A Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is a quick, 30 minute in office procedure that helps to dampen your body’s fight or flight response. By temporarily blocking the highway of nerves (your Stellate Ganglion) we can reset your sympathetic nervous system’s response to “triggers”.
It’s a simple procedure that hits the pause button on crisis mode and allows your nervous system to calm down.
What causes anxiety or PTSD?
Anxiety and PTSD are caused by a mis-match where our nervous system over responds to it’s environment. So principally it makes sense to treat this problem in two ways:
1) Dampen the physiological response to a stressor or trigger. A Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) can effectively do this.
2) Work with a qualified professional (Mental Health Counselor, Psychologist, etc) to gain tools to understand why you are experiencing these feelings and learn how to work around them.
Does anxiety have to be managed by taking medication?
No! anxiety and PTSD can be well treated and managed with a combination of SGB and working with a qualified professional. Taking medication is fine and sometimes necessary but in the end, it doesn’t fix your problem. Traditional methods (medications) do not address the underlying causes of anxiety or PTSD, they simply mask the symptoms by releasing the molecules missing in the body. This release is supplemental and does not address the reasons why these molecules are insufficient in the first place. The SGB treatment works to reset the fight or flight system in the body to help restore function.
What is a stellate ganglion block (SGB)?
The Stellate Ganglion is a bundle of nerves in your neck and are thought to influence fight or flight response and mediate pain signals. The response can be blocked by injecting a local anesthetic, after which some physicians have noted an improvement in depression, nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety in patients.
The Stellate Ganglion Block was first used in the United States in 1925 and has been administered millions of times since then, all across the globe. The Stellate Ganglion is a cluster of nerves that
SGB was first used for depression in 1945 in The Cleveland Clinic. With the rise of medications like Xanax and SSRI anti-depressant medication, the SGB and has been slowly forgotten about in the United States until it’s recent use by military doctors for the treatment of PTSD and anxiety.
This procedure has been in routine use across Europe by Neurotherapy practitioners in Germany and Switzerland and is a quick, well tolerated, in-office procedure that can produce lasting results. Dr. Josh Hanson, DACM in Tampa, FL has been using SGB procedures since 2015 with excellent results.
The Stellate Ganglion Block Procedure
The procedure itself is quick, taking less than a couple of minutes. A local anesthetic is injected around the Stellate Ganglion, then you hang out in the office for another 30 minutes or so. Results and relief have been seen within 30 minutes and can last from a few months to years. Results vary per patient, but with minimal risks and no major side effects, this treatment helps patients regain control of their life!
How Many SGB (Stellate Ganglion Block) Procedures Do You Recommend?
It depends on your condition, how activated your nervous system is, and how well you respond to the procedure. It’s important to note that this procedure is not a magic bullet and repeated treatment is generally necessary for lasting effects.
We generally recommend a series of 3-6 SGB procedures spaced out 10-14 days for best results.
What are the results of stellate ganglion block for anxiety and PTSD?
The research shows More than 78.6% success rates in PTSD patients compared to traditional methods. The SGB treatment resets the body’s response to a triggers and results can occur within 30 minutes post-treatment.
Can anyone else benefit from a SGB Procedure?
High functioning and performing individuals like executives may also benefit from the SGB due to a reduction in sympathetic activity which can improve strategic decision making under high stress. Dr. Josh Hanson, DACM has received this procedure and does so on a quarterly basis.
Stellate Ganglion Block – Anxiety Treatment in Tampa, FL
To determine if you’re a good candidate for the stellate ganglion block procedure, click this link to fill out our procedure candidate form. Click here to see if you’re a candidate!
