I Tried The Vagus Nerve Hack (so you don't have to)

Edit: Do not try this at home if you have any kind of heart problems.
More on ‪@MerckKGaADarmstadtGermany‬'s bioelectronics work: www.emdgroup.com/en/research/...
‪@drali‬'s channel 👉 www.youtube.com/@drali/about
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In addition to sponsorships, we rely on Patreon to keep the channel going 🧠 / braincraft
The Vagus Nerve controls various bodily functions, such as digestion, heart rate, and mood regulation. Recently there's been a surge in alternative therapies that claim to stimulate the Vagus Nerve, including icing, breathing exercises and meditation. In this video, I test the most popular TikTok trend, icing, based on the mammalian dive reflex. We explore the science behind VNS, the latest therapies, and what personalised medicine could look like in the future.
Chapters 📚
0:00 Introduction
0:48 What is the vagus nerve?
2:27 Interview with Dr Ali Mattu
8:07 Trying the most popular TikTok hack
11:20 Bioelectronics using the vagus nerve
13:05 Conclusion
Further reading: Vagus Nerve stimulation and therapies 🧐
Johnson, R. L., & Wilson, C. G. (2018). A review of vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic intervention. Journal of inflammation research, 203-213. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/...
Cimpianu, C. L., Strube, W., Falkai, P., Palm, U., & Hasan, A. (2017). Vagus nerve stimulation in psychiatry: a systematic review of the available evidence. Journal of neural transmission, 124, 145-158. link.springer.com/article/10....
This video is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
#vagusnerve #anxiety #psychology #icing #humanprogress

[@stuntmonkey00]

In Canada we call this a "face wash." You pick up a handful of snow and find a "friend," usually a smaller kid and then you rub the snow in their face in a vigorous circular motion...

[@adarkerstormishere]

Don't be a naughty Eskimo!

[@leelarson1952]

@@adarkerstormishere And watch out where the huskies go. No yellow snow "face wash" option, thanks. 🥶

[@dorl8218]

I just wash my face with cold water and it always feels extra good during winter in Canada.

[@Thingsandcosas]

It’s true what they say about Canadians then…you guys are extremely mean

[@WarttHog]

Yeah, and it's really refreshing and relaxing! ... Well, maybe not for the younger kid, but whatever. Vagus nerve for the win! (vacant grin)

[@drali]

YAAAAY DIVE REFLEX!!!!! Thanks for letting me nerd out with you about the vagus nerve, Vanessa!!!!

[@leelarson1952]

Your contributions were very much appreciated and on point. Thank you for being part of this great content. Subscribed to your channel. Though I have enough trouble with surfing KZbin when I should be doing something else.

[@ItsPBUH]

Hi, is the ice necessary?

[@drali]

Thank you, Lee!! Bodhi - I don’t think so. Here’s how I’ve explained it to people I worked with: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gabCpGuef7esr7M

[@robertstuckey6575]

I can't believe there was no discussion of Steven Pourges and Poly Vagal Theory.

[@braincraft]

If anyone has successfully installed a cold plunge pool in their apartment, please let me know 🍧 EDIT ABOUT THE ICE: The dive reflex is only thought to work in water temps below ~20°C. I wanted to cool the water down, as the colder the water the faster the response. The ice water cools the body faster (it's relative to water temp), so the response more intense with colder/ice water. People use ice water in most of the TikTok videos.

[@SirAU]

No, please.

[@edgarlee2802]

A lot of people doing the Wim Hof Method waterproof a chest freezer with plastic and fill it with water. As long as you remember to unplug it before you climb in it's perfectly safe.

[@deadlynightshade7867]

When ever I go swimming or a shower it's always a 50/50 that I will get a petit Mal, so how it's ment to help with epilepsy...... I don't know.

[@lakrids-pibe]

Winterbathing (in the ocean) is a well established tradition where I live. They say it's very good for you, but it's "only" one dip in the morning. And we haven't had proper icy water in recent years.

