Meghan Markle Turns To Neurotech For Stress Relief
In this issue: The Duchess of Sussex is seen wearing a so-called anti-stress patch, communities open respite centers for people in crisis, therapy for the formerly incarcerated, and more.
When Meghan Markle took a stroll outside earlier this month in California, it wasn't her luxury designer wear that caught the attention of celebrity watchers. It was a small blue disc—a so-called anti-stress patch—affixed to her wrist that got people talking. Created by a company called NuCalm, the product is advertised as a drug-free solution for altering your mental state. It’s “like having a remote control for your brain,” the firm claims.
Dozens of companies have introduced consumer neurotech devices that promise to manipulate brain functions, including mental health, in recent years. But research about their efficacy is sorely lacking, and they remain largely unregulated.
NuCalm was invented by G. Blake Holloway, who died at the age of 70 in 2020. He spent “30 years as a researcher in applied- and neuro- psychobiology,” according to his obituary. He was also chief science officer and founder of Solace Lifesciences, Inc., the maker of NuCalm.…