We reviewed the top 4 stress relief mechanisms — here’s our favorite

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One thing we all have in common is stress. It’s a universal emotion that you try to avoid, but sometimes it gets the best of you. Stress might seem like an inevitable inconvenience, but if left untreated, it can have detrimental effects on your health.

Unmitigated stress costs money, accelerates aging, and shortens lifespan. This is exacerbated for professionals working in high-stress environments. For instance, first responders like police officers live 21 years less than the average person due to stress and anxiety¹. 

Common relief tactics are counterintuitive. If you were to Google the best stress relief solutions for professionals, you would get a list of things like meditation, deep breathing, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, supplements, and other various techniques. The problem with these techniques is that they take so much time, effort, and discipline to practice. Simply put, it’s hard to step aside from their work days and spend 30 minutes meditating.

With little to no time, professionals might search for quick relief in pills. But these come with mind-numbing side effects, make you feel like a zombie, and can become quickly addicting. We’re on the hunt for stress relief that works fast, is deeply effective, requires little to no effort, integrates seamlessly into your lifestyle, and has no side effects. We compared the top 4 stress relief mechanisms — which one checks all the boxes? 

VeRelief^® Prime by Hoolest 

VeRelief Prime is a vagus nerve stimulator for accelerating stress and anxiety relief. Specifically, the VeRelief Prime targets the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve and the Great Auricular Nerve just under the ear. By targeting these areas, VeRelief calms the “Fight or Flight” response in the nervous system. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve projects directly into the emotional control centers of the brain, making it the best choice for reducing stress and state-anxiety backed by clinical studies. 

Common stress relief tactics offer momentary relief, but don’t account for the long run. The VeRelief can be used daily for 1-10 minutes to increase vagal tone and improve your ability to handle future stress. 

With varying levels of intensity, up to 16mA, VeRelief delivers fast and effective calming. It includes two slow breathing modes for enhanced vagal activation and deeper relaxation, and two protocols for helping manage headache and nausea that often accompany stress and anxiety.

As for the actual build of the product, the VeRelief Prime utilizes patented dry gel tips that operate as a massage upon use. Contrary to other most common products, it does not require any gel to be applied to the skin and cleaned up after use. The patented dry hydrated gel tips allow for enhanced comfort and no cleanup. 

When it comes to stress, accessibility and convenience is key. Unlike some devices that require an app to be used, no app is needed with VeRelief. Just pull out the device and use it in any situation. By being wire-free and compact, it’s portable and easy to access so every high-stress professional can have calm on command, in any environment. 

The VeRelief Prime starter pack goes for $399, which includes: The VeRelief Prime, 3 pairs of gel tips, VeRelief Soothing Gel, Gel Rehydration Solution, 5 unique modes of operation, a book of protocols for a variety of use cases, and a support team of real people ready to hop on a call with you anytime. This price has a 60-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty. For $11/month, you can subscribe for additional gel tips. Compared to Clinical-grade vagal nerve stimulators that can cost thousands of dollars in the long-term, VeRelief Prime is affordable and effective. 

Truvaga™ 350

Truvaga™ 350 is also a vagus nerve stimulator, designed to to address stress, enhance sleep, and promote calmness and mental clarity. You can control the intensity level to find what is comfortable for you. 

The vagus nerve is a gateway to overall calmness, but it’s important to understand which part devices are targeting and the effects of that. Truvaga™ 350 targets the cervical branch of the vagus nerve. Studies show this nerve has projections to the heart and is commonly located between the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein². VeRelief Prime targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, which only projects to the emotional regulation centers of the brain³.

Truvaga™ 350’s intensity levels are adjustable, but the sessions are all the same — the Truvaga™ 350 only offers two-minute sessions. According to the website, consistent use is key for optimal results. Some users may require 2-3 weeks of consistent use to see noticeable results.