[@ropro9817]

Skeptical about something on Tiktok? How dare you... 🤣

[@jeannewynneherring]

Oh my gosh! This is so weird. I've never heard of this, but for years I have used diving into the ocean as a technique to calm my anxiety. I did this for years even before I was diagnosed with anxiety. I thought it just grounded me. I decided to do this because I felt that jumping into cold water without hesitation was my way to symbolically show myself that I can bypass my fears to confront whatever it is I'm anxious about. My thinking was jumping into cold water was like overcoming fears. Don't ask me why I thought that, but I did! 😅 Today I learned I wasn't psyching myself out, I was actually hacking into my vagus nerve! Who knew? 😂 Thanks for this video! I lean so much from your videos!

[@exosproudmamabear558]

But diving isnt just cold water.When you dive you feel kind of disconnected from the world so it can work like sensory deprivation tank which is pretty good at treating anxiety on itself

[@ScreechingBagel]

maybe you did both :)

[@jeannewynneherring]

@@ScreechingBagel 😀

[@oscca7756]

The video mentions this in relation to anxiety, which to be fair is an important part of the thing I'm gonna add. However, unless I missed it, what isn't mentioned is that this is the first part of the TIPP-skills in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). It's a therapy developed by Marsha Linehan to treat emotional instability in (for example) Borderline and other personality disorders, and the TIPP-skills are discussed in the part of therapy dealing with problems regarding toleration of difficult emotions. I mention this because I think it's important to recognize that the strategy has been a part of formalized therapy protocols for a long time (DBT was first developed during the 90s), and that there is nothing exactly "new" about it. I mean, it is new to many people, and it is great that the strategy is being shared around. It's just that I think treatment developers should get some attention when strategies like this are discussed, since they are the people who actually champions them and often are the reason they are able to grow big in the first place.

[@leelarson1952]

For those that are not aware, I'll add that TIPP is an acronym for Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, and Paired Muscle Relaxation. If these posts prompt anyone to do a bit more of a deep (or even shallow) dive into the subject, that's a good thing.

[@taliatis7305]

Yes!! Thank you for mentioning Dr. Linehan. The other skills Dr. Ali Mattu mentioned are also TIPP skills - paced breathing and paired muscle relaxation.

[@lexscarlet]

If your concern is someone taking credit for other people's work, this is not an academic paper. Especially when a single part or a small fraction of some other protocol is used in a more narrow context, you can't cite everything. This is like, pop sci or citizen science, I personally wouldn't cite anything unless it's in the description. That's how you lose people. Blah blah blah here's the history of how this concept came to be in general and then we'll get to this video's specific application. No. Just no. This video was fun, informative, playful, and engaging. Didn't get bogged down in the bore of academic rigor. I'd put money on that bearded guy having come across the research you "want to draw attention to." There's a time and a place.

[@oscca7756]

@@lexscarlet Yeah, I know, it's a bit nitpicky. I kind of just wish there was a throw away line that would have mentioned something about how long this has been a part of standardized therapy, and that some credit would have been given to the history of the strategy. It's not a big thing, and of course the video doesn't stand or fall with (or without) this information. I guess it just bugs me a bit when people get go take credit for other peoples work. It's a tiny hill that I would never die on, just maybe sit on for a bit until someone really wanted it. None the less, I thought it worth mentioning in passing, just to broaden the perspective. Considering your response, next time I do something similar I'll take care to formulate something that isn't as likely to be percieved as hard criticism.

[@nova4476]

@Oscca Thank you so much for your comment! I’ve only ever heard about this technique in relation to anxiety. I have BPD and had no idea that it originated **for** BPD. Will definitely look more into it :-)

[@CourtneyVarner]

The "Dive Reflex" operates in reverse for me. Nearly drowning a few times, water on my face immediately spikes my anxiety. Washing my face is hard, it's my only real phobia.

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

Isn't it always the way; science observes some useful and very specific information and then someone reads the abstract and makes up an oversimplified model that they can either sell or leverage to gain influence.

