Research Areas Gastrointestinal Conditions (G...

Gastrointestinal Conditions (GERD, Gastroparesis, IBS, Crohn’s)

Vagus Nerve and Its Role in GI tract

The vagus nerve is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, overseeing homeostasis by controlling heart rate, gastrointestinal motility, pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion, hepatic glucose production, and other visceral functions. The vagus nerve branch has sensors in the stomach, small intestine, oesophagus, liver, and pancreas. Therefore, in gastrointestinal (GI) functions, the vagus nerve is responsible for digestive processes, the modulation of gut immune responses and the communication of gut status to the brain. Dysfunction of the vagus nerve can occur due to diabetes, high cholesterol levels, being overweight, autoimmune diseases, viral infections, and trauma, which can lead to a variety of GI disorders (doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011):

Reduced Parasympathetic “Rest and Digest'' Response

In gastrointestinal conditions, an imbalance often occurs between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, leading to reduced motor and secretory activity in the intestines. This is mainly due to vagus nerve dysfunction, which supplies parasympathetic efferent fibres to most organs. Stemming from diminished sensory afferent feedback it alters the acetylcholine release and muscle contractions in the GI tract. Consequently, a compromised vagus nerve can disrupt the rest-and-digest responses, impacting not just the digestive processes but also heart rate regulation (parasympathetic cardiac tone) and metabolic balance (doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044, 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01452).

Inflammatory Response

The vagus nerve is also a major constituent of a neural reflex cholinergic mechanism that controls immune response and inflammation during pathogen invasion and tissue injury. Dysfunction in the vagus nerve can impair anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the body's ability to counteract inflammation in the GI tract. This chronic inflammatory state can result in tissue damage, cell death, decreased nutrient absorption, neurotransmitter deficiency, and affect microbiota, characteristic for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) (doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2012.189, 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01452).

Brain-Gut Axis Dysfunction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is significantly influenced by disturbances in the brain-gut axis. Vagus nerve dysfunction can alter the central nervous system's response to gut stimuli and affect visceral sensations. This disruption can manifest as altered visceral sensation, hormonal imbalances, and behavioural changes, and lead to reduced control of the lower esophageal sphincter, potentially causing acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). (doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.020, 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01452)

Reduced Serotonin

Serotonin, produced largely in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in the body's functions, extending beyond mood regulation to significantly influencing intestinal motility, enzyme secretion, and facilitating peristalsis. The vagus nerve helps in regulating the release and function of serotonin within the gut. Its disruption can lead to an impeded neurotransmitter signalling, resulting in the deterioration of digestive functions. Additionally, reduced serotonin levels contribute to poorer quality of sleep and mood, increased stress, pain and fatigue, as well as slower regeneration of the body during rest. IBS was linked to vagus nerve dysfunction, and has been associated with sleep disturbances (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.013)

Gastroparesis

Gastric motility is regulated by vagal efferent connections, and disruption of vagal nerve function can lead to gastroparesis. This disorder, characterised by delayed gastric emptying. When the vagus nerve is damaged, the stomach muscles may not function normally, causing food to remain in the stomach for longer than usual. This leads to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating,  increased pain perception and even reduced metabolism (doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000775).

Nurosym: Therapeutic Effects in Alleviating GI disorders

Nurosym, a medical device, involves externally stimulating the vagus nerve to enhance its function, commonly referred to as vagal tone.  Vagal tone can have a profound impact on enhancing the parasympathetic input to the digestive system. Nurosym can regulate the rhythmic contractions of the digestive tract, balancing the secretion of digestive juices and hormones, and modulating the gut's immune responses by:

Enhancing Parasympathetic “Rest and Digest” system

Nurosym activates the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve, positively impacting gastrointestinal functions such as motility and enzyme secretion. By improving vagal tone, as indicated by enhanced heart rate variability (HRV), Nurosym helps in better signalling of fullness, potentially aiding in weight loss. The release of acetylcholine by the efferent fibres of the vagus nerve, facilitated by Nurosym, leads to improved muscle contractions and digestive efficiency, thereby helping regulate heart rate (parasympathetic cardiac tone), and reduce digestive disorders (doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.10.046, doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011).

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Research on Nurosym highlights its effectiveness in reducing inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6, TNF-α), crucial for treating systemic inflammation in gastrointestinal diseases like IBS, Crohn's disease, and SIBO. Nurosym activates the vagus nerve, which is a key component of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. This stimulation results in the inhibition of immune cell activation and the production of signalling molecules, working through nicotinic receptors located on macrophages. This anti-inflammatory action not only alleviates symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases like pain but also may improve the intestinal microbiota and nutrient absorption, enhancing mental health and reducing fatigue (doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.023582, doi:10.1186/s42234-022-00100-3).

