By now I’m sure you know that I love the vagus nerve. This cranial nerve has a crucial role in regulating our stress response, controlling our sleep-wake cycle, and even influencing feelings of anxiety.

So there’s no surprise when I was offered to try a vagus nerve stimulating device, I was going to give it a go! Anything to support my own nervous system health and that of you guys too. By stimulating the vagus nerve, particularly through electrical means, can have profound benefits for managing stress. And that's where Pulsetto, a portable wearable device, comes into play.

Here is my honest review on the Pulsetto device for vagus nerve stimulation as a vagus nerve chiropractor and coach.

How does stimulation of the Vagus Nerve work?

Before diving into my experience with Pulsetto, let's explore how electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve works and why it's a game-changer for stress relief. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it activates the body's relaxation response, promoting a sense of calm and reducing the physiological and psychological effects of stress.

You would have heard me talk about how the vagus nerve controls our level of inner safety, so it makes sense that if we have more safety in our nervous system, we feel less threat (aka less fight/flight). This vagus nerve stimulation helps regulate heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, ultimately leading to a more balanced and relaxed state.

Now, onto my experience with Pulsetto! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try this innovative vagus nerve stimulator, simply because I love finding things to share with you all that can truly support you on your health journey.

Setting Up Pulsetto

The Pulsetto itself is very lightweight and compact (you’ll see it on my video). Although it resembles headphones, it's actually worn around the neck. The power buttons are conveniently located and easy to navigate, thanks to the LED indicators. And while technically it’s very portable, you really only need to use it for 5-10 minutes a day, so there’s no need to take it out of the house!

The package also included a tube of electrode gel, an instruction booklet that provided clear guidance on device usage, and a charging cable for on-the-go convenience. Setting it up was a breeze.

To enhance the Pulsetto experience, there's a companion app that you can download by scanning the QR code. It offers five different programs and meditation soundscapes that complement your use of Pulsetto.

Once you start a program, the app seamlessly pairs with the device via Bluetooth, so make sure your phone's Bluetooth is enabled. (I know this will be a no-go for some of you, but sometimes I think it’s important to compare the risk to benefit, and for me 5 minutes of bluetooth exposure was worth the effects).

Using Pulsetto

After ensuring I was comfortable and free of any jewellery, I applied a small amount of electrode gel to my neck. Then, I placed Pulsetto on the gel-covered areas, adjusted it to my preference, and turned it on. The LED indicator flashed green, signifying that it was ready to pair with my phone. After selecting a program in the app, the LED flashed purple, indicating the start of the session. Check out my video for positioning information, if you’re not sure!

It can be tingly and make your muscles twitch a little to begin, but if you sit with it, you’ll start to feel the effects of the vagus nerve stimulation. You can also play meditation soundscapes which are included in the app too!

Continued Use of Pulsetto

You can rate each session and view the session details in the app. It helps the app to set preferences for your nervous system.

Cleaning Pulsetto is simple too—just a quick wipe with a dry cloth to remove the gel from the device and a towel to clean my neck.

After a few sessions in a row (ie daily), I noticed that my baseline was calmer, and I was able to get through stressful days without as much dysregulation, or inner work to regulate.

Please remember - this is NOT the one thing that will change your nervous system health. You still need to do to the work for yourself. The Pulsetto is a wonderful addition to vagus nerve stimulation, but your results are going to be determined by how the rest of your body, mind, and spirit are functioning.

Please keep this in mind if you’re looking at other reviews of the Pulsetto, as results will absolutely vary between individuals.

If you would like to try the Pulsetto for yourself, I have a discount code for you!

Use: Carrie for 10% off here.

I would love to know your experience with using it - chat to me on socials or send me an email.

*Please note that this blog contains affiliate links which means I may get a small commission when you purchase (at no extra cost to yourself). Thank you for supporting and honouring the time it takes to research amazing products for you! See all my recommendations here.

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