wrap\">\n<p>Dr. Kevin Tracey \u2014 Stimulating The Vagus Nerve to Tame Inflammation, Alleviate Depression, Treat Autoimmune Disorders (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis), and Much More<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.art19.com\/shows\/58dacbdc-646e-4585-9914-19c3de11d1ba\/episodes\/ec6634f3-3e92-4925-9abb-f33c8e8e1862\/embed?type=micro\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 30px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/drinkag1.com\/tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>AG1<\/strong><\/a><strong>!<\/strong>\u00a0I get asked all the time, \u201cIf you could use only one supplement, what would it be?\u201d My answer is usually\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drinkag1.com\/tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AG1<\/a>, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in\u00a0<em>The 4-Hour Body<\/em>\u00a0in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. <strong>Right now, you\u2019ll get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D free with your first subscription purchase<\/strong>\u2014a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones.\u00a0<strong>Visit\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/drinkag1.com\/tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>DrinkAG1.com\/Tim<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0to claim this special offer today and receive your 1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Eight Sleep<\/strong><\/a><strong>. <\/strong>Temperature is one of the main causes of poor sleep, and heat is my personal nemesis. But a few years ago, I started using the Pod Cover, and it has transformed my sleep. <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\">Eight Sleep has launched their newest generation of the Pod: Pod 5 Ultra<\/a>.<\/strong> It cools, it heats, and now it elevates, automatically. With the best temperature performance to date, Pod 5 Ultra ensures you and your partner stay cool in the heat and cozy warm in the cold. <strong>And now, listeners of <em>The Tim Ferriss Show<\/em> can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\">get $350 off<\/a> of the Pod 5 Ultra for a limited time! <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/eightsleep.com\/Tim\">Click here to claim this deal and unlock your full potential through optimal sleep<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by Wealthfront!<\/strong> Wealthfront is a financial services platform that offers services to help you save and invest your money. Right now, you can earn 4.00% APY\u2014that\u2019s the Annual Percentage Yield\u2014with the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/wealthfront.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wealthfront Brokerage Cash Account<\/a>. That\u2019s nearly 10x more interest than if you left your money in a savings account at the average bank, with savings rates at 0.42%, according to FDIC.gov, as of 05\/19\/2025. It takes just a few minutes to sign up, and then you\u2019ll immediately start earning 4.00% APY from program\u00a0 banks on your uninvested cash. <strong>And when new clients open an account today, they\u2019ll get\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/wealthfront.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an extra $50 bonus<\/a>\u00a0with a deposit of $500 or more. Terms and Conditions apply.\u00a0 Visit\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/wealthfront.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wealthfront.com\/Tim<\/a>\u00a0to get started. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA\/SIPC. Wealthfront is not a bank. The APY on cash deposits, as of 04\/30\/2025, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program\u00a0banks, where they earn a variable APY. Tim receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage. Tim and Wealthfront Brokerage have no other affiliation. Tim reflects his own opinions and Wealthfront does not endorse, sponsor, or promote them.\u00a0See full disclosures\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cash.wealthfront.com\/tim?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=timferrissshow&amp;utm_campaign=podcast_cash_50incentive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Connect with <strong>Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/feinstein.northwell.edu\/institutes-researchers\/our-researchers\/kevin-j-tracey-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Feinstein Institutes of Northwell Health<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/setpointmedical.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SetPoint Medical<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kevinjtraceymd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publications &amp; Media<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Medical Conditions<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/rheumatoid-arthritis\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353648\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/a>: An autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/crohns-disease\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crohn\u2019s Disease<\/a>: A type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)<\/a>: A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/me-cfs\/about\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chronic Fatigue Syndrome<\/a>: A long-term illness characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn\u2019t improve with rest and may worsen with physical or mental activity.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/depression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Depression<\/a>: A mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/lyme\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lyme Disease<\/a>: An infectious disease caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of infected ticks.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8837071\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Neurodegenerative Disease<\/a>: A range of conditions that primarily affect the neurons in the human brain, leading to progressive deterioration of function.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/anaphylaxis\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20351468\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anaphylaxis<\/a>: A severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur rapidly after exposure to an allergen.