[@braincraft]

100% - this describes so many products that are sold to "improve" health, sleep, and so on.

[@zanderhenriksen6776]

Regarding reading the abstract section only of papers - well not much else you can do when nearly all of academic works are locked behind unfathomably tall paywalls, unless you have an active academic login to use... I usually have to resort to piracy or selective citations which often leave out the grasp or context of things -- as well as forgetting about the discussion part. But that's more a systemic issue rather than a societal or individual shortcoming):

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

@@zanderhenriksen6776 I don't blame people for not being able to read more than the abstract in general. I only have an issue with it when they go from that to trying to market a solution "based" on the research. If you want to advise people on health matters, especially as a business model, you ought to pay for the access. You might also be interested to know that many public libraries can get access to academic journals, even if you have to request it through interlibrary loan: at least it's accessible! Some libraries even provide access through online research databases. Nevertheless, I agree that there's a fundamental problem with the way that academic publication is handled, especially since too many journals will publish poorly designed studies, or studies with clear bias or conflicts of interest. Not all, obviously, but I would hope it would be none for how expensive that stuff is.

[@hugofontes5708]

@@zanderhenriksen6776 often authors will send their article to you if you just ask them. It's not like they are getting paid or can't share it themselves.

[@zanderhenriksen6776]

@@hugofontes5708 thanks for the tip! I hadn't thought about that, I'll try emailing them next time :D

[@DR.LENGUYENPHUONG]

Fight/flight stress response is a function of sympathetic nervous system not parasympathetic (1:49). Both of them and the enteric nervous system belong to the autonomous nervous system.

[@flymypg]

Vagus nerve in triathlon training: I've taught open-water swimming to adult beginner triathletes for over a decade. By far the greatest fear among adult beginners concerns swimming in the ocean (or any large body of water). Some have intense or even extreme fears (a family member drowned, being unable to touch the bottom, being unable to see very far, a traumatic childhood experience, and so on), yet they show up to get past them. One of the first things we do is have the beginner wade into the water to waist-depth, then bend forward and put their face in the water and gently blow bubbles, rising when the lungs are empty. They are wearing a triathlon wetsuit and goggles, so the risk is minimal. Then we add simulating a slow swim stroke, twisting to breathe from the side. After a few cycles of this, taking only a handful of minutes, the beginner is relaxed and focused on their stroke. It's truly amazing. These first-time previously fearful adult beginners come out of the water as if they had been baptized and seen Jesus. They are relaxed and joyful. It's not about the swimming or teaching technique, because the same effect is NOT observed when training in a heated pool, at least not to nearly the same degree. I believe it is due to the open water being cool, often around 60F, stimulating the Dive Reflex.

[@threecatsdancing]

I think this is something my body learned when I was a child swimming all the time in my unheated pool and now it's just something I crave, which is why losing the Y pool (to a tornado last year) felt so devastating to me and why I keep asking my husband to let me build a pool on our property.

[@braincraft]

Oh I'm so sorry! I hope you can build a pool soon 🤞

[@Friendship1nmillion]

@@braincraft 🤯 : I've been using the bionic nerve to calm myself down during phone calls before I even knew what it was ( without realising it ) . ♑️✍️🇸🇯🇦🇺

[@FelicitasSews]

I've used this technique for quite a while as a way to snap myself out of anxiety attacks or crying jags! Maybe I should try using it more regularly cause it really does feel great

[@jessicawang4632]

Thank you for talking about the vagus nerve! The parasympathetic nervous system is also heavily involved in other organs like the intestines and there is research into using electrical stimulation to relieve constipation and diarrhea. I wonder how vagal stimulation would affect people with heart or GI conditions, so this is really exciting!

