Influencers have made giving yourself shocks to the vagus nerve fashionable to cure stress. Science has bad news
TL;DR AI
2 min readKey summary
Influencers and celebrities are promoting neck and ear devices that claim to stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce stress.
Experts cited by outlets like The New York Times say medical vagus nerve stimulation exists, but most consumer wellness products have unproven benefits.
The devices may work more like a placebo than a real treatment, despite heavy marketing on TikTok and Instagram.
The trend matters because it can waste money and delay proper care for stress or anxiety.