Harnessing the Vagus Nerve: A New Frontier in Inflammation Control

This chapter reveals the transformative potential of vagus nerve stimulation in controlling inflammation and treating chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and depression. It discusses the evolutionary mechanisms behind inflammation, critiques traditional antidepressant models, and highlights the dual nature of inflammation in health and disease. The chapter also explores the safety and efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation compared to conventional treatments and examines its ties to wellness practices like meditation and cold exposure.

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Kevin J. Tracey, MD is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, a pioneer of vagus nerve research and author of the recent book, The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Tim’s intro: why he dismissed vagus-nerve hype

06:34 What the vagus nerve actually is, plus common myths

11:31 Breaking news: FDA approval for SetPoint’s RA implant + Kelly Owens’s turnaround

21:11 Inflammation 101: when healing turns harmful

31:37 Bioelectronic medicine: from lab insight to real devices

55:26 TNF, IL-1, and IL-6: immune drivers and what VNS modulates

56:06 Exercise & recovery: vagal signals, IL-6, and adaptation

56:30 Cold exposure & breathwork: sympathetic spike, parasympathetic payoff

59:04 Chronic inflammation today: prevalence, diagnostics, and uncertainty

59:53 Autoimmunity: genes, environment, infections

01:01:08 Stress hormones, personality traits, and metabolic fallout