[@turningpoint4238]

For a few years mt stomach was completely messed up and I was in constant pain. Having a lot of time on my hands (living around toilets) I read research papers on anything that could relate to me. Because of that I started using a TENs machine which helped to reduce my symptoms. I was back in France at the time and one of the top gastroenterologist laughed at me for this. Turns out about three years later a large experiment was conducted using electromagnetic simulation of the vagus nerve, or which a relation of my wife took part, really helped her. Also used a diabetic medicine that binds onto bile in the stomach. I over produce this and it's an irritant to the stomach. This massively helped me and now I only have discomfort rather than pain. The use of this medicine isn't standard but some researchers are quite angry about this been over looked.

[@AleesaTana]

I had a client at a previous job that experienced frequent grand mal seizures due to a traumatic brain injury they had had a few years ago. They were implanted with a vagus nerve stimulator that they could activate by holding a magnet (worn on their wrist) up to the sensor on their clavicle when they were feeling pre-ictal. It wasn't 100% effective, but it certainly seemed to make a difference.

[@christafranken9170]

My uncle has been having epilepsie after having meningitis as a baby. He had the same implant and it really helps him too, although he doesn't have the mental capacity to use the magnet himself

[@Pingwn]

I love to see more videos from you!

[@braincraft]

Working on it 😅

[@hoebare]

I'm so glad organizations are researching this. I have a friend who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, (EDS) type 3. Among other things, EDS causes the nerve sheathes to have abnormal characteristics. This is most obvious when my friend try to use their fingers too quickly and the cross-talk between the nerves causes muscle actions they didn't intend. Where this intersects with the video is that EDS' effects on nerve sheaths also causes problems with their vagus nerve(s) which of course makes their whole body behave sub-optimally. It currently has them confined to a wheelchair because when they stand up their body does the wrong thing with their blood pressure and they pass out within seconds. I'm rooting for more progress in this area!

[@Liolia22]

There is no need to plunge your face in freezing water to achieve this effect 🤨 Simply cupping my hands, fingers intertwined, and supporting the base of the skull as it’s cradled in the hands (in a sitting or laying down position), head facing forward. Then just look to the right at 3 o’clock and hold the eyes there until I yawn or take a deep breath. Same thing on the left at 9 o’clock until the same thing happens. This change in breathing marks the nerve relaxing. Bam, vagus nerve reset. Can be done anywhere anytime, just having a seat or a place to lay down for a few minutes. No need for the whole unpleasantness of the cold water, which in itself causes anxiety to many (cuz it’s clearly unpleasant) but to each their own. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Edit: for other techniques to do this reset that are not absurdly uncomfortable like this face ice bath thing, check out the YT channel Therapy In a Nutshell. Though I will say, the ice water IS good for minimizing the look of pores & tightening the skin. 😬 but I still prefer to do the non-ice water techniques, which include gentler things like ear massages.

[@altorbagh]

I really love your videos, they are incredibly well produced and are nice to watch. I hope your channel keeps growing!

[@prakash_77]

This is such a cool video. Very practical technique too. Thank you for this video Vanessa 😊

[@braincraft]

Glad you liked it!

[@tianamatson]

I had no idea this was a trend. Several years ago I started icing my chest to help me get through my panic attacks. It works so well!!

[@nygreenguy]

Loved this! Talk about parts of this stuff in my A&P class!

[@debatology]

As always, accurate, simple, actionable! Amazing work

[@Imperiused]

Great idea for a video. This was really fun!

[@dre-aguto]

Very interesting look into the science. Thank you for informing, and experimenting!

[@MasuseDeMojo]

Have you tried the cold showers yet? Similar effect with a few extra added benefits. Every thing for weight loss to body repair, and elimination of waste.

[@cristiansoutside]

Loved this video!:)

[@kristenmgr]

It may sound silly but now all those memories when my parents made me wash my face with cold water when I was being annoying , they make more sense now.

[@alexwixom4599]

I have trouble getting out of bed. Even after standing, the urge to lay back down is strong. I think splashing my face with water helps because it activates that "hey don't drown" response. It'll perk you up.

[@qualia5953]

I've been doing this for over 10 years now. Using ice to calm myself is coping skill I learned through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I've always thought of it as when your primal senses take over because of the intensity of the ice and you direct your focus away from your emotions and onto how cold the ice is. I love the survival explanation of the dive reflex. It makes so much sense. Love this video!

