Arnold's nerve, or the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, supplies sensation to parts of the outer ear and ear canal; its stimulation, especially in the ear canal's posterior wall, can trigger the Arnold's reflex, causing a cough or sometimes vomiting, particularly in people with sensitive vagal nerves or chronic cough. This reflex, named for anatomist Friedrich Arnold, is a known phenomenon but more prevalent in chronic cough sufferers, suggesting a vagal neuropathy link.
These include the upper and lower airways and the distal esophagus. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve (Arnold nerve) supplies the external acoustic meatus (auditory canal) (Fig. 1). Induction of cough by tactile stimulation of the ear is known as the Arnold nerve reflex or the ear-cough reflex.
Vagus nerve dysfunction can manifest in surprisingly diverse ways. Common symptoms include chronic neck and shoulder pain, unexplained dizziness, digestive problems, anxiety, difficulty swallowing, voice changes, and persistent fatigue.
The Arnold nerve reflex is not universally present, however. In a study that used a cotton-tipped applicator to stimulate the external auditory canal to elicit the reflex, it was found to be present in only 2% of healthy adults and 25.5% of adults with chronic cough.
In both cases, the cough as well as the Arnold's nerve reflex hypersensitivity were successfully treated with gabapentin, a treatment that has previously been shown to be effective in the treatment of cough due to sensory laryngeal neuropathy (SLN).
Arnold's nerve, also known as the auricular branch or mastoid branch, of the vagus nerve (CN X) is a small sensory nerve supplying the skin of the external acoustic meatus.
Location: Located in the hollow at the base of the throat, right above the sternum (breastbone). You can easily locate this point by placing a finger where your collarbones meet. Benefits: Helps ease throat irritation, reduces coughing fits, and opens up the airways for easier breathing.
Poor posture, especially forward head posture and rounded shoulders, can put mechanical stress on the vagus nerve pathway. Physical therapy addresses these postural imbalances through targeted exercises and ergonomic education.
As an EMT, I was taught I could brush the patient's eyelashes before sticking an oral airway in their mouth, or intubating them. If they don't blink or twitch, "they don't have a gag reflex" and it's safe to go ahead and intubate.
There's no single “best” position to stimulate your vagus nerve; instead, focus on maintaining spinal alignment (like sleeping on your back with a supportive pillow) for better sleep quality.
At UCSF Health, our neurologists and neurosurgeons have expertise in implanting vagal nerve stimulators to treat seizures caused by diseases such as epilepsy.
After consumption of the caffeine-containing beverage, a transient and significant increase (P < 0.001) in spectral integrated values (areas under the curve) of high frequency power (high component, HC) was observed, and at 30 min the value was significantly greater than in controls (P < 0.02), suggesting an increase ...
Cortisone infiltrations in the back of the neck can temporarily reduce inflammation of the occipital (or Arnold) nerves for a few weeks. With Botox or botulinum toxin injections, these same muscles, when paralyzed, relieve headaches in some patients for around 2 - 3 months.
Irritation of these nerves can therefore lead to such horrific stabbing or lightning-like pharyngeal pain that it can make it hard to swallow and is associated with nausea and vomiting. The condition is called is vago-glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Massage Your Outer Ear. The outside of the ear contains a branch of the vagus nerve, called the Arnold's or Alderman's nerve, according to research. That makes vagus nerve massage something that you can do right now as you're sitting at your computer or phone.
Symptoms may include:
A new drug, the FX 322, is said to reverse hearing loss
Research is currently being undertaken by Frequency Therapeutics*, a new gel-based drug that is injected into your ear and designed to promote stem cell growth. This will regenerate and develop hair-like stereocilia cells, which are said to reverse hearing loss.
COVID-19 can damage the inner ear as well as the auditory pathway. Hearing loss may be the only symptom of COVID-19 or be a late complication of the disease due to postinfectious inflammation of the nerve tissue as a symptom of long COVID-19.
The signs of nerve damage include the following:
Here are some things that you can do to strengthen your vagus nerve:
The forbidden points—LI4, SP6, BL60, GB21, and CV3—are traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to their potential to induce labor or stimulate strong physiological reactions. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using acupressure to ensure both the safety of the mother and the baby.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Lung 9 – This acupuncture point is found on the inner forearm. Stimulating this point is believed to clear phlegm and soothe an irritating, dry cough.