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asthma<\/a>: A respiratory condition in which airways become inflamed, narrow, and produce excess mucus, making breathing difficult.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sepsis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sepsis<\/a>: A life-threatening condition that arises when the body\u2019s response to infection causes widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/psoriatic-arthritis\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20354076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Psoriatic Arthritis<\/a>: A form of inflammatory arthritis that affects some people who have the skin condition psoriasis.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niaid.nih.gov\/diseases-conditions\/autoimmune-diseases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Autoimmune Conditions<\/a>: Disorders in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body\u2019s own healthy tissues and organs.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COVID-19<\/a>: A contagious respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can range from mild to severe symptoms.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/a>: A progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninds.nih.gov\/health-information\/disorders\/parkinsons-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parkinson\u2019s Disease<\/a>: A progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often causing tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/metabolic-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20351916\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metabolic Syndrome<\/a>: A cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Diabetes<\/a>: A chronic disease that occurs when the body cannot properly produce or use insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/understanding\/what-is-cancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cancer<\/a>: A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/malaria\/about\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Malaria<\/a>: A life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tb\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tuberculosis<\/a>: A serious infectious bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/peptic-ulcer\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20354223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Peptic Ulcer Disease<\/a>: A condition characterized by painful sores or ulcers that develop in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/epilepsy\/about\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Epilepsy<\/a>: A neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures, unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of consciousness.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/cluster-headache\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20352080\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cluster Headaches<\/a>: A series of extremely painful headaches that occur in cyclical patterns or clusters, often at the same time each day for weeks or months.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/migraine-headache\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20360201\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Migraines<\/a>: Intense headaches that cause severe throbbing or pulsing pain, typically on one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/sciatica\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20377435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sciatica<\/a>: Pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve pathway from the lower back through the hips and down one or both legs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treatments &amp; Therapies<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/vagus-nerve-stimulation\/about\/pac-20384565\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)<\/a>: A medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FsF97Xhf9h8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Audio Chakra Cleanse Soundtracks<\/a>: A type of alternative therapy mentioned as an example of \u201cnonsense.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/treatments\/biologics-biologic-medicine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Biologics<\/a>: Medications made from living organisms or their components.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/diet.mayoclinic.org\/us\/meal-plans\/healthy-keto-meal-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ketogenic Diet<\/a>: A very low-carb, high-fat diet.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/326607\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Exogenous Ketones<\/a>: Ketones that are ingested through a nutritional supplement.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/treatments\/13901-glp-1-agonists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GLP-1 Agonists (e.g., Ozempic, Mounjaro)<\/a>: A class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8155486\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Microbiome Transplants<\/a>: The transfer of fecal matter from a healthy donor to a recipient to restore a healthy gut microbiome.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation\/about\/pac-20384625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)<\/a>: A noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/treatments\/16541-hifu-high-intensity-focused-ultrasound\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Focused Ultrasound<\/a>: A non-invasive therapeutic technology that uses focused sound waves to target and treat a variety of medical conditions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nida.nih.gov\/research-topics\/psychedelic-dissociative-drugs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Psychedelics (e.g., LSD, 2C-B, Ayahuasca)<\/a>: A class of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/treatments\/15840-transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) units<\/a>: A non-invasive method of pain relief that uses a mild electrical current.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1155\/2015\/495684\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Auricular Therapy<\/a>: A form of alternative medicine based on the idea that the ear is a microsystem which reflects the entire body.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/pepcid.