Cluster Headaches

From Biohacking Wiki

{{subst:medical condition}}

Treatment Options

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation

Gammacore: https://gammacore.com/

Using a TENS Unit

The studies vary slightly in their settings, but the most common settings seem to be 20-30Hz and 200-250 microseconds, I've seen the following combinations:

25Hz, 250 microseconds (http://www.cerbomed.com/upload/Poster_fMRI_evidence_Komisaruk.pdf) 30Hz, 200 microseconds (http://www.brainstimjrnl.com/article/S1935-861X(14)00260-5/abstract) 20Hz, 100 microseconds (http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3537743)


Anecdotes

VNS via a TENS machine is proving very helpful, so I wanted to share what I've learnt.

1. Start with lower settings. I'm using pulse rate = 20Hz, pulse width = 100 microseconds, continuous mode.

2. Turn the intensity up until you can just feel it. "Just feel it" could mean a pleasant tingling sensation in the ears, or a pleasant "wave" come over you.

3. If you experience a prickling in the ears or it feels uncomfortable in any way, then turn the intensity down until it's comfortable again. You many need to turn it down more than once when you have it on. If it makes you feel unwell or gives you a headache, turn it off.

4. Start with little and often. I've been using it 4 times a day, 15 minutes per session. Today I've moved up to 20 minutes per session.