The clinically-backed Truvaga™ 350 technology employs a patented waveform, which provides a gentle experience. However, you will likely feel muscle contractions at the application site and may experience a lip pull. These are normal and subside after a session is complete. Truvaga™ 350 uses a conductive gel that needs to be wiped off your neck and the device after each use. You can only use Truvaga™ 350-provided gel and must contact customer support to purchase more⁴. 

Truvaga™ 350 is a compact and portable device. Similar to the Verelief Prime, it requires no apps, charging cords, or other attachments needed. Just apply the provided gel to your neck and/or device and use it. 

Although it’s convenient, the longevity is more limited compared to other devices. The Truvaga™ 350 only allows for 350 sessions. It is recommended to use it once in the morning and at night, meaning the device lasts approximately 6 months if used twice per day. At a price of $299, this cost can rack up when having to buy a replacement. 

Using the 30-day money-back guarantee you can try out the device to see if it’s right for you. Truvaga™ 350 is ideal for those trying vagus nerve stimulation for the first time or who anticipate using it for a shorter duration.

Pulsetto™

Pulsetto™ takes a different approach than the other devices. It wraps around the neck to stimulate the vagus nerve on both sides to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Specifically, it targets both sides of the cervical vagus nerve at the same time. While one might have concerns about this approach, we do believe Pulsetto™ is safe for reasons explained below. 

Pulsetto™ requires a gel that must be applied to the skin and/or device before use, as well as pairing with the Pulsetto™ app to use the device. Via the app, you can choose your desired program depending on your stress needs, such as a burnout mode. The sessions vary depending on the mode, from four to 20 minutes. According to the website’s FAQ page, the majority of users experience relief from stress in 3-4 weeks. 

From the website, it appears Pulsetto™ has not been clinically proven in any IRB-approved studies. There is only one observational study with 15 people that used 2mA of current. In several published cervical vagus nerve stimulation studies, placebo (fake) devices use 8mA or higher because it was strong enough for the patient to feel, but not strong enough to stimulate the vagus nerve^5-7. Pulsetto™ does not list what their power output is, but their one study suggests it is lower than what is typically used in placebo studies and therefore we believe it is safe to use. We are unsure of the effectiveness.

One thing we find concerning about Pulsetto™ is their citation of auricular vagus nerve stimulation studies to support the effectiveness of their own product, which does not stimulate the auricular vagus nerve. We also noticed the product is always on sale for a massive discount, suggesting the MSRP is intentionally inflated and the discounts are disingenuous. This is validated by observing the product’s MSRP listing on Amazon.

Stress can’t wait, which is why it’s imperative to adopt a fast and immediately accessible solution. Pulsetto™ requires setting connecting to the app in order to operate and is too bulky to fit in one’s pocket. However, the battery life lasts about a week, so it doesn’t require daily charging.  

Pulsetto’s™ suggested retail price changes often, but is typically in the $450-$550 range. Replacement gel costs $59 on their website, or $47 when you subscribe. The same amount can be purchased on Amazon for as little as $24. Pulsetto comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it may be worth testing out for individuals sensitive to higher powered devices.

TENS Ear Clips 

Where other devices rest on the neck or under the ear, TENS ear clips stimulates the vagus nerve by clipping onto various regions on the ear. It targets the same branch of the vagus nerve as VeRelief, but in a much smaller area. 

Before use, some ear clip electrodes require soaking in a wet saline solution, and others use a dry conductive silicone that can cause strong sharpness during use⁸. You then decide the intensity level and duration of the session. Smaller stimulation area means results take longer to get. Published research suggests these devices take 20-30 minutes multiple times daily for weeks to notice the effects.. 

As for comfort levels, the stimulation is a buzzing feeling. Since it’s worn on the ears, the ear clip electrodes can cause pain if the user fails to use a conductive solution or gel⁹. Irritation could further exacerbate stress and get in the way of improvement. 

Similarly, they may not be convenient for working professionals who need stress relief on tap. TENS ear clips use wires that plug into a separate machine, which may make them inconvenient for individuals on the go. To operate the ear clips, you use a handheld device that can go in your pocket, but the ear clips themself are not discreet and require a wired connection. 