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Famotidine (Pepcid)<\/a>: An over-the-counter antacid that Dr. Tracey describes as a pharmacological vagus nerve stimulator.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/article\/antibiotics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antibiotics<\/a>: Medications that fight bacterial infections.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/depression\/in-depth\/ssris\/art-20044825\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)<\/a>: A class of drugs that are typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and other psychological conditions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/ibuprofen.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ibuprofen<\/a>: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/treatment\/types\/immunotherapy\/monoclonal-antibodies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monoclonal Antibodies<\/a>: Laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system\u2019s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6220144\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Optogenetics<\/a>: A biological technique that involves the use of light to control cells in living tissue, typically neurons, that have been genetically modified to express light-sensitive ion channels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Concepts &amp; Theories<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polyvagalinstitute.org\/whatispolyvagaltheory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Polyvagal Theory<\/a>: A theory that links the evolution of the autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/symptoms\/21773-heart-rate-variability-hrv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Heart Rate Variability (HRV)<\/a>: The variation in the time interval between consecutive heartbeats.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lifemovesmt.com\/understanding-recognizing-sympathetic-overdrive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sympathetic Overdrive<\/a>: A condition where the sympathetic nervous system is overactive.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/immunology-and-microbiology\/inflammatory-reflex\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inflammatory Reflex<\/a>: A physiological reflex that controls the inflammatory response.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10911101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bioelectronic Medicine<\/a>: A field of medicine that uses electronic devices to treat diseases and injuries.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41392-023-01481-w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blood-Brain Barrier<\/a>: A highly selective semipermeable border of endothelial cells that prevents solutes in the circulating blood from non-selectively crossing into the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system where neurons reside.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cytokine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL-1, IL-6)<\/a>: A broad and loose category of small proteins that are important in cell signaling.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.upenn.edu\/CSTL\/cytokine-storm.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cytokine Storm<\/a>: A severe immune reaction in which the body releases too many cytokines into the blood too quickly.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Inflammaging\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inflammaging<\/a>: Chronic, low-grade inflammation that develops with advanced age.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neuroinflammation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Neuroinflammation<\/a>: Inflammation of the nervous tissue.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neuroskills.com\/neuroplasticity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Neuroplasticity<\/a>: The ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/interoception\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Interoception<\/a>: The sense of the internal state of the body.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Engram_(neuropsychology)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Engram<\/a>: A physical trace of memory in the brain.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cusabio.com\/c-20938.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M1 and M2 Macrophages<\/a>: Two different types of white blood cells with different functions in the inflammatory response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vagusnervegirl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kelly Owens<\/a>: A patient of Dr. Tracey\u2019s who suffered from Crohn\u2019s disease and rheumatoid arthritis and was successfully treated with a vagus nerve stimulation device.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/murthy-simhambhatla-884668bb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Murthy Simhambhatla<\/a>: The CEO of SetPoint Medical, a bioelectronic medicine company developing vagus nerve stimulation therapies.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/david-chernoff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dave Chernoff<\/a>: The Chief Medical Officer of SetPoint Medical, overseeing clinical development of bioelectronic therapies.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/01\/05\/nolan-williams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nolan Williams<\/a>: A psychiatry professor and director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab who pioneered Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT), an FDA-approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression using accelerated TMS.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2023\/05\/24\/dr-nora-volkow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nora Volkow<\/a>: Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) who pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate addiction as a brain disorder and is researching focused ultrasound therapies for addiction treatment.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cellbio.hms.harvard.edu\/faculty-staff\/stephen-liberles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steve Liberles<\/a>: A professor of cell biology at Harvard Medical School and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator who studies the molecular neuroscience of vagus nerve sensory systems and identified specific vagal neuron subtypes that control breathing and digestion in mice.