[@ToddTevlin]

For the last year I've been suffering from vagus nerve issues that unfortunately I can't resolve at the moment due to financial issues. I've been dunking my head in an ice bucket several times a day and it works great. Also throw in 30 second ice cold showers with that. From what I've researched, the vagus nerve flaking out is a symptom of something else going on, not the nerve itself, so I would need to go to a neurologist to do testing to find out what thing the nerve is attached to that is causing it to misbehave. The ice bucket thing has helped me get through this a lot until I can get it resolved.

[@ClellBiggs]

This happens to me every time I get in the shower, doesn't matter what temp the water is. Something as small as a cold breeze hitting me in the back in the winter can cause it. The vagus nerve is also what makes you feel better after having a bowel movement. 😉

[@Aliahmed-fv4gp]

Seeing you after years ,you look great

[@KiloOscarZulu]

I'm disappointed that you didn't wear a heart rate monitor to see if it really does lower your heart rate.

[@davidcooney196]

The top you’re wearing in the ice in the face shots is super pretty!

[@tymmezinni]

I don't know how the home of the Tide Pod challenge can still somehow be seen as a potential source of actual advice....

[@mjt1517]

Not every TikTok video is an abomination. There are quite a lot of good videos on that platform.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

My favorite vagus nerve stimulation technique, pressing lightly just above the eyebrows. I saw it on TV years ago on a show about weird ER stories where someone used it to cure long-term persistent hiccups. The doctor had just read about it and was pretty surprised it worked when even sedation had failed. Now, does it ACTUALLY work? Hard to say. I've tried it a few times. Only had success once or twice and that was most likely more because I seriously surprised the person whose forehead I was touching. So I have my doubts. But real or not, it's still my favorite.

[@SirAU]

Remember once Michael said: "Thanks, but not you Vanessa..."

[@Ceelvain]

As somemone who practiced apnea for many years, I confirm this has a very relaxing effect. Although I'd partly attribute it to the apnea itself, contributing to lowering the heart rate and relaxing muscles.

[@hogbodyusmc9987]

This is news to me, cool channel. Thanks. New subscriber.

[@Exitof99]

When I learned about the mammalian dive reflex, I was reminded of the saying "why don't you stick your head in a bucket of water."

[@JuleahStrickland]

I have to do this (plunge my face in icy, icy water or snow) when I have an SVT (superventricular tachycardia) episode. It's either this or a cardioversion bc adenosine doesn't work on me.

[@russelljackman1413]

Pretty cool! What a great time to be alive! Thank you.

[@stokhosursus]

This is one of the standard TIPP Distress Tolerance techniques in DBT.

[@Thundertimi]

Im kinda addicted to this. Have been doing this for two weeks now and im so glad i tried this. i have tried all these breathing techniques and stuff for years and they never did anything for me, but this ice water thing has actually worked for me. I was very sceptical of this but wanted to try it since it's easy to do and im glad i did. First it feel horrible, but after that you feel very good. I got used to that cold water and it wont feel cold anymore at all.

[@OtseisRagnarok]

Not where I thought this was going, but fascinating!

[@lukefuller284]

I think the wall behind your couch matches well with the graphics/color scheme through the history of this channel :)

[@rotorblade9508]

I know a guy that submerged his head in freezing water while it was like 30C outside and for some reason he just died instantly

[@AryaPDipa]

I wonder if this is also why shower or even washing your face could be relaxing to some people. Sure it's not the same as submerging your face in water, but because how I usually do it, I often find myself holding my breath out of reflex. 🤔 (Edit: Yes, using cold water coz we don't use hot water here for that in most part of Indonesia lol)

[@inevespace]

temperature of water is important. Cold(it should be really unpleasant cold) shower stimulates, hot shower relaxes.

[@justwhistlinpixie]

I've had a killer headache all day, and this helped a lot. Also, putting a cold pack on the back of my neck has been helpful, too.

