Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Omnipemf NeoRhythm

Product Comparison, Part II

With increasing awareness of the benefits of activating the parasympathetic nervous system, Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is becoming a popular method for improving mental (and physical) wellness. Part I compared 2 devices - Pulsetto and Xen - that utilize electrical current to stimulate the vagus nerve, with two notable downsides: they require gel or saline (respectively) for adequate electrical conduction, and the use electrical conduction that some people find uncomfortable. The Omnipemf differs significantly: it uses magnetic stimulation, specifically Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field technology not only to stimulate the vagus nerve, but potentially other body parts (for circulation, joint pain or other healing) including the brain (possibly including sleep, calm, mood and focus).

Disclaimer, before we begin: While these products are not FDA regulated medical devices, which some may interpret as implying they don't carry risk, any product and probably particularly medical devices carry a degree of risk. This leads to the second part of my disclaimer - I am not a medical professional. I cannot speak to these risks, I am not claiming any medical expertise about these devices, how they work or medical health. I am not endorsing these items from a medical health or consumer standpoint. I am a professional affiliate of these companies and receive devices at low or no cost, but I do not receive any compensation for this article, nor was I asked to write it. This article simply reflects my perspective as a psychologist, the (small) foundation of information I have attained about this, and my experience as an intermittent user testing these devices. Any determination to use these devices is made solely on your personal account and I would encourage consultation of a medical professional.

Understanding Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Vagus nerve stimulation involves activating the vagus nerve to promote relaxation and alleviate stress. Doing so 'turns on' our parasympathetic nervous system, which is a counterbalance to our sympathetic nervous system - I think of it like a see-saw: we are down regulating our level of arousal that may be unnecessarily activated or chronically left turned-on. See other blog articles on this subject!

This process can impact various body functions, including heart rate, digestion, and emotional regulation. Products NeoRhythm harness the benefits of VNS, providing users with tools to improve their mental health.

Tech Stuff

The tech under the hood is nothing new - there are various sorts of magnetic stimulation devices for various medical needs, both available to consumers and some only available to medical professionals. Transcranial Magnet Stimulation (TMS) was gaining popularity for depression treatment about 20-years ago (and were developed 40-years ago). However, honing the stimulation for the vagus nerve externally and for direct-to-consumer devices is newer, as well as the specific form-factors - the price tag is presumably the R&D of a consumer device and marketing, not for costly parts or wholly new technology.

The information I could find about TMS for depression indicates that the specs on the NeoRhythm are comparable in terms hertz (or hz, rate of the pulse measured in pulses per second). TMS tends to use the lower-end of the rate (hz) of pulses relative the the range of the NeoRhythm (1-303hz, with most programs maxing at 50hz), with 1-5hz consider inhibitor (reducing neurological activity, causing calm, sleep or relaxation) and depending on the source 5+ or 10+ being considered activating. Some sources state 5hz while others 10hz for depression treatment in the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex. However, the flux, or strength of the magnetic field pulse, for TMS ranges up to 1.5T, while the NeoRhythm has a lower strength maxing at 2.5mT.

NeoRhythm: Features and Specifications

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NeoRhythm is a wearable device designed to stimulate the vagus nerve using gentle magnetic impulses. It's user-friendly, designed to be worn around the neck, and provides targeted stimulation to improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Form-Factor: I found NeoRhthym to be comfortable, relatively lightweight, and loved that I didn't have to apply conduction gel beforehand, and no wiping it off my neck and the device afterwards. Frankly, the gel application and clean up steps frequently got in the way of my using the Pulsetto, and I only ended up using it during periods of significant stress. It looks neat if you don't mind a techy, but not so inconspicuous appearance, and was comfortable enough - it does not need to be snug-fitting like electrical current devices as contact isn't necessary for magnetic pulses. Having said that, it didn't feel as secure when wearing it on my head for focus or sleep related applications (I have not tried the thicker pads that are included).

Programs and Customization: The device can be activated without an app, but the app can control which of the 13+ customizable programs is activated, including Sleep, Focus, Calm, Energy, Pain Relief, and Meditation. Advanced mode allows you to set the specific frequency, intensity, which magnetic coils are activated, and duration (10 minutes to 13 hours). Some of these programs target brain or body, and the band (the device) would be worn in other locations than the neck (for VNS).

Long Battery Life: With up to 12 hours of use per charge, NeoRhythm is perfect for multiple daily sessions without frequent recharging.

Compared to Pulsetto:

If it wasn't clear above, I am thrilled about not needing conduction gel and while I don't mind the sensation of the Pulsetto's electrical impulses, I can't say I love when I end up with some muscle activation (twitching or spasms), though I could probably use a milder setting. Conversely, some people want a "side effect" to let them know it is working - the NeoRhyhtm makes no sound or physical sensation, may take longer for effective calmness, and comes with a test device to confirm it is active.

In terms of effectiveness, Pulsetto worked faster and felt like an off-switch to my sympathetic nervous system, but NeoRhythm did a good job taking about 15-minutes to reach a comparable state. The trade off is intensity of the effect vs need for gel in my personal opinion, and I'd opt for a longer relaxation period over the gel in most scenarios. I can imagine someone prone to panic and acute anxiety reactions may prefer the Pulsetto.