TENS ear clips are the cheapest at a price of around $18.99. However, you get what you pay for at that price. Investing in higher-price devices means you are getting higher quality. With TENS ear clips, you get smaller stimulation with less overall improvement to stress and anxiety. 

Bottom Line 

	VeRelief Prime	Truvaga™ 350	Pulsetto™	TENS Ear Clips
Targeted Areas of Vagus Nerve	The Auricular Branch and the Great Auricular Nerve	Cervical Branch	Cervical Branch (both sides)	Auricular Branch
Price	$349	$299	$450-550	$18.99
IRB-Approved
Dry Gel Tips (no cleanup)
Session Duration	As long as you want	2 minutes	4-20 minutes	As long as you want
Trial Period	60 days	30 days	30 days	30 days

When it comes to using vagus nerve stimulation for stress, there are factors to consider. Devices have the most value when they are easy to use, portable, effective, and provide longevity. This is especially true for working professionals who need stress relief on the go. 

VeRelief Prime checks all the boxes. It’s both portable and convenient with easy-to-use technology that does not require the user to clean off any liquid or gel after use. There are no wires, app, or gel needed. In our evaluation, it was also the most effective. One device only allowed for short sessions and the others didn’t provide both immediate benefits as well as what we would consider to be discreet operation. VeRelief Prime targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, an ideal nerve target for emotional regulation. It can be used daily for 1-10 minutes to increase vagal tone, provide instant stress recovery, and improve your ability to handle future stress. Although it’s pricier up front, it pays off in the long run because you don’t have to pay for replacement devices or expensive gel. It’s long-lasting and worth the money.

Sources

1. Violanti JM, Fekedulegn D, Hartley TA, Andrew ME, Gu JK, Burchfiel CM. Life expectancy in police officers: a comparison with the U.S. general population. Int J Emerg Ment Health. 2013;15(4):217-28. PMID: 24707585; PMCID: PMC4734369.
2. Cunningham, C. J., & Martínez, J. L. (2021). The Wandering Nerve: Positional Variations of the Cervical Vagus Nerve and Neurosurgical Implications. World Neurosurgery, 156, 105–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2021.09.090
3. De Smet, S., Baeken, C., Seminck, N., Tilleman, J., Carrette, E., Vonck, K., & Vanderhasselt, M.-A. (2021). Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation enhances cognitive emotion regulation. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 145, 103933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2021.103933
4. Truvaga^TM 350 user manual
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6. Gurel, N. Z., Huang, M., Wittbrodt, M. T., Jung, H., Ladd, S. L., Shandhi, M. H., Ko, Y.-A., Shallenberger, L., Nye, J. A., Pearce, B., Vaccarino, V., Shah, A. J., Bremner, J. D., & Inan, O. T. (2020). Quantifying acute physiological biomarkers of transcutaneous cervical vagal nerve stimulation in the context of psychological stress. Brain Stimulation, 13(1), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2019.08.002
7. Muthulingam, J. A., Olesen, S. S., Hansen, T. M., Brock, C., Drewes, A. M., & Frøkjær, J. B. (2021). Cervical transcutaneous vagal neuromodulation in chronic pancreatitis patients with chronic pain: A randomised sham controlled clinical trial. PLoS ONE, 16(2), e0247653. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247653
8. Tyler, W. J., Wyckoff, S., Hearn, T., & Hool, N. (2019). The Safety and Efficacy of Transdermal Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation Earbud Electrodes for Modulating Autonomic Arousal, Attention, Sensory Gating, and Cortical Brain Plasticity in Humans. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/732529
9. Badran, B. W., Yu, A. B., Adair, D., Mappin, G., DeVries, W. H., Jenkins, D. D., George, M. S., & Bikson, M. (2019). Laboratory Administration of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS): Technique, Targeting, and Considerations. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), 143, e58984. https://doi.org/10.3791/58984