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Oct 17 11 tweets 7 min read Read on X
How to Activate the Body’s Built-In Antidepressant

One nerve controls stress, mood, and emotion.
Most people have never even heard of it.
But when you activate it, everything can change.

Here’s how it works…

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A woman in her mid-30s went to see Dr. Priyal Modi, an integrative medicine practitioner.

The woman was navigating major life transitions, including the loss of a parent, the end of a long-term relationship, and work-related stress. She decided to take a sabbatical to reassess her path but felt isolated and depressed, and her thoughts were consumed by self-criticism and rumination.

“She had been prescribed antidepressants but was struggling with side effects,” Modi said.Image
They began weekly breathwork sessions, shown to stimulate the vagus nerve, and focused on creating awareness around the mental loops she had been reinforcing.

By the 10th session, her symptoms improved significantly.

Many mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, often stem from a dysregulated nervous system. The vagus nerve plays a key role in restoring emotional balance.Image
How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Supports Mood

The vagus nerve forms the main communication pathway between the brain and body, affecting mood, emotional regulation, and resilience to stress.

Stimulating the vagus nerve—either by natural or mechanical means—helps reduce the body’s production of stress hormones like cortisol and increases the release of calming neurotransmitters.

Enhanced vagal tone (or vagus nerve function) can also lead to reduced inflammation, which is often elevated in conditions like depression and anxiety, Jodi Duval, an Australian-based naturopathic physician with over 15 years of experience and owner of Revital Health, told The Epoch Times.

According to Modi, being in “fight-or-flight” mode is vital in life-threatening situations, but when we are in a prolonged state of stress or our stress response is constantly triggered by perceived threats or everyday emotional challenges, our mood and state of mind will be affected.

“In such states, our cognitive function declines, emotions become unregulated and reactive, and mental health takes a knock, often leading to burnout, anxiety, and depression. Even our interpretation of social cues can be thrown off,” she said.Image
Some of the earliest findings on the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) came from studies examining its effects on people experiencing partial seizures. Researchers initially used VNS to control seizures but observed improvements in patients’ mental health as an unexpected side effect.

After three months of VNS therapy, participants showed increased levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, an indication of serotonin activity in the body. This suggested that VNS enhances serotonin activity in the brain.

In addition to these changes, they also reported improvements in quality of life, including better emotional adjustment, enhanced social functioning, and an overall improved sense of well-being. This is likely due to the vagus nerve’s connection with brain regions that regulate mood.

Since then, VNS has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression. The antidepressant effects of VNS are typically observed over several months, with long-lasting benefits.Image
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Activating the vagus nerve through breathwork and sensory stimulation can help ease depression and anxiety.

theepochtimes.com/health/how-to-…
Breath and Sensory Stimulation

Slow, controlled breathing is a powerful natural way to stimulate the vagus nerve.

“Integrating the practice can provide both immediate calming effects and ongoing emotional resilience,” Duval said.

Modi said: “By changing how we breathe, we can create new neural pathways in the brain, enhancing neuroplasticity. This empowers people to take control of their health and navigate life’s challenges.”Image
Another method that can help regulate the nervous system is sensory stimulation. Examples include splashing your face with water, taking a warm shower or drinking a cold drink, covering up with a weighted blanket, standing barefoot on the grass, or even engaging in comforting touches like a tight hug or back-scratch.

Lidalize Grobler, an educational psychologist, shared an example from work.

She worked with a 7-year-old girl who struggled with severe anxiety, frequent panic attacks, and intense tantrums. “Her parents initially viewed her as simply ‘difficult,’ but it became clear that her nervous system was highly dysregulated and prone to becoming overwhelmed,” Grobler said. The first step of the treatment was helping the girl’s nervous system settle into calm.

“We experimented with several approaches, but the most effective turned out to be a simple act: scratching her back,” she said.

The back-scratching had an immediate calming effect, helping the girl become emotionally stable and at ease.

“Don’t try to think yourself out of a dysregulated state; it’s a body thing,” Grobler said.

That said, it’s important to address the underlying issue that caused the dysregulation in the first place, she said. We shouldn’t use regulation techniques to distract ourselves from what’s happening. However, improving vagus nerve function will help bring us back to a more balanced state, allowing us to think clearly.

“This enables you to address the conflict from a regulated place rather than from a place of dysregulation,” Grobler explained.Image
Regulated and Reconnected

After performing breathing techniques to regulate the vagus nerve, the transformation in Modi’s patient was striking. She was calm and composed, with an open posture. Even the side effects resulting from taking antidepressants, including tremors and speech issues, disappeared. Taking supplements also helped.

She improved communication and boundaries with her mother, started a new romantic relationship, and engaged in hobbies and social activities. With gradual and careful support, she was also able to taper off her medication and address the dependency she had developed.

“Today, she is thriving, using the breathing techniques she learned to manage her emotions and reconnect with her body,” Modi said. “She’s happy, self-aware, and in tune with her needs.”Image
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More from @epochhealth

Oct 17
One woman found a $7 weight loss secret hiding in plain sight at the grocery store.

Donna lost 74 pounds—and says she never feels hungry anymore.

It works on the same pathway as Ozempic, without the side effects… or the $1,000/month price tag.

This rare sugar could be the best-kept secret in metabolic health.

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Donna began using allulose as she had once used sugar, including in treats such as brownies and pumpkin muffins. Looking back, she said, finding allulose was key.

“It’s the main thing I’ve done differently compared to other low-carb diets,” she told The Epoch Times.

