Professional Spotlight: Dr. Kieran Collins on Harnessing Vagus Nerve Stimulation with the Stimpod and Rezzimax Tuner
Featured Video:
🎥 Watch Dr. Kieran Collins explain how combining the Stimpod and Rezzimax Tuner can enhance vagal nerve stimulation and help restore autonomic balance for patients with chronic pain and inflammation.
Revolutionizing Neurotherapy for Chiropractors and Physical Therapists
For many clinicians, the goal of care is to help the body restore balance, reduce pain, and heal itself. According to Dr. Kieran Collins, one of the most effective ways to do that is by addressing the autonomic nervous system—specifically, the vagus nerve.
In his featured discussion, Dr. Collins breaks down how pairing the Stimpod with the Rezzimax Tuner provides a simple, powerful method of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) that can transform patient outcomes.
“Every chronic pain pattern,” Dr. Collins explains, “is rooted in overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and underperformance of the parasympathetic system.”
For chiropractors and physical therapists, that means we’re not just treating structural dysfunction—we’re teaching the nervous system how to self-regulate.
Why the Vagus Nerve Matters
The vagus nerve—the longest cranial nerve in the human body—connects the brain to nearly every organ: the heart, lungs, gut, and beyond. It’s the primary communication line of the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for rest, repair, and restoration.
A healthy vagus nerve helps regulate:
✅ Heart rate and blood pressure
✅ Digestion and gut-brain signaling
✅ Neurotransmitter production (serotonin, acetylcholine, GABA)
✅ Inflammation control through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway
When vagal tone is low, the body becomes trapped in a sympathetic dominant state, leading to chronic pain, anxiety, fatigue, and delayed recovery.
The Rezzimax + Stimpod Rezzipe
Dr. Collins utilizes a dual-point approach to activate the vagus nerve using the Stimpod and Rezzimax Tuner:
“We stimulate two points: the Cymba Concha in the ear with the Stimpod, and the umbilical region with the Rezzimax Tuner.”
This combination targets both the cranial and visceral branches of the vagus nerve, creating a systemic parasympathetic response. The umbilical region, once the primary communication point between mother and child, remains neurologically significant and offers a direct path to influence vagal tone.
During therapy, patients are instructed to breathe slowly in through the nose and out through the mouth, syncing respiration with the parasympathetic rhythm. The result is a measurable shift toward calm, repair, and nervous system balance.
“Hacking” the Nervous System for Healing
Vagal stimulation, as Dr. Collins describes it, is like “hacking the nervous system”—a shortcut to achieving the deep parasympathetic activation that master meditators reach naturally.
“When you stimulate the vagus nerve, you’re teaching the body how to heal itself,” says Dr. Collins. “You’re upgrading its ability to rest, repair, and regulate.”
This has profound implications for practitioners. Whether you specialize in pain management, rehabilitation, or neurology-based therapy, neuromodulation tools like the Stimpod and Rezzimax Tuner can amplify the effects of manual care and movement therapy.
Through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, vagal activation reduces cytokine activity, helping the body self-modulate pain and inflammation naturally—without pharmaceutical intervention.
Case Example: Bell’s Palsy and Polyneuropathy Recovery
Dr. Collins shared a striking clinical success:
“A woman referred by a neurologist came in with Bell’s Palsy and a polyneuropathy that caused electric shocks throughout her body. After three visits combining vagal stimulation and breathing exercises, her facial paralysis resolved and the shocks disappeared. She told me, ‘I don’t feel the world pressing down on my body anymore.’”
Stories like this demonstrate that when the body’s internal communication systems are restored, dramatic healing can occur—even in chronic or complex cases.
Neurochemistry in Motion: The Brain-Gut Axis
The vagus nerve is the brain-gut superhighway. When stimulated, it triggers the production and release of neurotransmitters in the gut lining, improving mood, cognition, and nervous system tone.
Clinically, Dr. Collins has observed benefits in patients with:
- Chronic pain syndromes (fibromyalgia, failed back surgery)
- Neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)
- Mood and behavioral conditions (depression, bipolar disorder)
“Patients often describe feeling calmer and clearer after therapy,” Dr. Collins notes. “They’re more relaxed, their pain is down, and their nervous system finally feels like it can breathe.”
Integrating Breathwork and Self-Regulation
Dr. Collins also encourages clinicians to empower patients with at-home breathing exercises to maintain parasympathetic activation between sessions:
“I tell patients to breathe 25 times before getting out of bed and 25 times before going to sleep. It profoundly affects pain, mood, and overall regulation.”
For chiropractors and physical therapists, this offers an easy way to extend therapeutic benefits beyond the table—creating more resilient, self-aware patients.
Clinical Guidance and Caution
While vagal nerve stimulation is safe and transformative, it should be introduced thoughtfully.
“It’s like giving a patient the keys to a Lamborghini,” Dr. Collins explains. “You can’t just floor it without understanding how it works. Educate your patients—teach them what’s happening in their body.”
By combining neuromodulation with professional guidance, clinicians can ensure safe, effective, and empowering outcomes.
About Dr. Kieran Collins, D.C.
Dr. Kieran Collins is an internationally recognized chiropractor and educator specializing in neurophysiology and chronic pain recovery. With a focus on autonomic nervous system regulation, Dr. Collins integrates advanced neuromodulation tools such as the Stimpod and Rezzimax Tuner into his patient care.
He teaches that lasting wellness begins from the inside out—by restoring the body’s natural communication networks rather than relying solely on external interventions. Dr. Collins has trained practitioners worldwide in the use of vagal nerve stimulation, functional neurology, and integrative pain management strategies.
Key Takeaways for Clinicians
✅ The vagus nerve is central to autonomic regulation, inflammation control, and recovery.
✅ Combining Stimpod ear stimulation with Rezzimax umbilical stimulation activates parasympathetic balance.
✅ Guided breathing amplifies vagal tone and reinforces therapy effects at home.
✅ Vagal stimulation complements chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, and rehabilitation.
✅ Educating patients on autonomic balance fosters independence and long-term results.