[@PhilBoswell]

I knew this tweaked my memory but it took me a little while to recall that Miles Vorkosigan, fictional madman and abbreviated hero, had an implant hooked up to his vagus nerve to prevent ulcers (in the second book published in 1986). Given his proclivities it would have been kinder to find some way to prevent his various employers from developing ulcers, but to be fair they knew exactly what they were getting into 🤣 I cannot recommend the Vorkosigan Saga enough: I cannot comment on ice-dunking but it looks horrendous 🥶

[@Enn-]

Great info! Thanks! Now to find a face-sized bowl.

[@BeckyStern]

Very cool! Helps explain why I like the annual New Years Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge.

[@braincraft]

Oh gosh, I am not brave enough for that 🥶 Thanks for watching!

[@waitwhhhaaaaat]

i didnt know about vargus nerve, but i do put my face in cold water, expetially when im in a lot of stress or after crying. feels really good

[@JohnsonJLB]

When I was young, I was hanging onto the side of the shoppping cart while my brother was pushing it fast. He suddenly took a turn and flung me off. I was completely frightened to the point that it overstimulated my vagus nerve and I had a seizure. I had another seizure event under similar circumstances. It was blamed on an overactive vagus nerve. As an adult I've had a few incidents with either an upset stomach or being dehydrated. This can (rarely) result in me fainting. Again, the vagus nerve has been suspected as the culprit. That has been my introduction to this nerve. Nice to learn more and potential ways to help calm my nervous system when it starts to over-react. Although, if I get that feeling of fainting my first reaction is to get close to the ground quickly.

[@khyleebrahh7]

I feel an extreme sense of relaxation after I have an SVT episode but stimulating the nerve.

[@SupermaxLaFrom]

I got the diving part, but maybe I missed the part where you explained what the ice does

[@braincraft]

Sorry, I edited a lot out of that section for time, which was clearly a mistake 😅 The ice makes the response more intense, causes the dive reflex to kick in more quickly.

[@EpoxyCircus]

@@braincraft, why are you editing for time? I think you’re getting unfounded and bad advice, there is no time constraints on YT content, one can find evidence for one if you look for it but it’s demonstrably false. I criticise because I like your channel. It’s almost like you’re getting sabotaged by the envious, ‘show business’ is overwhelmingly inhabited by jealous wannabes who care only about their own self interest.

[@1977jelliott]

​@@braincraft please don't edit because some nongs might think a video is too long, you're explaining and communicating info that is great and you are great at it.

[@firstname405]

​@@EpoxyCircus wild tangent there mate

[@ugh212]

Had same effect jumping in 65F water when diving with wetsuit. Just keep chest wet to help lower heart rate and last longer on a tank.

[@CatsT.M]

Tom Scott made a video about the Mammalian Diving Reflex years back, conveniently, I remembered it.

[@thalesspinolafernandes2204]

So, should we practice this dive at mornings or at night, right after getting home from work?

[@kenmacallister]

Yin yoga is by far the most powerful way to relax and engage the parasympathetic nervous system that I have found. It’s all about the breath. I use square breathing from 4-4-4-4 to 10-10-10-10 to engage the diving reflex. Slows everything down.

[@dallascumming8750]

Hahaha. Great topic but laughed so hard when you described the the vegus nerve and you said the nerve running down your left side but your hand went down the right side and visa versa. Yes, I need a holiday. 🤪

[@flymypg]

Vagus nerve in fiction: Steven Gould's novel Reflex (sequel to Jumper) uses an implanted Vagus nerve stimulator as a torture device for training/restraining the lead character.

[@DankDragon62]

😬

[@turningpoint4238]

I used electro stimulation to help with my painful stomach issues about 8 years ago. A gastroenterologist that was supposed to be one of Frances best laughed at me for doing this. Obviously he didn't keep up with medical research, I had plenty of time to read massive amounts of papers which took me to using a tens machine and a diabetic drug that binds onto bile in the stomach which I was over producing. Still can't get anyone in the medical field to listen to me that it probably is due to my vagus nerve, now back in Australia.

