Take Charge
of your anxiety
FDA-cleared and preferred over medication.
Take Charge
of your anxiety
A New Way to Manage Anxiety
If you’ve ever experienced anxiety, you’re not alone. Nearly 264 million people worldwide have an anxiety disorder, the World Health Organization reports. And an estimated 30% of adults will suffer from anxiety at some point in their lifetime.
Anxiety can be crippling for many people, but thankfully, medications and other more aggressive therapies are not the only option.
For those seeking more control of their anxiety treatment, Alpha-Stim® is an anxiety relief device that uses CES therapy to provide a safe, effective, and easy option
Significant Anxiety Relief without Medication
Overall Decrease in Anxiety
In clinical trials, patients reported an average of 61% less anxiety immediately after using the CES therapy. After 5 weeks, that average was 94%.1
Results in 1 Application
In a study of preoperative anxiety, Alpha-Stim recipients reported significantly less anxiety after one 20-minute treatment.2
Greater
Relief
In clinical studies, patients using Alpha-Stim reported greater relief from anxiety than patients taking drugs, all without side effects.
How Does Alpha-Stim Treat Anxiety?
Alpha-Stim is a non-invasive, non-drug cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) device that is FDA cleared to safely and effectively treat anxiety and insomnia. The device uses a unique, patented waveform of electrical current to balance the electrochemical function of the brain in order to improve users’ emotional and physiological states.
Patients apply earclip electrodes that deliver a low-amplitude, rhythmic current to the brain, which helps regulate brain cells’ electrochemical signals and return them to a balanced, normal functioning state.
Many users see results after their first treatment. And because the effects of Alpha-Stim build on the progress of the last session, many Alpha-Stim users see increased levels of relief over time. Moreover, because CES therapy does not involve any chemicals, Alpha-Stim users are free from the worry of dependence and withdrawal.
See if Alpha-Stim is Right for You.
Try the Alpha-Stim anxiety relief device today. Schedule a telehealth consult below with a licensed health care provider to get started.
What People Say About Alpha-Stim for Anxiety
See what people are saying about using Alpha-Stim for anxiety relief and improved mental well-being.
Commonly Asked Questions about Alpha-Stim for Anxiety
We’ve gotten a few questions over the years about how Alpha-Stim works for anxiety. See below for some of our most common questions and answers.
How effective is Alpha-Stim AID for treating anxiety and insomnia?
Nine out of 10 patients reported significant improvements in these conditions. Alpha-Stim AID has been proven effective by numerous clinical research studies. You can view clinical research and data here.
Is Alpha-Stim more expensive than other treatments for anxiety or insomnia?
Over 5 years, someone who takes medication – such as pain pills, antidepressants and sleep aids – or does other treatments typically used to treat anxiety or insomnia can pay thousands of dollars more than someone using Alpha-Stim.
How long will I have to use Alpha-Stim?
Alpha-Stim effectively controls pain, anxiety, and insomnia. For some conditions, results are experienced immediately and for others a small amount of time and persistence provides needed relief and results. Learn more about how long to use Alpha-Stim and when to decrease usage here.
Does Alpha-Stim really work for anxiety?
Alpha-Stim has been proven effective at treating anxiety through clinical evidence spanning decades of research (studies, clinical trials, and more). In fact, in clinical studies, patients using Alpha-Stim reported greater relief from anxiety than patients taking drugs, all without lasting side effects.
Many people using Alpha-Stim send us messages saying how well it works and report feeling calmer and more relaxed, experiencing less anxiety, and sleeping better. Some people find immediate relief with Alpha-Stim, while some need a few weeks to notice a significant change.
Is Alpha-Stim a VNS device?
No. Alpha-Stim is a CES device. Due to the similarity in using an electrical current or earclip electrode application, Alpha-Stim can commonly be misidentified as a VNS device or auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) devices.
And while Alpha-Stim does interact with the vagus nerve, there are key differences in the types of stimulation Alpha-Stim utilizes and the brain regions it targets.
Does Alpha-Stim Stimulate the Vagus Nerve?
Yes.
Alpha-Stim isn’t specifically designed to target the vagus nerve like dedicated vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices. However, its cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) does engage neural pathways that include vagal function (the vagus nerve), which may contribute to some of the clinical benefits seen with the device.
To better understand how Alpha-Stim works, Ryan Gober, PhD, the Medical Science Liaison at Electromedical Products International, explains:
“Alpha-Stim uses a low intensity, patented waveform delivered through bilateral earclip electrodes to modulate cortical activity in the temporal lobe of the brain and to stimulate nearby key cranial nerves, including the vagus, trigeminal, and vestibulocochlear nerves that project to deeper subcortical brain structures. Through these two synergistic mechanisms, Alpha-Stim has been shown to modulate activity in the default mode network (DMN), which is widely reported to exhibit altered connectivity in a number of mental health conditions, including anxiety and insomnia.”
Do I need both Alpha-Stim and a VNS device?
The short answer? No. See why below.
VNS devices are designed specifically to target the vagus nerve, whereas Alpha-Stim works in a broader capacity through cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) delivered via the earlobes. This approach interacts with vagal pathways along with other cranial nerve networks, which is part of why Alpha-Stim is FDA-cleared for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and pain only, with approval for depression outside of the United States.