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bwhbulletin.org\/2023\/07\/10\/in-memoriam-k-frank-austen-md-division-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">K. Frank Austen<\/a>: A leading expert on asthma research and respiratory medicine.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.princeton.edu\/news\/2020\/01\/22\/barry-jacobs-renowned-neuroscientist-and-serotonin-researcher-dead-77\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barry Jacobs<\/a>: A researcher at Princeton University who studied the effects of LSD on cats and contributed to early psychedelic research.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2022\/08\/16\/dr-andrew-weil-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andrew Weil<\/a>: A physician and author with a background in ethnobotany who has written about his experiences with psychedelics including LSD and integrative medicine approaches.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.com\/u\/ulf-andersson-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ulf Andersson<\/a>: A retired professor of pediatric rheumatology at the Karolinska Institute and friend of Dr. Tracey\u2019s who used a TENS unit to treat his own inflammation-related depression.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paul_Nogier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paul Nogier<\/a>: A French physician who created the first auricular acupuncture maps in 1957, pioneering modern ear acupuncture techniques.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihmc.us\/groups\/kford\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kenneth M. Ford<\/a>: Founder and CEO Emeritus of the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), and co-host of the STEM-Talk podcast.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rHlTDtGViiM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Geoff Ling<\/a>: Retired colonel who founded the biology technology office at DARPA.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/prizes\/physics\/1965\/feynman\/biographical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard Feynman<\/a>: Nobel Prize-winning American theoretical physicist known for his work in quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, and superfluidity.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/prizes\/medicine\/1932\/sherrington\/biographical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charles Sherrington<\/a>: One of the founders of modern neuroscience, known for his groundbreaking work on neural reflexes and <em>The Integrative Action of the Nervous System<\/em>, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/prizes\/medicine\/1906\/cajal\/biographical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Santiago Ram\u00f3n y Cajal<\/a>: The other founding father of modern neuroscience, known for his pioneering studies of the structure of the nervous system and the neuron doctrine, Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine in 1906.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Asya_Rolls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asya Rolls<\/a>: A professor who discovered that inflammation in the colon can form a neural network connection to the brain, advancing our understanding of the gut-brain axis.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/feinstein.northwell.edu\/institutes-researchers\/our-researchers\/sangeeta-chavan-phd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sangeeta Chavan<\/a>: A colleague of Dr. Tracey\u2019s at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, contributing to bioelectronic medicine research.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/feinstein.northwell.edu\/institutes-researchers\/our-researchers\/stavros-zanos-md-phd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stavros Zanos<\/a>: A colleague of Dr. Tracey\u2019s at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, specializing in neural engineering and bioelectronics.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/okito-hashimoto-4b324032\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Okito Hashimoto<\/a>: A colleague of Dr. Tracey\u2019s at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, working in the field of bioelectronic medicine.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/feinstein.northwell.edu\/institutes-researchers\/our-researchers\/eric-h-chang-phd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eric Chang<\/a>: A colleague of Dr. Tracey\u2019s at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, contributing to neuroscience and bioelectronics research.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2020\/12\/16\/martine-rothblatt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Martine Rothblatt<\/a>: A friend of Dr. Tracey\u2019s and CEO of United Therapeutics, she is a renowned polymath who founded SiriusXM satellite radio before entering biotechnology to develop treatments for her daughter\u2019s pulmonary hypertension, becoming the highest-paid female CEO in America.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Lorimer-Moseley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lorimer Moseley<\/a>: Co-author with David Butler of the book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0987342665\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Explain Pain<\/em><\/a> and a leading researcher in pain neuroscience and clinical neurosciences at the University of South Australia.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/isharonline.org\/profiles\/bushell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">William Bushell<\/a>: A scientist who works with the Dalai Lama on studies involving meditation, consciousness, and human potential.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/prizes\/medicine\/2009\/blackburn\/biographical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elizabeth Blackburn<\/a>: A scientist who won both the Lasker Prize and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009 for her work on telomeres and telomerase.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bobthurman.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bob Thurman<\/a>: Uma Thurman\u2019s father and a professor of Tibetan studies at Columbia University, known for his scholarship on Buddhist philosophy.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dalailama.