[@DavidRodenas]

I missed a reading of hear-rate and blood pressure before and after the dunk, But very good video! Thanks!

[@Sully365]

"Nobody hanging from a cliff by their fingers is worried about their mortgage payment"

[@Amm1ttai]

If you have to use an inhaler before you can hold your breath that long, would it affect the outcome?

[@tipple58]

The ice tank face soak looks like a cruel and unusual punishment. Given that, I'm going to try it out later today just for the hell of it. Peace out!

[@tonytackett2885]

I have a rare hyperlipidemia. A section of the brain perturbing from the base of the skull, unprotected from blunt force trauma. It is suspected that damage to this section of brain sustained in a car accident changed my life forever. Anytime I get upset or exercise in anyway that increases my heart rate cause's my heart to rapidly dive into a rate very dangerous to alertness. Increasing my previous pains associated with old injuries , lowering the amount of oxygen sent to the brain , leaving me light headed. Even epinephrine doesn't effect my heart rate at all . I suffer greatly . The doctors have no clue how to treat me , so they say nothing's wrong with me. Caught Hiding and ignoring my symptoms in a disability reevaluation. I have resently been cut off disability and never received any treatment or even testing on this problem after it's discovery . Only thing I've bean told was that possible damage to my hyperlipidemia is sending false signal's to my heart telling it I'm going into hypothermia . I'm willing to be a Ginny pig just to end my suffering. I would ask in this post , Could repeated icing cause permanent damage ? Similar to what I suffer ?

[@jskweres2]

Does it need to be ice water?

[@FalkFlak]

me Putting ice on my head migrane: you've called for me ..sir?

[@chrisyu98]

wow growing up we were cutting edge!!!! of course more likely we were just being too poor to have hot running water, and had to wash/rinse our face with cold water. from the spring.... we just didn't know how good we had it

[@internetliker5405]

The wet "plap" sound as you dunk is hilarious. Squicky ASMR 😂

[@stephcastle26]

The dramatics when dunking your face 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@fritziematt31]

When my vagus nerve gets too stimulated for a few specific reasons, I usually pass out.

[@PMA65537]

12:33 That wall decor isn't a BC (BrainCraft) logo. It's more like a hermit crab in a coconut shell.

[@DustinRodriguez1_0]

Does it need to be cold? From the doctors description it sounded like just needing to be water...

[@bludshock]

You incorrectly mentioned that the Parasymphatic nervous system (PNS) is responsible for two thing, while it is only responsible for our rest and digest response. It's the Sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for our fight or flight response.

[@saicopathy]

The easiest skepticism to this: how do you know its not immediate sympathetic activation or some sort of combination of sympathetic and parasympathic co-activation? The cold shock response could be cited here as well. Vasoconstriction to your face/upper body could produce relief sensation.

[@thechaosgoblin]

Weirdly, I get a similar reaction when I'm playing BotW and Link dives into water or starts swimming. My whole chest relaxes 😅

[@oophyte]

Nothing about the mammalian dive reflex mentions needing ice. That should be a good control case.

[@nettieharris]

Does it need to be cold though

[@Costel9000]

Does this technique become less effective over time as the body adjusts with constant stimulus? Or is it always going to work, the exact same way even if, hypothetically, someone were to do it 10 times a day, every day?

[@TiagoTiagoT]

Would it be better or worse if you use a snorkel to let you stay under for longer?

[@helenahoffmann]

Sympathetic nervous system --> fight or flight response. Parasympathetic --> rest and digest.

[@Keepone974]

Could be why surfing is such an addicting sport as well.

[@lakrids-pibe]

Vegas, baby!

[@mutemoniker]

I love your shirt! 🍇

[@stokhosursus]

Just for note, the water doesn’t have to be that cold. It’s best around 50°F / 10°C. Too cold and you can trigger shock instead.