To better understand how Alpha-Stim works, Ryan Gober, PhD, the Medical Science Liaison at Electromedical Products International, explains:
“Alpha-Stim uses a low intensity, patented waveform delivered through bilateral earclip electrodes to modulate cortical activity in the temporal lobe of the brain and to stimulate nearby key cranial nerves, including the vagus, trigeminal, and vestibulocochlear nerves that project to deeper subcortical brain structures. Through these two synergistic mechanisms, Alpha-Stim has been shown to modulate activity in the default mode network (DMN), which is widely reported to exhibit altered connectivity in a number of mental health conditions, including anxiety and insomnia.”
Does Alpha-Stim interact with the vagus nerve?
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and VNS devices are often promoted for improving mood, emotional regulation, depression, and pain.
Alpha-Stim does interact with the vagus nerve, but there are key differences in the types of stimulation Alpha-Stim utilizes and the brain regions it targets.
- Alpha-Stim delivers its patented cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) waveform through small clips on both earlobes. While the stimulation begins at the ear, the resulting electric fields extend beyond the clip sites to influence nearby cranial nerves, including the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.
- What sets Alpha-Stim apart from a VNS device is that its fields don’t stop at the nerves outside the skull; they also pass through the bone to reach cortical layers of the brain. This direct brain engagement allows Alpha-Stim to modulate activity in brain regions such as the temporal lobe and in broader brain networks that are often dysregulated in anxiety and insomnia.
- By influencing both cranial nerves and cortical circuits, Alpha-Stim offers a distinct mechanism that helps normalize signaling in functional networks tied to these conditions.
Is Alpha-Stim better for anxiety than a VNS device?
Regulatory authorization differs across VNS and non-VNS devices. Alpha-Stim is FDA-cleared (Class II) with defined, labeled indications, whereas other non-invasive products are often marketed in the United States solely as general-wellness devices (GWDs) and are not cleared to treat medical conditions. Alpha-Stim CES is cleared for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, and Alpha-Stim M’s MET technology is cleared for pain management.
In practical terms, FDA clearance means the device has been reviewed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements for specific medical indications, and the manufacturer has provided supporting evidence—including performance testing and clinical data—demonstrating that the device meets FDA expectations for safety, performance, and labeling. In contrast, general wellness products are not reviewed or cleared by the FDA for specific medical claims or indications.
Always verify each device’s clearance, labeling, and supporting evidence when choosing a treatment option.
As such, Alpha-Stim offers a unique combination of mechanistic overlap with vagus nerve–targeting devices and the regulatory assurance of FDA clearance for clinical use. (Outside the United States, Alpha-Stim is approved for treating anxiety, insomnia, and pain, as well as depression.)
In conclusion, clinical research suggests Alpha-Stim CES works via a multimodal mechanism involving indirect stimulation of the vagus nerve as well as cortical brain regions that have been linked to anxiety and insomnia.
Moreover, Alpha-Stim is evidence-based, with numerous clinical studies supporting FDA clearance to treat symptoms of anxiety and insomnia as reflected in the device’s labeling. This combined stimulation of cranial nerves and cortical brain regions, along with differences in regulatory authorization, distinguishes Alpha-Stim from devices focused solely on non-invasive VNS/aVNS.
Is Alpha-Stim the same as other CES devices?
No. Not all CES devices are the same. And this is why researching a device is critical. Below are some things that make Alpha-Stim stand out from other CES devices in the market:
- Alpha-Stim uses a patented waveform, making the stimulation it uses distinct from other CES devices.
- Decades of clinical evidence demonstrates safety and long-term efficacy.
- Alpha-Stim delivers cumulative results that build over time for long-lasting anxiety, insomnia & depression* relief.
- Alpha-Stim stimulates the brain to normalize the pathological signaling in the default mode network that is observed in psychiatric disorders, providing rapid, effective, and lasting symptom relief without the side effects of medication [In simpler terms, Alpha-Stim CES modulates the brain network associated with anxiety, insomnia, and depression to help bring it back to “normal”]
- Alpha-Stim also offers the ability to treat pain. This is another differentiator between other CES devices and Alpha-Stim.
Should I use Alpha-Stim along with another device, like a VNS device?
If you’re considering stacking Alpha-Stim with another device, pause.
Alpha-Stim is FDA-cleared to treat anxiety, insomnia, and pain, making it a strong primary treatment option. You can use Alpha-Stim along with other treatment modalities, but using it along with a VNS device or other CES device is not necessary.
See why you don’t need a VNS device and Alpha-Stim >
Alpha-Stim is a great option to use to complement TMS though! See why here.
Speak with your healthcare provider before using Alpha-Stim alongside other modalities or treatments. There has been no evidence of drug interaction in 40 years of research and use of Alpha-Stim. Medication change is a decision that should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE WITH ALPHA-STIM
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A new way to treat anxiety is here, with no medications or lasting side effects.
Sources:
- 1 Barclay TH, Barclay RD. A clinical Trial of cranial electrotherapy stimulation for anxiety and comorbid depression. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2014;164:171-177. Presented at the American Psychological Association National Conference, Honolulu, July 2013.
2 Lee S-H, Kim W-Y, Lee C-H, et al. Effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation on preoperative anxiety, pain and endocrine response. Journal of International Medical Research. 2013; 41(6) 1788–1795.