The Brain-Gut Axis Communication

Nurosym’s enhancement of vagal tone is vital for the gut-brain axis, a critical communication pathway between the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system. This improved vagal tone can lead to relief from various symptoms associated with the GI tract, such as chronic fatigue, irregular heart rates, acute diarrhoea episodes, fainting, and sleep disturbances, and is beneficial in conditions like IBS and IBD.  Improved vagal tone can contribute to better gastrointestinal function, indirectly influencing sleep (doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044, doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011).

Serotonin production

Nurosym device is hypothesised to boost serotonin production by enhancing the functionality of the vagus nerve, which is crucial for proper communication within the brain-gut axis network. Serotonin, a key neurotransmitter, plays an important role in regulating intestinal motility and function and is produced in 95% of the gastrointestinal tract. By reducing gut inflammation, optimising nutrient absorption, and maintaining the gut barrier's integrity, the vagus nerve stimulation can help alleviate IBS symptoms at the gut level, a primary site of serotonin synthesis.  (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.013)

Enhancing Gastric Motility & Metabolism

Studies indicate a link between reduced vagal tone and gastrointestinal diseases like GERD and gastroparesis. Nurosym, by improving vagal tone, offers relief from these conditions. By stimulating the vagus nerve, Nurosym can improve efferent signals, thereby enhancing gastric motor and secretory functions.  Additionally, activation of afferent pathways to the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in the brainstem can alleviate common GI symptoms like discomfort and increased visceral sensation. This highlights Nurosym's role in neuroendocrine regulation, influencing hormones crucial for digestion and appetite control. (doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01452, doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011)

Nurosym Research-Based Evidence

Following two months of consistent Nurosym treatment, 84% of patients experienced positive outcomes in gastrointestinal conditions. These improvements were associated with a reduction in abdominal pain, nausea, and gastroparesis, along with enhanced enzyme secretion, insulin and gut motility.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients exhibited reductions in high-frequency power HRV measures (healthy cohorts had the opposite trend). In the Nurosym study, participants undergoing neuromodulation in the study demonstrated significant enhancements in heart rate variability (HRV), particularly a substantial 61% increase in measures of cardiac vagal activity (high-frequency parameter), when compared to the placebo group (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263833).

Fig (A, B, C D). The response of autonomic function measured by HRV in Nurosym or Placebo  conditions over time: (A) HF, (B) RMSSD, (C) pRR50, (D) SDRR. With Nurosym, the measurements of HF, RMSSD, PRR50 and SDRR were significantly higher than those in Placebo (Parasym Clinical Trials, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263833).

In a Nurosym study, the active arm exhibited reduced levels of anti-autonomic autoantibodies (a1-AR and b1-AR) compared to the sham arm at 2 months. This reduction may reduce severity of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with inflammation, especially in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Another Nurosym finding highlights 78% reduction in inflammation in IL-6 (and other cytokines levels like ~61% IL-8, ~23% TNF-α). Decreased inflammation can reduce fatigue and enhance nutrient absorption and neurotransmitter production (doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2022.10.278,10.1161/JAHA.121.023582)

(Figure A, B) In a three-month study employing the Nurosym device for heart failure patients, notable improvements (*P<0.05) were noted in inflammatory biomarkers: (A) Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)‐α exhibited a ~23% reduction, while (B) Interleukin (IL)‐8 showed a marked ~61.3% reduction. The investigation specifically targeted participants with elevated baseline inflammation levels (Parasym Clinical Trials, doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.023582).

Nurosym neuromodulation helps sustain neuropeptide Y (NPY) (38% lower levels compared to placebo group), leading to a decreased sensory nerve activity compared to placebo and, consequently, it may reduce abdominal pain and discomfort.

Fig. Significant reduction in circulating neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentrations was observed after 6 months of Nurosym treatment. NPY on fibrillation (AF) progression Patients (Parasym Clinical Trials, doi: j.jacep.2020.08.025).

During Parasym trials, reduction of 45% on the Beck Depression score was observed, which promote relaxation and reduced stress (doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011).

Fig. Evolution of the Beck depression scale scores during Nurosym treatment (day 0, day 5 and day 10). The individual values and the median are shown. Non parametric Friedman statistics for paired comparisons were used and followed by post-hoc Dunn’s multiple comparisons test. (doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011).

The Parasym research findings revealed a 48% improvement in fatigue, which can support GI disease patient functioning (doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011).

Fig. The Pichot fatigue scale scores during Nurosym therapy (D0: day 0, D5: day 5 and D10: day 10). Significant improvement in fatigue scores after Nurosym treatment was observed (D0 vs. D10, p<0.0001). (Parasym clinical trial, doi: 10.51956/ANNR.100011).

Doctors about Nurosym

Dr Paul Verbanck

"The [Nurosym] treatment was effective for all symptoms, even if some of them remain longer than others: especially, abdominal pain and diarrhoea were commonly the last to improve.