Semaglutide and other new GLP-1 medications have been dominating the weight loss industry, offering appetite suppression and improved blood sugar control. At roughly $1,000 per month before insurance, they are beyond reach for many people. For others, it’s the side effects of these drugs that have them searching for natural alternatives.

Enter allulose—a zero-calorie, rare sugar that stimulates the same GLP-1 hormone, although to a more modest extent than the drugs, and provides mild metabolic benefits.Image
Allulose Mimics GLP-1 Hormones to Reduce Cravings and Balance Blood Sugar

This rare sugar may support satiety, blunt blood sugar spikes, and fit seamlessly into everyday meals.

theepochtimes.com/health/could-a…
Read 11 tweets
Oct 16
Most People Use Turmeric Wrong: How to Activate Its Full Benefits

Adding turmeric to your diet? Smart move.

But the real magic only happens when you pair it with one common spice—and a little fat.

Without that combo, turmeric barely works. It’s like sprinkling dust on your food.

This might be the best-kept secret in your kitchen.

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If you’ve cut salt, eased up on caffeine, and tried to stress less, and your blood pressure still won’t budge, perhaps a golden spice in your kitchen cabinet can ease your efforts.

Curcumin is found in the root of the turmeric plant, giving it its distinctive golden hue and earthy flavor. It belongs to a group of plant-based substances called polyphenols, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

These effects may help explain why curcumin—turmeric’s most active compound—is being studied for its potential to support healthy blood pressure.Image
A Natural Ally for Blood Pressure Control

The most convenient and widely available source of curcumin is turmeric powder, a pantry staple that adds color and flavor to a variety of dishes.

Curcumin may help lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel function by reducing the thickening and stiffness of arterial walls, a common issue in chronic hypertension.

Based mostly on animal studies, in some cases, curcumin has also reversed damage—such as thickening and scarring—to blood vessels, especially in pulmonary arterial hypertension, which causes blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure in the lungs to increase.

Curcumin may also protect the kidneys and heart, which are key to keeping blood pressure in check.

In animal studies, curcumin has also been found to relax blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide levels, which helps improve blood flow and reduce resistance in the arteries.Image
Read 11 tweets
Oct 16
Vaccines Being Airdropped Across US

Planes, helicopters, and trucks are blanketing rural America with millions of oral rabies vaccines this month—with almost no warning to residents.

The government says it’s safe, but pets and livestock can ingest the vaccine baits, leaving many to ask: what happens if they do?

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is airdropping oral rabies vaccines in six states in October in a bid to stop the spread of the potentially deadly virus.
theepochtimes.com/us/usda-is-air…
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia will be the recipients of the airdropped vaccines in October, according to a statement from the agency. The USDA did not provide a starting date for the process.

One project will cover areas in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and a small area in West Virginia to distribute 634,000 oral rabies vaccine baits via vehicles, airplanes, and helicopters, the USDA said.

Another 410,000 of the baits will be distributed in western North Carolina and northern Georgia; 690,000 baits will be dropped in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee; and 718,000 baits will be distributed in parts of northeast and central Alabama.Image
Read 12 tweets
Oct 15
Daily Cocoa Cuts Inflammation by 70%

Your nightly cup of hot cocoa might just save your life.

A groundbreaking study found that daily cocoa extract lowered body-wide inflammation by 70% and reduced heart disease deaths by 27%.

Scientists say it stopped “inflammaging,” keeping older adults’ inflammation steady for two years instead of rising with age.

This simple discovery could change how we think about aging and heart health forever.

It sounds too good to be true—but the science says otherwise.

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Your daily hot cocoa might do more than warm you up—it could also prevent heart disease and the inflammation that drives it, according to a recent study.

theepochtimes.com/health/daily-c…
As we get older, our bodies become more inflamed, increasing our risks of developing chronic disease and dying.

A large-scale study tracked people who took daily cocoa supplements for two years and found that body-wide inflammation stayed steady instead of rising—with the strongest effects in those who had higher inflammation at baseline.Image
Read 13 tweets
Oct 14
Millions Taking Ibuprofen May Be at Serious Risk, Studies Show

Before you take your next dose, make sure you’re not in the danger zone.

For these five groups of people, ibuprofen poses serious health risks that outweigh potential benefits.

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Popping an ibuprofen for that pounding headache or twisted ankle can provide quick relief from pain.

But although this easily accessible over-the-counter drug could temporarily mask discomfort and sometimes eliminate pain, experts say it does little to spur true healing. Image
Furthermore, for these five groups of people, ibuprofen poses serious health risks that outweigh potential benefits.

theepochtimes.com/health/who-sho…
Read 10 tweets
Oct 14
Foods That Lower Tinnitus Risk—and Those That Trigger It

If you’ve ever heard ringing in your ears when everything is quiet… you’re not alone.

Tinnitus doesn’t just mess with your hearing—it can wreck your focus, sleep, and even mental health.

A major new study just found diet plays a bigger role than anyone thought.

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Tinnitus, ringing or buzzing in the ears, affects about 14 percent of adults, with 2 percent experiencing a severe form.

The condition is associated with stress and depression and significantly affects quality of life. In severe cases, it can lead to suicide.

Recent research investigated the links between various food groups and tinnitus and found that certain healthy foods, such as fruits and those containing fiber, may reduce the risk.

Nondietary lifestyle factors may also contribute.Image
The systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Open evaluated eight studies involving 301,533 people to determine if various dietary constituents were associated with tinnitus risk.

theepochtimes.com/health/foods-t…
Read 19 tweets

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