*The FDA has not approved intravenous ketamine or NAD+ for the treatment of any psychiatric or pain condition. These articles reference off-label use. Like all medical treatments, the discussed therapies carry risks and benefits. Speak with a doctor at Clarus Health to learn if these therapies may be right for you.
Neuroplasticity Explained: The Root of PTSD Healing
What is Neuroplasticity and how can it heal the root cause of PTSD with Ketamine Therapy and the Stellate Ganglion Block?
Neuroplasticity refers to your body's potential to grow new neurons. Like any powerful tool, neuroplasticity can be beneficial or harmful. Learn how neuroplasticity is fundamental to treating PTSD with Ketamine and Stellate Ganglion Blocks.
What is Neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is the growth and adaption of nerves. Nerves are everywhere in your body, and neuroplasticity can occur in all your organs, especially your heart, gut, and brain. It is also called neurogenesis ("neuron growth") and synaptogenesis ("adaption of synapses").
Neuroplasticity is Key to Healing PTSD
A hallmark of PTSD is "improperly stored" traumatic memories. Unlike normal, or mundane, memories, when these traumatic experiences are retrieved, they cause hyperarousal and flashbacks. Re-wiring the nerves responsible for storing these traumatic experiences is important to addressing the root causes of PTSD. The process of re-wiring these nerves is called neuroplasticity and is foundational to healing PTSD.
Ketamine is a Powerful Neuroplasticity Promoter
Ketamine is an anesthetic that has powerful neuroplasticity properties, making it useful in treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
PTSD is viewed as a "disconnection syndrome" where critical nerve connections are disconnected in the hippocampus (the memory storage parts of the brain). IV Ketamine is a strong promoter of nerve growth by releasing "brain derived neurotrophic growth factor" (BDNF). This neuroplasticity is believed to explain the improvements in memory in patients with PTSD. Fundamentally, healing memory is critical to healing PTSD because the traumatic experiences are stored "improperly" in our brain.
Healing where the traumatic memory is stored is the first step to healing the root of PTSD
Stellate Ganglion Block: Rewiring Heart Neurons are Critical in Healing
The heart is constantly undergoing neuroplasticity. It is critical to conditions like heart failure and heart transplantation because nerves are constantly adapting to new body conditions.
"Nerve growth factors" are compounds that promote nerve growth. Injection of nerve growth factors in the Stellate Ganglion can have a healing effects on nerve transmission in the heart.
High stress levels affect nerve growth, and this neuroplasticity is controlled (in part) by the Stellate Ganglion. Paradoxically, some nerve growth actually increases hyperarousal and "fight-flight" responses. Blocking the Stellate Ganglion reduces this harmful nerve growth, and in doing so, can significantly reduce fight-flight nerve transmission. In addition to reducing harmful nerve growth factor, the Stellate Ganglion Block also reduces the "fight-flight" response through the vagal nerve.
Learn More About Your Potential to Heal From PTSD
Neuroplasticity and healing is within reach. You deserve to grow and heal from PTSD with your innate healing potential. Schedule a free consultation with Clarus Health to learn if IV Ketamine Therapy and the Stellate Ganglion Block may be effective in uncovering your healing capacity.
Anthony Kaveh MD
Dr. Kaveh is a Stanford and Harvard-trained anesthesiologist and integrative medicine specialist. He has over 800,000 followers on social media and has guided hundreds of patients throughout transformative healing experiences. He is an authority on Ketamine, NAD, and SGB therapies. He is a registered continuing education lecturer in the Bay Area.