Both have great battery life, but the NeoRhyhtm has a charging station. The charging station/mount for the NeoRhythm is nice, but only a simple, lightweight piece of plastic, and uses a micro USB, which feels a little outdated and less durable while the Pulsetto uses the contemporary standard USB C.

Both feel sturdy and durable, but I'd give the nod to Pulsetto, with both feeling like they will last longer than the Xen.

Additionally, the NeoRhythm is more customizable in terms of programming and while I don't think the Pulsetto's paid subscription is necessary to get plenty out of it, it is nice that the NeoRhythm offers more customization than the Pulsetto and doesn't tempt you with a paid monthly subscription. I also found the NeoRhythm's description of the programs more useful than the Pulsetto or Xen. The Pulsetto's programs describe what they target, but not much clear info on how the programs differ technically. Not everyone will geek out on this info, but as a practitioner, I tend to want to know. The Xen offers multiple waveforms and frequency modulations, but not guidance on how to choose one over the other (and frankly, I found myself just wanting a consistency impulse rather than the on-off waveform). The only thing I was left wanting with the NeoRhythm was that the advanced settings that are suggested would be built-in presets. You can take the info and make a custom setting. However, the quick settings have both a primary and secondary hz, and you cannot build this into custom settings. There is also a sequence setting that allows you to program two custom settings that follow one-another after a certain amount of time (of your choosing). At first, I overlooked this, but had the realization you could program a sleep setting, then a focus setting, which might be a way to customize a lucid dreaming, mindful meditation or self-hypnosis settings (as each of these states or phenomenon combine seemingly opposite mental states of focus and calm). Having said that, they have a lucid dreaming preset that combines an activating and inhibiting pulse rate, and other similar meditation presets.

Omnipemf NeoRhythm

Concluding Remarks and Considerations

From a mental health standpoint, as a psychologist, I have found it to be quite soothing and lasting, as if stress left my motor running at high RPM and these devices down-regulate that in a short session length. It seems to last quite a while, possibly until reactivated by a stressful trigger or liquid-stress (coffee). However, there are several caveats.

These are newer devices and not medical, so they may not replace other treatments. As mentioned in the disclaimer, I cannot speak to their safety, but we shouldn't just assume safety of any medication or device that affects our body.

This is not a replacement for psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic coping skills. Deep breathing, muscle relaxation, guided imagery and grounding, and mindfulness meditations are equally effective (in my opinion) parasympathetic activation techniques, and there is something to be said about learning a skill to manage this on your own. What if you don't have your Vagus Nerve Stimulator or it runs out of batteries? I'm consistently surprised that my clients aren't very engaged in practicing and consistently utilizing these copings skills - I felt it was diligent to practice what I preach when learning these skills as a therapist-in-training, and they have helped me through rough patches. Check out my YouTube channel for Parasympathetic Activation.

Resistance to relaxation is well documented in psychological literature. Frequently we have ambivalence about changing the things that bring us into therapy - when that isn't the case, people are much more successful at solving their hurdles without the support of a therapist. See my article on uncertainty in psychotherapy. People with overbearing superego's or parental internalizations (including the IFS notion of a protector/manager) often unconsciously invite this part to take control, giving them a sense of control, but ultimately losing control to that part, pattern and rigid way of coping. Yet it is familiar, and creates a homeostasis or stable system of functioning. On the surface, they want to change this, but as we dig deeper, fears of letting go of that familiar coping and consequently sense of control are scary. It may feel reckless or sociopathic, and out of control. Over the course of therapy, these individuals learn to trust themselves without the internal critic, but this is a process. Medications and devices like a vagus nerve stimulator do this automatically and nearly immediately without the therapeutic process, which can cause resistance: the internal protective mechanism resists being forcefully shut of and rises up stronger. While I suspect this presentation is not the norm, it would need to be navigated. This is analogous to the phenomonen in which individuals with fragile egos related to narcissistic personality traits had adverse reactions to meditation. Classic meditation techniques involves stripping away layers of conscious experience until we reach a core, but people with a fragile sense of self are naturally terrified to acknowledging the things they cling to for identity are only effervescent thoughts we have about ourselves. This topic is discussed in Epstein's Psychotherapy without the Self. When meeting with a representative of Neuvana (co-founder?), we discussed this potential complication and that she had been surprised the notion was familiar in discussion with other psychologists as well. If you find yourself fearful of giving up a sense of self-control, consider consulting a therapist, and remember an overbearing internal critic only provides a sense of control - your core self or true ego is perfectly capable of providing this services and fulfilling this function. A brief moment of calm is good for you and does not mean you are reckless or out of control. Consider attempting other parasympathetic activation skills first (see link above for my YouTube videos) and attend to any resistance. If you notice resistance, open up an internal dialogue with that part of yourself and give it space to answer what it's fears are (of relaxing) and if it maybe wants a break from being in control all the time?

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