Can you really calm your nervous system with a tiny jolt of electricity? That’s the promise behind a new wave of wellness gadgets designed to stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps the body regulate stress, digestion, and mood. On social media, users say they are a “ life changer ” and that daily use helps them “ sleep through the night ,” and “ get out of a panic attack in 20 seconds .”

The concept sounds futuristic, but it’s grounded in decades of neuroscience. Early versions of vagus nerve stimulators were used in hospitals to treat epilepsy and depression. Now, smaller, consumer-friendly versions promise similar benefits—without a doctor’s visit or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight. Researchers are studying how these tools interact with the body’s stress pathways and

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