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Dalai Lama<\/a>: The spiritual leader of Tibet and global advocate for compassion, peace, and interfaith dialogue.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bill_Murray\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bill Murray<\/a>: Formidably funny man and serial-striking bowler.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2025\/08\/12\/random-show-vibe-coding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kevin Rose<\/a>: Probably not the Kevin you\u2019re looking for, but Kevin, by any other name, would smell as sweet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Institutions &amp; Companies<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/setpointmedical.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SetPoint Medical<\/a>: A commercial-stage medical technology company that developed the first FDA-approved neuroimmune modulation device to treat rheumatoid arthritis using vagus nerve stimulation.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/feinstein.northwell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research<\/a>: The research arm of Northwell Health and home to 50 research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies, and 5,000 researchers where Dr. Tracey and his colleagues work.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>: A world-renowned nonprofit American medical organization dedicated to integrated healthcare, education, and research.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stanford.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stanford University<\/a>: A prestigious private research university in California known for its groundbreaking research, including work on accelerated TMS and other medical innovations.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>: The national public health agency of the United States, responsible for protecting public health and safety through disease prevention and health promotion.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ki.se\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Karolinska Institute<\/a>: A prestigious medical research institute and university in Sweden, home to the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.darpa.mil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)<\/a>: A research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for developing emerging technologies for military use.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dliflc.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Defense Language Institute<\/a>: A United States Department of Defense educational and research institution that provides language training to military personnel and federal employees.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unither.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United Therapeutics<\/a>: A biotechnology company focused on creating innovative products to address the medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions, including pulmonary arterial hypertension and organ transplantation technologies.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World Health Organization (WHO)<\/a>: A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, setting global health standards, and coordinating international health responses.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Columbia University<\/a>: A prestigious private Ivy League research university in New York City, renowned for its contributions to medicine, science, and other fields of study.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pendulumlife.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pendulum<\/a>: A science-backed biotechnology company founded by doctors and scientists that produces next-generation probiotics, including the only commercially available live Akkermansia supplement.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whoop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WHOOP<\/a>: 24\/7 monitoring across sleep, strain, stress, and heart health.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ouraring.com\/\">Oura Ring<\/a>: A smart ring that monitors over 20 biometrics that directly impact how you feel.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/category\/watches_trackers?hl=en-US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fitbit<\/a>: Wearables designed to \u201ckeep you close to your goals, boost your motivation, and show your progress throughout your health and fitness journey.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relevant Research &amp; Resources<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SHOW NOTES<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>[00:00:00] Start.<\/li>\n<li>[00:06:34] Factors alleviating my skepticism about vagus nerve stimulation.<\/li>\n<li>[00:11:12] SetPoint Medical receives FDA approval for vagus nerve stimulation device to treat rheumatoid arthritis.<\/li>\n<li>[00:13:24] How Crohn\u2019s disease sufferer Kelly Owens went from a wheelchair to running up stairs in Amsterdam.<\/li>\n<li>[00:20:36] Placebo effect concerns and the conditions driving my interest in bioelectric medicine.<\/li>\n<li>[00:25:31] Vagus nerve anatomy 101.<\/li>\n<li>[00:32:53] Cytokines and inflammation: What happens when the vagus nerve is stimulated.<\/li>\n<li>[00:33:45] Discovery story: Accidental finding of brain-body inflammation connection.<\/li>\n<li>[00:35:39] Bioelectronic medicine approach vs. pharmaceutical approach.<\/li>\n<li>[00:38:18] Mice don\u2019t wheeze.<\/li>\n<li>[00:40:13] Depression and inflammation connection: SSRIs may work through anti-inflammatory effects.<\/li>\n<li>[00:42:46] My personal experience with vagus nerve stimulation and mood stability.<\/li>\n<li>[00:44:22] The pros and cons of inflammation, and how controlling it may lead to even longer lifespans.<\/li>\n<li>[00:50:56] Weighing the safety of VNS vs. biologics in cytokine suppression.<\/li>\n<li>[00:56:27] Cold exposure, meditation, and breathing practices affecting the vagus nerve.<\/li>\n<li>[00:59:01] A population-level increase in chronic inflammatory diseases: Nature vs. nurture.<\/li>\n<li>[01:00:48] H. pylori: For when you can\u2019t blame stress, God, or the patient for that nagging ulcer.<\/li>\n<li>[01:03:13] Stress, cortisol, and inflammation connections.<\/li>\n<li>[01:05:42] SetPoint device vs. non-invasive alternatives for different patient populations.<\/li>\n<li>[01:11:09] Auricular therapy\u2019s curious French origins.