“Vagus nerve stimulation” (VNS) means very different things depending on who you ask.
For some, it refers to meditation or breathing practices, which help by rebalancing sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Others use it to market “vagus nerve oils” or supplements — usually little more than trend-driven branding. And then there’s the medical side: devices built to directly stimulate the nerve.
A Brief History of VNS
The story began with implants, pioneered by LivaNova. Surgically wrapped around the vagus nerve, these devices showed real efficacy for epilepsy and depression, laying the foundation for what came next.
Later came electrical VNS devices, non-invasive tools designed to mimic implant effects. The best-known is ElectroCore’s gammaCore, which produced valuable research and is still in use today.
But electrical stimulation has inherent trade-offs:
- Electricity takes the path of least resistance, requiring high intensities to reach the nerve.
- High intensity → painful shocks.
- Low intensity → weak effect.
That balance problem led to low compliance and mixed outcomes. Early business models compounded this by requiring frequent, costly device replacements—drawing criticism for prioritizing revenue over accessibility.
The Rise of New Players
Other companies entered the space with variations:
- Pulsetto (Lithuania) shifted from distributing gammaCore to launching its own neckband-style stimulator. It offered better ergonomics and avoided “lock-in” design, but lacked clinical backing. Independent reviewers found questionable research claims, limited measurable effects, and discovered what they’ve said to be plagiarism (Michael Kummer review).
- Nurosym (now Nuropod) markets itself as research-backed, citing collaborations with major institutions. However, independent confirmation of these partnerships in academic literature is limited to non-existent.
- Alpha-Stim has stronger evidence, particularly in military populations.
- Hoolest, Sensate, Apollo Neuro and others represent the crowded wave of wellness-adjacent devices. Some use mechanical vibration rather than nerve stimulation, making them adjacent but not truly VNS.
The result is an industry filled with innovation and noise—some promising, some under-researched, and much of it difficult for consumers to parse.
Where We Come In
ZenBud takes a different approach: ultrasound-based vagus nerve stimulation. Unlike electricity, ultrasound can direct energy more precisely, with less discomfort and greater tolerability.
Our peer-reviewed pilot study showed outcomes closer to the implantable devices that defined VNS in the first place. Larger randomized controlled trials are underway, both independently and within our team, to expand on these findings.
What sets us apart isn’t just the technology, but the commitment: scientific transparency and integrity are non-negotiable.
Looking Ahead
“Vagus nerve stimulation” will likely continue to mean many things—from meditation practices to oils, to devices ranging from questionable to transformative. Our goal is simple: make sure it also means science-driven, patient-centered technology that works.
If you’re exploring this field, ask hard questions, check the evidence, and, when you’re ready, try a vagus nerve stimulator for yourself.
