Dr. Nemechek has published another peer-reviewed article discussing the potential of vagus nerve stimulation as treatment for active COVID-19 infection.
Here is the abstract (summary) of the article:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to exert mortality worldwide largely due to a lack of treatment options to prevent or ameliorate advanced respiratory dysfunction. Knowledge of the COVID-19 virus-host interaction is rapidly evolving, and significant evidence indicates that an uncontrolled immune response resulting in a cytokine storm can trigger rapid decline.
Secondary to massive efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, anti-viral agents and inflammation suppression minimizing cytokine storm development most likely will be required to improve survival rates in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is safe and several lines of evidence suggest it is potent enough to regulate the high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines seen in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Based on its success in mitigating both chronic and acute inflammation without triggering harmful immunosuppression, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) presents a novel potential treatment for COVID-19.
A clinical trial is being designed to determine whether taVNS can significantly improve the mortality rate among hospitalized COVID-19 patients by preventing a fatal immune response.
You can also watch a video discussing the similar topic.
The Future
Dr. Nemechek and his team continue to push for potential treatment options for persons actively infected with COVID-19 as well as though suffering from its chronic after effects.
They soon hope to launch a clinical trial using taVNS in hospitalized patients and are setting up a second trial in Arizona of taVNS in patients not recovering well after COVID-19 infection.