Dr Elisabetta Burchi

Doctor of Psychiatry

Such stimulation sets off a release of neurotransmitter chemicals”. (Zapping the Vagus Nerve Could Relieve Some Long COVID Symptoms | Scientific American).

Dr Denef

"In medical school, the significance of the vagus nerve isn't emphasised enough. I fell on a study conducted by Parasym at the University of Brussels involving their device, and I was compelled to purchase it. Within just a week of using it, I felt inflammation going down. It was truly amazing".

Patients about Nurosym

Lucy

So I've been using [Nurosym; formerly Parasym] now for about a year. And the reason I started using it is because I have suffered for many years with stomach issues and digestion problems. I'd been tested for dysbiosis, IBS, all sorts of things been through tests galore. I've for years, been feeling bloated, gassy, I tried to link it to, was it dairy, was it gluten. (...) And then I finally saw a specialist in London. He eliminated the fact that it definitely wasn't any sort of bacterial dysbiosis. He linked it to the Vagus nerve. And I at first was really sceptical because I'd never heard of the Vagus nerve, I didn't really know anything about it. He suggested using the [Nurosym; formerly Parasym] device. And I can honestly say that within a few days of starting to use it, the symptoms just disappeared. I no longer feel the bloating, get the gas or have any of those symptoms or the nausea that I used to have with it. I just use it for about 60 minutes a day, clip it on my ear while I’m sat at my desk working. You don't really notice you've got it on. I've got used to it. It's just part of my routine now. So I haven't been feeling the need to go for colonic irrigation or hydrotherapy in the last year since I've been using it…”

Terry

The reason I got into using the [Nurosym; formerly Parasym] was because I'd been doing some research about how to help myself with some health problems I've been having for quite a few years, particularly around my digestion, some reflux issues and things like that. (...) I was stuck in a bit more of a fight or flight mode of my nervous system rather than a rest and digest mode. So I've looked into a number of different approaches to resetting my nervous system, so to speak. And I've used multiple methods. But the, the one that's given me the most obvious change in my digestion and in the, the acid reflux that I've been having was the use, using the [Nurosym; formerly Parasym]. Since I started using it I haven't had any reflux really. So that's really amazing. It's been three months now. I'm still hoping for some more changes but it's been a significant shift in the right direction. So, yeah, here's hoping for more improvements as I continue to use my [Nurosym; formerly Parasym]”.

Who is for it?

Nurosym is recommended for individuals with chronic diseases of gastroparesis, and the small and large intestine, as well as those experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, heartburn, defecation rhythm disturbances, and disorders related to gut-brain interactions. This therapy may be particularly beneficial for individuals exhibiting reduced parasympathetic activity, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (impacting the motor and secretory function of the intestines, acid refulux), heightened visceral sensation (visceral hypersensitivity), and disruptions in the composition of the intestinal microflora. Moreover, individuals with a history of gastrointestinal infection (viral, bacterial, or parasitic, leading to post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome) and those who have experienced anxiety or depression, either in the past or presently, may find Nurosym to be an appropriate and effective intervention.

Protocol - How to Use

Based on research and patients feedback, regular high-frequency electrical Nurosym neuromodulation has an positive impact on gastric nerves and it has been shown to significantly alleviate symptoms of gastroparesis and bowel diseases with complications. The Nurosym device allows adjustment of the current to specifically target and alleviate gastroparesis, and it may be considered for use in patients with concomitant other diseases.

It is important to use Nurosym during and after meals to improve the digestive process. Using Nurosym before sleep may positively impact intestinal regeneration and increase motility, and neurotransmitter release, which can become noticeable the following day. Patients struggling with GI conditions should avoid eating meals right before sleep. Some patients may begin to notice immediate improvement, and alleviation of pain and other coexisting symptoms occurring after 5 days.

How often

Nurosym is recommended for use twice daily based on clinical research and patient feedback. This regimen ensures optimal energy balancing and nervous system calming.

How long

Users should allocate 30 minutes in the morning and 60 minutes before sleep for Nurosym therapy sessions. Consistency in application is key to achieving desired results.

Results

Positive outcomes from Nurosym therapy may become noticeable within a relatively short timeframe. Many individuals report improvements within days of starting treatment.

Wearable Calmness for Nervous System Regulation

Nurosym is a wearable medical device designed to be worn like an earphone on your ear. It sends pleasant mild electrical signals that stimulate the Vagus Nerve, promoting relaxation and calmness to body & mind.

Similarly to cardiac pacemakers, Nurosym restores nervous system balance by correcting abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Backed by over 50 clinical studies conducted with renowned academic institutions, Nurosym has proven benefits in safely addressing root causes of stress, anxiety, fatigue, sleep issues, pain, gut issues, and more. All without the need for medication or surgery.

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