When the body’s automaticity stops working
Intranasal mechanical stimulation, or INMEST, is a new, non-invasive treatment method that mechanically stimulates nerves inside the nose. The treatment activates, among other things, the vagus nerve to balance the autonomic nervous system and thereby relieve symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. The method can influence heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and the immune system, as well as stress-related conditions and inflammation. It was developed by researchers partly affiliated with Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
This is INMEST
The vagus nerve, the body’s broadband cable, transmits signals from the parasympathetic system to various organs and regulates countless processes in the body. This includes signals that influence stress and inflammation. Medical treatment using vagus nerve stimulation is not new; in both the US and Europe, it is used for conditions such as epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis.
Current methods essentially involve sending electrical impulses—a small electric pulse to the nerves at a specific frequency. Our method achieves the same effect through the nasal nerves using an air-filled vibrating probe, which in turn affects the areas of the brain that control the autonomic nervous system.
Advantages of INMEST
It is simpler, cheaper, and lower-risk, and it opens up completely new possibilities for effectively treating autonomic diseases. The treatment can be performed by the patient at home using a handheld device, making it accessible and practical for continuous use outside a clinical setting.
From Heart Rate to the Immune System
Our experience shows that INMEST counteracts high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and promotes calmer breathing—essentially a form of anti-stress effect. But we have also observed that repeated INMEST treatments produce deeper effects. In particular, the body’s immune system is affected. Regulatory T cells, sometimes called the immune system’s peacekeepers, respond to the treatment. This suggests that INMEST has anti-inflammatory effects similar to the electrical nerve stimulation currently used in healthcare.
But can vibrations in the nose really alleviate diseases in completely different parts of the body? Yes, our research results indicate that they can.
Read more on our website, where we explain the method in detail, what current science says, and how the autonomic nervous system works.
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”A method with endless possibilities!”
The idea behind INMEST is so simple – yet it could lead to a revolution
Autonomic dysfunction has many causes and affects hundreds of thousands in Sweden alone. If ongoing research into INMEST confirms what we have already observed, there may be almost no limit to how many people could benefit from it.
Since its founding in 2017, the foundation has contributed funding and conducted several research studies, including INMEST as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and dry eye disease (DED).
But what exactly happens in the body with INMEST? Read on, and we will try to explain.
…and below, Jan-Erik Juto explains how it all began.
A foundation for research
How it all began
Vagus nerve stimulation has been used for over 100 years, but never through the nose – until now. Jan-Erik discovered that the nervous system affects inflammation and developed a simple, yet promising treatment.
“”It seemed that the nasal mucous membranes could respond to levels of moisture and mold that were far below the thresholds that were considered relevant at the time. But there was no good way to objectively measure the swelling.”
What started with an aquarium pump has today become a method being explored for nasal congestion, migraines, and autoimmune diseases.
Why a foundation for Inmest?
The INMEST Foundation was established to make people’s lives better. Today, there are many treatment methods for conditions associated with autonomic dysfunction, but they are often complicated or have troublesome side effects. INMEST is a treatment for autonomic dysfunction which has no known significant side effects and which the patient can perform at home.
We are convinced that the method can provide the opportunity for a better life for many patients, both in Sweden and the rest of the world. Therefore, we want to spread the knowledge about INMEST.
Scientific studies are needed for the method to have an impact. We carry out studies under our own auspices, and fund studies carried out by others. But research costs a lot of money. Therefore, one of our most important tasks is to raise money for research.
Read more about the foundation’s work and how medical studies are conducted.
Would you like to contribute to the research?