<\/li>\n<li>[01:13:28] There\u2019s something fishy about this vestigial vagus nerve pathway.<\/li>\n<li>[01:16:03] Overlapping activation patterns from brain imaging studies of ear stimulation.<\/li>\n<li>[01:19:01] DARPA support and Geoff Ling\u2019s \u201cWhat if it\u2019s yes?\u201d attitude.<\/li>\n<li>[01:21:58] Neurocognition and vagus nerve inputs.<\/li>\n<li>[01:27:20] How Ulf Andersson turned his depression around with a TENS unit.<\/li>\n<li>[01:31:55] Heart rate variability complexity and measurement challenges.<\/li>\n<li>[01:33:05] A breathing exercise for directly controlling heart rate.<\/li>\n<li>[01:35:30] Using a common antacid as a pharmacological vagus nerve stimulator during COVID.<\/li>\n<li>[01:36:23] A call for more inflammation-based depression research and patient stratification.<\/li>\n<li>[01:39:52] SSRIs and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in depression treatment.<\/li>\n<li>[01:42:20] Interoception: The body\u2019s inflammatory signals reaching the brain via vagus nerve.<\/li>\n<li>[01:43:22] Ulf\u2019s published protocol for TENS unit ear stimulation.<\/li>\n<li>[01:44:37] VNS, acupuncture, fertility, and Martine Rothblatt.<\/li>\n<li>[01:47:16] Chronic low back pain and an inflammatory overreaction analogy.<\/li>\n<li>[01:48:35] Implications of Asya Rolls\u2019 engram research and inflammation memories in the brain.<\/li>\n<li>[02:02:35] Cervical TENS vs. true VNS.<\/li>\n<li>[02:07:12] Charles Sherrington\u2019s reflex theory and nervous system integration.<\/li>\n<li>[02:12:15] Blue energy meditation and vagus nerve pathways with the Dalai Lama.<\/li>\n<li>[02:16:47] Parting thoughts: Serious medical conditions vs. self-help approaches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DR. KEVIN TRACEY QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW<\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u201c60 million people die on the planet Earth every year. And 40 million of them die from heart disease, stroke, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer\u2019s, Parkinson\u2019s, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cancer. So two thirds of the people that die every year on the planet Earth die of those conditions. And that\u2019s according to the WHO. Those conditions all have one thing in common \u2014 they\u2019re either caused by inflammation or made worse by inflammation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u00a0Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIt was just announced that the company SetPoint Medical, which will now be marketing a device to stimulate the vagus nerve to treat rheumatoid arthritis, has received FDA approval. So there\u2019ll be a product launch underway for everything we\u2019re about to talk about in the context of using a medical device that activates an evolutionarily conserved and ancient reflex through which the brain can suppress inflammation when it\u2019s running out of control.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u00a0Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cWe\u2019ve discovered that signals travel from the brain through the vagus nerve. \u2026 These signals traveling in the vagus nerve are like the brakes on your car. And when you tap those brakes to slow your car barreling down the hill, this device activates what we call the inflammatory reflex.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u00a0Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIf we can find such nerves, then we can build devices to control the nerves, and the devices become the therapy. The bioelectronic medicine story works as long as you know the molecular mechanism, and that\u2019s where people have to be really careful with vagus nerve stimulation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u00a0Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cAlmost everybody until a hundred years ago, 150 years ago, almost everybody died by the time they were 30. And what happened in the last 150 years can be summarized in a very simple sentence. The human race in the last 150 years removed infection as the leading cause of death. \u2026 I think something similar will happen maybe in the next 20 years if we can really understand how to modify inflammation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u00a0Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cMy adage for this thing is, when you don\u2019t understand a disease, think of epilepsy. You start off, you blame God. So they did exorcisms, and that doesn\u2019t work. So if it\u2019s not God\u2019s fault, the next thing you do is you blame the patient. And when you realize it\u2019s not the patient\u2019s fault, in today\u2019s era, oftentimes we find out it\u2019s actually caused, there\u2019s some infectious cause of this thing. And so autoimmune disease may have an infectious cause, it may have an environmental cause. People talk about genetic causes. You inherit some level of risk for autoimmune diseases, but in very few of these conditions do you actually inherit the condition.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u00a0Dr. Kevin Tracey<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/01\/05\/nolan-williams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Want to hear<\/a> another episode about the future of electroceuticals and brain stimulation?<\/strong> Listen to my conversation with Stanford\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/01\/05\/nolan-williams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Dr. Nolan Williams<\/strong><\/a>, in which we discussed 70%\u201390% remission rates for treatment-resistant depression, brain stimulation for sports performance, accelerated TMS protocols, de-risking ibogaine for TBI\/PTSD, the future of \u201celectroceuticals,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2024\/01\/05\/nolan-williams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">and much more<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The New Frontiers of Mental Health \u2014 Brain Stimulation, Rapid-Acting Tools for Depression, and More\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UO7IgQ_x-Qg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kevin J. Tracey, MD (@KevinJTraceyMD), is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, a pioneer of vagus nerve research [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11436,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11435"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11435\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}