New Research on Neuro-Emotional Technique and Chronic Pelvic Pain Published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Chronic pelvic pain is one of those conditions that leaves women caught in a frustrating loop—relentless discomfort, mounting stress, and a constant search for solutions that rarely get to the root. It impacts everything from sitting and driving to intimacy and emotional well-being. And yet, what’s often overlooked is how much the brain—not just the pelvis—is driving the pain.

A groundbreaking new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology brings us closer to understanding the missing piece: the emotional brain’s role in chronic pain. Even more exciting, it highlights a powerful tool to interrupt that loop—Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET).

If you're unfamiliar with NET, think of it as a blend of Eastern wisdom and modern neuroscience. It’s a structured, mind-body approach that helps untangle emotional patterns—often rooted in stress or trauma—that can keep the body stuck in pain cycles. NET combines principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine, applied kinesiology, and cognitive behavioral techniques to help patients process and release these patterns.

In this controlled trial, researchers followed 26 women suffering from chronic pelvic pain. Half received five sessions of NET, while the other half continued with standard care. Both groups underwent high-resolution brain imaging (resting-state fMRI) and completed assessments of pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life before and after the intervention.

Here’s where it gets fascinating.

The women who received NET didn’t just feel better—they showed real, measurable shifts in their brain function. Specifically, brain scans revealed decreased connectivity between key areas like the amygdala (the emotional command center), the cerebellum, and sensory regions responsible for processing pain.

What does that mean? Their brains became less reactive. Those hyperconnected circuits—ones that amplify pain, anxiety, and distress—quieted down. As a result, patients reported lower pain intensity, less interference in daily life, improved mood, and reduced anxiety.

This study confirms something functional medicine has long recognized: chronic pain isn’t just a physical issue. It’s a deeply intertwined mind-body experience. When we ignore the emotional and neurological contributions, we miss opportunities to truly heal.

The beauty of NET lies in its simplicity and power. By working with the nervous system, emotional memories, and stress responses, it helps patients move out of survival mode. It recalibrates the brain’s alarm system, allowing the body to shift from fight-or-flight to rest, repair, and resilience.

Of course, more large-scale research is needed to further validate these results. But the implications are clear. Non-invasive, drug-free techniques like NET hold incredible potential—especially for women who've tried everything and are still searching for relief.

If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic pelvic pain, it's worth exploring therapies that address not just the physical symptoms, but the emotional and neurological undercurrents beneath them. 

This is the future of medicine—treating the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Because when we heal the mind and body together, the results speak for themselves.

Research on Neuro-Emotional Technique and Chronic Pelvic Pain Published: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01443615.2025.2472767#abstract