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“The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) stimulates the vagus nerve using filtered music. I am a practitioner and have found it personally very helpful in improving my own ME/CFS, including increased mental and physical stamina. It also helps improve my sensory processing, mood, reduce anxiety and increases my ability to relate with others. I’ve seen great results with my clients who have autism (I’m an OT).

 

It isn’t a passive therapy like transcutaneous VNS though. The SSP is a real workout for your inner ear muscles – it literally exercises them. In addition, cognitive fatigue is a common side-effect. As such, the SSP could worsen your symptoms, depending on how severe your ME/CFS is and what your “energy envelope” is like. I have a friend with severe ME/CFS who used a similar listening program on herself, and it made her worse.

In my opinion I’d see this therapy as being potentially beneficial for mild ME/CFS if done slowly, in short sessions with rest days, and close monitoring for any deterioration. However, I’d see it as a bit risky in moderate ME/CFS and a probable “no” for severe ME/CFS. This is all hypothetical of course based on my own training and experience. Currently there’s no research in the use of the SSP for ME/CFS or Long Covid. As such we can’t say if it is safe and effective.

 

There are conditions where there are precautions for proceeding with the SSP including bipolar disorder, borderline personality, dissociative disorders, childhood trauma, conditions relating to the structure of the ear, psychosis, any kind of medical complexity (ME/CFS would sit within this realm), seizures, tinnitus, severe hearing sensitivity, and self-harm. So these are other factors to consider.

 

If you do explore this therapy, please bear in mind that the practitioner may not understand what ME/CFS is and the risks this therapy could present to you. As such, if you do proceed it is at your own risk. Is I’ve said, I have found it very helpful but I have mild ME/CFS and there are a lot of potential risks and unknowns. I’m hoping that the company that provides the SSP will invest in research so we can understand the potential application of the SSP in ME/CFS and Long Covid.”

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