The Medical Advisor

Proper nutrition and physical activity are widely accepted tools in preventing chronic disease. However, some doctors have begun to embrace another tool: vagus nerve stimulation. Navaz Habib, a chiropractor certified in functional medicine, stresses the importance of diet and exercise, but the vagus nerve also plays a big role in his wellness strategy. He’s written two books on the subject, the most recent titled “Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve.” The book explores the research, methods, and benefits of stimulating the vagus nerve, such as inflammation control, better immunity, and more. “I’ve seen improvements in my clients from depression to concussion recovery to Parkinson’s symptoms to digestive discomfort and IBS,” Habib said. Understanding the Vagus Nerve For centuries, doctors have understood the vagus nerve to be a major nerve network in the body. The longest of the body’s 12 cranial nerves, the vagus nerve connects the brain to the abdomen and virtually everything in between. “It’s a...

Kyla, 19, from Berkeley, California, started experimenting with AI and was impressed with how much it resembled having a conversation with a human. In fact, the interactions in some ways reminded her of therapy.  Because she lacked the time and money for a real therapist, Kyla (who asked us to use her first name for privacy reasons) started using ChatGPT, the AI  technology that simulates human behavior and thinking , for mental health support, “I enjoyed that I could trauma dump on ChatGPT anytime and anywhere, for free, and I would receive an unbiased response in return along with advice on how to progress with my situation,” she told BuzzFeed News.  In a TikTok video, Kyla shared her experience with ChatGPT, including navigating a breakup and using it to process her emotions. Related: Teens Are Using Chatbots as Therapists - The New York Times (2025)   Before responding to Kyla’s typed messages, the program adds the preface: “As an AI language mode...