[@Zsamoff]

1:48 The Parasympathetic system is not famous for the fight-or-flight response. The Autonomic System is. The Parasympathetic deal with the rest-and-digest responses. The Sympatheic deals with the fight-or-flight response. Both branches work in a overall antagonistic way. Homeostasis is hard and there's no "better overall response", the better state is "adaptable", a responsive Autonomic System. Yeah, pretty small thing to get annoyed by, but I blame my hormones

[@healthdoc]

Try this sleep hack. Behind closed lids, rhythmically drop your eyes to the lower quadrant while taking slow deep breaths. Gently up on the in breath then slowly down on the exhale and hold. Clear the mind. The Vagus Nerve sends messages in both directions in an action-reaction conversation between your brain and your body organs. You can notice this in the eye shift when trying to recollect a memory, or looking askance at your flat-earther Uncle or, more to the point, the natural drooping of the eyes when nodding off while reading a book. It’s not an accident, its the mechanism. It’s the ‘poker tell’ embodiment of the thought or mood. The direction your eyes are pointing is related to what is happening in your brain and vise versa. When you’re sleepy your eyes droop so droop your eyes to stimulate sleepiness. 🧐

[@pauldrice1996]

Depending on the temperature of your ground water you can just turn the shower on max cold at the end of your shower. You may want to crouch or sit the first time to make sure you don't slip.

[@nathanbudge3927]

How/why is the ice important? I feel like this works for me in normal water

[@yanjiehao]

Is this the same thing as what we call mamalian reflex?

[@exosproudmamabear558]

According to the bing you do not need that much ice.Water needs to be 15 degrees or less.Your ice water is probably lower than that

[@BabsisHere]

Question…does the water have to be cold???? I’ve tried with warmer water, but….

[@karenbutcher1240]

This is a technique we use to help people stop cutting and burning themselves.

[@chrismullin8304]

Sometimes I can feel faint from the nerve overload. A cool wet cloth on my neck brings me back quickly!

[@ZeugmaP]

I have syncopes sometimes and I've been told it's because of the vagus nerve. I wonder if icing could help with that or if it will trigger it and make me collapse

[@mostlyvoid.partiallystars]

This is anecdotal but I tried it before my last steroid pain injection - try one or both of these: If you think you might have a vasovagal episode, bring along an ice pack. What helped me was to hold the ice pack against my chest with crossed arms over it. Now, this might have worked because my vasovagal episodes start with me feeling too hot and extremely nauseated so if that isn’t true with you it might not be relevant. The other thing I tried that has worked is - and this is weird to explain so forgive me - flex and relax your extremity muscles near-ish to your core. In my case I focused on glutes and thighs because my arm has to be immobile. I believe the idea is that it’s going to force blood circulation back to your core hopefully preventing the lightheaded/faintness/vertigo of a syncope episode. I hate having them. And I haven’t found a reliable way to prevent them. But these two most recently helped me a lot - I hope you find something that helps too :)

[@ZeugmaP]

@@mostlyvoid.partiallystars I do feel very hot and nauseated when it happens so I will try using these tips for the next time. Thank you !

[@kacheek9101]

Your mileage may vary, but I pass out quiet easily from things like blood draws and injections and have found ways to minimize my chances like sitting with my head between my knees, with my legs drawn up, and eating/drinking things that are, like, pure sugar (Mountain Dew, Starbursts)

[@alexanderfriis1]

Correction. The parasympathetic nervesystem is part of the autonomous nervesystemet which is devided into to parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic system.

[@1977jelliott]

You should check out the Saluan Sama-Bajau people, the have developed several genetic adaptions which accentuates the dive reflex, the have spleens that are 50% larger than the neighbouring group to release more red blood cells during dives and can breath hold dive for 5 minutes or longer.

[@nikkitapower]

Great !!! I do that as an instinct since I have borderline personality disorder and I just felt (torture at first-but 15 sec. is nothing!) really good when I first: went into the cold sea for a swim, well let´s call it a dip =!