Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

Command Your Calm. Shift Your State. Recover Faster.

The Digital "Off-Switch" for Stress

In a world of constant digital noise and high-performance demands, your nervous system can easily become "stuck" in a state of chronic stress. Traditional relaxation takes time—Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) takes minutes.

At Rubicon Wellness, we utilize clinical-grade Hoolest VeRelief technology to access your body's primary highway for calm: the Vagus Nerve. This isn't just "feeling better"—it is a physical neuromodulation that signals your brain to exit "Fight or Flight" and enter "Rest and Digest."

By delivering targeted, gentle electrical impulses to the ear and neck, we manually trigger your parasympathetic nervous system. It’s a direct intervention for anxiety and a "fast-forward" button for physiological recovery.

The Benefits of VNS at Rubicon:

Immediate State Change: Shift from high-stress to deep calm in as little as 3–10 minutes.
Increased HRV: Improve your Heart Rate Variability—the gold-standard metric for stress resilience and cardiovascular health.
Neurological Reset: Quiet the "monkey mind," lower systemic cortisol, and improve sleep quality by resetting your baseline.
Performance Priming: The perfect 10-minute "on-ramp" to deepen your Float or PEMF session.

The Hardware: VeRelief Prime vs. Pro

Targeted Relief for Every Level of Stress

We offer two distinct ways to access the Vagus Nerve, depending on whether you need a rapid "spot treatment" or a deep, immersive system restore.

VeRelief Prime: The Handheld Reset

The VeRelief Prime is our rapid-response tool. Designed for precision, this handheld device is applied directly to the cervical (neck) or auricular (ear) branches of the Vagus Nerve.

The Experience: A 3-to-5 minute targeted session.
Best For: Immediate "state changes" to stop an anxiety spike, clearing brain fog before a big meeting, or as a quick "on-ramp" before entering the float tank.

hoolest Pro: The Recovery Headset

The Hoolest Pro is our most advanced neurological recovery tool. Engineered as a pair of specialized headphones, the Pro provides dual-point, hands-free stimulation to the ears.

The Experience: A 10-to-20 minute passive session. Because it is a headset, you can simply lean back in our lounge, close your eyes, and let the technology do the work.
Best For: Deep nervous system restoration, improving chronic sleep issues, and significant HRV (Heart Rate Variability) boosting. It provides a constant, immersive signal that allows for a much deeper "system restore" than handheld devices.

Why Two Options?

Just as a massage therapist might use different pressures for different goals, our VNS tech allows us to scale the intensity of your recovery. Whether you have five minutes or twenty, we can effectively signal your brain to return to a state of balance.

An image of the VeRelief Prime on the left versus Hoolest Pro on the right.

How it fits your routine.

The "Pre-Float" Sync: Use VNS for 10 minutes before your float to silence the "monkey mind" before you even hit the water.
The "Post-Work" Reset: Stop in for a 15-minute targeted session to wash away the workday stress before you head home.
The "Vagus Nerve Master Protocol": Combine PEMF (for the body) with VNS (for the brain) for the ultimate physiological reset.

The Science of Vagal Tone

Strengthening Your Stress Resilience

The Vagus Nerve isn't just a switch; it is a muscle that can be "toned." Your Vagal Tone is a measurement of how quickly your body can bounce back to a state of calm after a stressful event. High Vagal Tone is linked to better emotional regulation, lower inflammation, and superior cardiovascular health.

The HRV Connection

At Rubicon Wellness, we focus on Heart Rate Variability (HRV)—the gold-standard metric for measuring nervous system health. When you use the VeRelief system, you are essentially "exercising" your Vagus Nerve to improve its response. Over time, consistent VNS can help:

Widen Your Window of Tolerance: Stay calm in situations that used to trigger an anxiety response.
Improve Digestive Health: By stimulating the "Rest and Digest" highway, VNS supports healthy gut motility and reduces stress-related GI issues.
Lower Systemic Inflammation: A healthy Vagus Nerve releases anti-inflammatory neurotransmitters throughout the body.

Why Neuromodulation?

Traditional methods like breathwork, cold exposure, or meditation are excellent but can be difficult to master when you are already in a state of high stress. Active Vagus Nerve Stimulation provides a direct electrical signal that bypasses the mental effort, allowing your body to experience a parasympathetic shift regardless of your current state of mind. It is a "shortcut" to a biological state that usually takes years of practice to achieve.

Safety & FAQ

Vagus Nerve Stimulation is a non-invasive, safe, and generally pleasant experience. Here is what you need to know before your first neurological reset.
When using the VeRelief system, you will feel a gentle pulsing or "tingling" sensation where the electrodes contact the skin (on the ear or the side of the neck). This sensation is adjustable; we always start at a low intensity and increase it to your comfort level. Most clients find the rhythmic pulse deeply relaxing.
A single session can provide an immediate sense of calm that lasts for several hours. However, much like physical exercise, the long-term benefits of improved Vagal Tone and HRV are cumulative. We recommend 2–3 sessions per week for those looking to fundamentally shift their baseline stress levels.
While VNS is safe for the vast majority of people, there are specific contraindications due to the nature of the electrical impulses.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation is NOT suitable for individuals who:
- Have an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator.
- Have any other implanted electronic devices or neurostimulators.
- Are currently pregnant.
- Have a history of seizures or epilepsy.
- Have open wounds or skin rashes at the site of stimulation (ear/neck).
Item description
No special preparation is required. We do recommend being well-hydrated, as hydrated skin conducts the gentle impulses more efficiently. If you are using the VeRelief Prime (handheld), we will provide a conductive gel or water to ensure a seamless connection.

The Rubicon Protocol

Stacking Technology for Maximum Recovery

Vagus Nerve Stimulation is a powerful stand-alone treatment, but at Rubicon Wellness, we specialize in "stacking" modalities to achieve physiological states that are difficult to reach through traditional therapy alone.

The "Pre-Float" Primer (VNS + Floating)

The first 20 minutes of a float are often spent waiting for the "monkey mind" to quiet down. By using the VeRelief Pro headset for 10 minutes in our lounge before your session, you pre-stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system. This allows you to bypass the acclimation period and drop into a deep, meditative Theta-wave state the moment you hit the water.

The "System Restore" (VNS + PEMF)

While our PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy recharges your body at a cellular level, VNS quietens the neurological noise of the brain. Stacking these treatments provides a total system restore: charging the "battery" of your cells while simultaneously calming the "software" of your mind.

The "Post-Work" Reset

Stop in for a focused 15-minute session to wash away the workday stress. By using the VeRelief Prime to target specific cervical branches, we can help you physically "leave work at work," ensuring you head home with a regulated nervous system and improved emotional availability.

How to Experience VNS

As a Standalone: Book a focused 15 or 30-minute neurological reset.
As an Add-On: Enhance any Float or PEMF session by adding a 10-minute VNS "Primer."

Ready to Reset?

Experience the most direct way to master your nervous system. Whether you're looking to deepen your float or simply survive a high-stress week, Vagus Nerve Stimulation at Rubicon Wellness is your path to physiological resilience.

Book A Vagus Nerve Stimulation Treatment Now