Can Nurosym Soothe My Frazzled Brain?

On the hunt for something to soothe her frazzled brain, Alice tries a trending wellness device called Nurosym, fresh off multiple recommendations from leading experts who swear by it…

I’ve been longing to try out the Nurosym, a neat little device which aims to ‘rewire’ your brain for a while. (Aesthetic doctor Dr Sophie Shotter and hair trend forecaster Tom Smith are both big fans).

It works by using tiny targeted electrical impulses (delivered into your ear and via the vagus nerve to the brain) with the aim of giving you more calm and consistent energy – so I was thrilled when the lovely people at Nurosym lent me one (press loan, this is not a sponsored post).

Why was I so keen to give Nurosym a whirl?

There are many published studies on vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and the way it can help balance chronic stress. Plus several of my practitioner friends tell me they love the device for feeling less wired and improving their heart-rate variability scores and REM sleep.

I had a chat with Elisabetta Burchi, who is head of research at Parasym (the neurotech company behind Nurosym), and has a background in psychiatry and neuroscience. She told me that Parasym is a leader in the area of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation, with over 50 published studies, that the vagus nerve plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis and is involved in the parasympathetic nervous system’s functions, Non-invasive VNS can help counterbalance chronic stress by stimulating the vagus nerve, promoting relaxation and recovery.

So, what is the Nurosym like to use?

It’s really easy to use – you put a spot of water onto the device, or your ear, to help conductivity, then it clips onto the tragus – the sticky-out bit in the middle of your ear, at the front. After that, you turn up the power until you feel a light tingling, then you leave it and get on with whatever you’re doing (working, watching TV, reading in bed). I started with 30 minutes a day and now, after three months, have worked up to two hours (I usually reset it at bedtime to pack in another hour while I sleep).

What have I noticed?

While – of course – I’ve been hoping for some revelatory change, as yet I can’t really tell if it’s making a difference, either from how I feel, or from the stats (Heart Rate Variability, recovery, stress levels, deep sleep, REM sleep) on my wearable devices.

Admittedly it has not been an easy year in terms of life, work and personal issues and I realise it may take more than a clever device to move the needle on all of this and that reducing stress levels and improving my sleep is going to need serious lifestyle change.

Still, I had been hoping for more positive changes to report. But enough people have told me of the benefits the device has brought them to want to persist with it.

Interested in other tech devices, specifically ones to improve your skin? Head to the TTG shop for a few Alice-recommended technologies.