Over the past decade, our team has been at the forefront of research on drug-free pain management. This includes doing clinical trials and developing medical hypotheses. The development of Relief is the culmination of these efforts.

The science behind Relief

Frontiers in Neurology, 2022:

Meditative-based diaphragmatic breathing vs. vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of fibromyalgia—A randomized controlled trial: Body vs. machine

Charles Ethan Paccione, Audun Stubhaug, Lien My Diep, Leiv Arne Rosseland, Henrik Børsting Jacobsen

Pain Reports, 2022

The indirect impact of heart rate variability on cold pressor pain tolerance and intensity through psychological distress in individuals with chronic pain: the Tromsø Study

Charles E Paccione, Stephen Bruehl, Lien My Diep, Leiv A Rosseland, Audun Stubhaug, Henrik B Jacobsen

Heart rate variability indirectly affects pain tolerance and intensity through felt psychological distress in chronic pain patients, suggesting that psychological health plays a big role in pain perception.

Pain Reports, 2021

Pain matters for central sensitization: sensory and psychological parameters in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Stefanie Rehm, Juliane Sachau, Jana Hellriegel, Julia Forstenpointner, Henrik Børsting Jacobsen, Pontus Harten, Janne Gierthmühlen, Ralf Baron

Patients with fibromyalgia experience heightened central sensitization, which is driven by both sensory and psychological symptoms, emphasizing the need for treatments addressing these dual aspects.

Trials, 2020

Motivational nondirective resonance breathing versus transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of fibromyalgia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Charles Ethan Paccione, Lien My Diep, Audun Stubhaug, Henrik Børsting Jacobsen

Frontiers in Psychology, 2019

Motivational non-directive resonance breathing as a treatment for chronic widespread pain

Charles Ethan Paccione, Henrik Børsting Jacobsen

Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 2020

Pain psychology in the 21st century: lessons learned and moving forward

Flink, I. K., Reme, S., Jacobsen, H. B., Glombiewski, J., Vlaeyen, J. W., Nicholas, M. K., ... & Boersma, K.

Scientific Reports, 2021

Comparing objective cognitive impairments in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia

Jacobsen, H. B., Stiles, T. C., Stubhaug, A., Landrø, N. I., & Hansson, P.

European Journal of Pain, 2019

Neuropsychological functions of verbal recall and psychomotor speed significantly affect pain tolerance

Jacobsen, H. B., Stubhaug, A., Schirmer, H., Inge Landrø, N., Wilsgaard, T., Mathiesen, E. B., & Nielsen, C. S.

Brain Communications, 2023

Stress specifically deteriorates working memory in peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia

Jacobsen, H. B., Brun, A., Stubhaug, A., & Reme, S. E.

This study reveals that stress uniquely impairs working memory in individuals suffering from peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, suggesting that managing stress through the vagusnerve may be crucial for cognitive well-being in these conditions.

Supporting scientific insights

Pain Reports, 2024:

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation effects on chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis

Valton Costa, Anna Carolyna Gianlorenço, Maria Fernanda Andrade, Lucas Camargo, Maryela Menacho, Mariana Arias Avila, Kevin Pacheco-Barrios, Hyuke Choi, Jae-Jun Song, Felipe Fregni

Journal of anatomy, 2020:

The anatomical basis for transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Butt, M. F., Albusoda, A., Farmer, A. D., & Aziz, Q.

JAMA Psychiatry, 2022:

Effect of pain reprocessing therapy vs placebo and usual care for patients with chronic back pain: a randomized clinical trial.

Ashar, Y. K., Gordon, A., Schubiner, H., Uipi, C., Knight, K., Anderson, Z., ... & Wager, T. D.