A new care pathway for menstrual health
Discover Nettle, a non-invasive brain stimulation wearable powered by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) clinically proven to reduce symptoms of PMS and menstrual pain. With zero severe side effects reported, Nettle could be a life-changing alternative for your patients.
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Empower your patients with choice
Treatments for women’s health conditions frequently entail side effects or inconsistent effectiveness, often due to inadequate testing or a lack of consideration for female physiology. Many women are actively seeking natural and non-invasive remedies for common issues like PMS and menstrual pain. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in educating and offering these solutions to your patients, enabling them to access and confidently utilise them.
Brain stimulation for menstrual symptom management offers a non-invasive, drug-free alternative that directly targets the neural pathways involved in pain and mood regulation. This approach can significantly reduce symptoms like cramps and mood swings, improving quality of life without the side effects associated with traditional medications.
Non-invasive and natural
The brain stimulation we employ provides a natural, non-invasive means of targeting pain and mood symptoms via improving brain function and plasticity in relevant regions. Through gentle modulation of neural activity using low-current electrical pulses, which is the neuron’s natural energy, it optimises brain health, and in turn cycle health, without the need for medication.
Zero severe side effects
tDCS has a track record of zero severe side effects historically, due to its non-invasive nature. Some mild side effects are occasionally reported, such as tingling and itching (usually just during the first use) and, rarely, transient headaches and nausea (which subside within 15-30 minutes). This safety focus is crucial, particularly for women who have been notoriously prescribed medications with adverse effects.
Targeted relief
Through precision design, brain stimulation devices can target specific brain regions associated with various mental and physical symptoms, while leaving the rest of the brain and body untouched. In doing so, it addresses symptoms directly at their source, enabling a more efficient and effective treatment process.
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How does Nettle work?
During the luteal phase, fluctuations occur in certain brain regions which contribute to symptoms of PMS and menstrual pain such as low mood, anxiety, brain fog and menstrual cramps.
Nettle uses a type of non-invasive brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to adminster safe and small electrical pulses to the brain regions where these fluctuations occur. It is able to target these regions via the placement of the electrodes on the headband, one targeting the dorsolateral preftontal cortext (DLPFC) and the other targeting the insula via your motor cortex (M1).
Increases neuronal excitability
Regenerates neural pathways
Rebalances activity in the brain
Modulating Anxiety and Functional Capacity with Anodal tDCS Over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Primary Dysmenorrhea
The purpose of this trial was to examine the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on anxiety and functionality in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. The study demonstrated significant improvement in mood for 84% of users, concluding that tDCS appears to be an effective therapeutic approach for improving anxiety and functionality in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
The purpose of this trial was to explore the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the motor cortex (M1) on pain, mood, and physical performance in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM). Over the course of one week, non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS) reduced pain symptoms in 89% of participants, offering preliminary evidence of tDCS's potential in managing menstrual pain.
Modelling and Preliminary Clinical Validation of Home-based Menstrual Neuromodulation Therapy
Our study with Nettle measured the impact of brain stimulation on both pain and mood symptoms by targeting both the M1 and DLPFC during the five sessions our users underwent. In just one month’s use Nettle, results showed a 53% reduction in pain, a 34% improvement in mood, and an 11% improvement in function. This lays the groundwork for further research into Nettle, particularly over a three-month period, during which we anticipate further improvements in symptoms due to neuroplasticity effects.
Get our guide
Request a copy of our detailed guide for healthcare practitioners and get in touch with us to learn more about our partnership program.
FAQs
Yes. However, Nettle needs to be applied for 20 minute-sessions daily during the late luteal phase, which makes it a high-intensity in-clinic treatment, so we recommend using Nettle in at-home settings for convenience and flexibility.
We have not run trials specifically including only women with a diagnosis of PMDD and/or PCOS. However, about 40% of women recruited for their PMS symptoms in our WIND clinical trial met the clinical diagnostic criteria for PMDD, as determined by post-hoc analyses. Our clinical trials did not collect data on existing PCOS diagnoses.
Though Nettle has been verified to offer promising benefits in managing mood symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), its efficacy for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) specifically has not been tested. However, large-scale meta-reviews have determined that there is level A (definitely effective) evidence for the use of tDCS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the treatment of MDD, and more research continues to emerge. The use of Nettle for MDD treatment should be technically similar to the use of any other tDCS equipment targeting the DLPFC, but would be considered to be “off label” in the context of Nettle’s intended use.
Though Nettle has been verified to offer promising benefits in managing menstruation-related pain through its transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) technology, its efficacy for chronic pain that is not of menstrual origin has not been clinically validated. Large-scale meta-reviews have determined that there is level B (probably effective) evidence for the use of tDCS targeting the motor cortex in the treatment of neuropathic pain, migraines, fibromyalgia and stroke rehabilitation, and more research continues to emerge. However, chronic pain can arise from various causes and might require different interventions targeting the specific mechanisms involved in each type of pain. At the moment, recommending Nettle for chronic pain unrelated to menstrual conditions is not yet supported by the current scope of clinical evidence.
Though Nettle has been verified to offer promising benefits in managing mood symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), its specific efficacy in treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has not been clinically validated. It is worth noting, however, that PMDD is severely under-diagnosed. In Samphire’s clinical trials focused on PMS, post-hoc analyses showed that 38% of women in the sample matched the clinical diagnostic criteria for PMDD even though patients believed to be experiencing only PMS symptoms.
Since Nettle's clinical validation pertains specifically to managing mood symptoms associated with PMS, it may not be appropriate to recommend it as a primary treatment for PMDD. PMDD often requires a comprehensive approach, including psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Given that Nettle is not known to have any interactions with other treatments, it may be a suitable option to incorporate into a holistic PMDD treatment plan. Before recommending Nettle or any other treatment to patients with PMDD, it's essential to consider their individual symptoms, medical history, and preferences. Consulting with a healthcare professional who specialises in PMDD management would be prudent to ensure the most appropriate and effective treatment plan for your patients.
From a technical and scientific standpoint, Nettle stimulates two regions of the brain - the DLPFC, associated with mood improvement, and the motor cortex, associated with pain relief, - while Flow Neuroscience’s device only stimulates the DLPFC, associated with mood improvement.
From an intended use perspective, Flow Neuroscience’s device is approved for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) only. Nettle is approved to assist in the management of pain relating to menstruation and mood symptoms relating to premenstrual syndrome.
Therefore, if your patients are interested in managing mood and pain symptoms, associated with menstruation, Nettle is a better fit. If your patients are interested in managing MDD only, Flow Neuroscience’s device is a better fit.
Still have questions?
Get in touch with us to learn more about Nettle and our partnership programme.