Monday 5 September 2022 10:52 PM How tickling your ear could beat indigestion trends now

A device that tickles a nerve in the ear could treat chronic indigestion. Stimulating the nerve with a mild burst of electricity cuts some symptoms by up to a third, according to a new study.

The clip-on gadget targets the vagus nerve, the body’s largest, which runs from the brain to the colon, and is involved in regulating digestion, mood, blood pressure and breathing.

Stimulation of this nerve has been used previously to tackle conditions such as high blood pressure and depression.

Usually it involves implanting a matchbox-sized generator in the chest and wiring it to the nerve where it passes from the chest into the neck. The patient activates the generator by waving a hand-held device over it.

The advantage of the ear tickler is that it does the same job without doctors having to surgically implant a device.

Scientists at Nanjing Medical University in China used the device to treat 36 patients with functional dyspepsia, a chronic form of indigestion thought to affect 10 to 30 per cent of adults at some time in their life.

Symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, excessive belching or nausea after meals and an early feeling of fullness when eating.

While it’s not clear what causes it, women seem to be more at risk. Common triggers include painkillers such as ibuprofen, smoking and anxiety or depression.

The stomach is meant to relax and expand to

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