Effective Solution For Nicotine Dependence

Effective Solution For Nicotine Dependence

Stop Smoking Today – Regain Control 

From the debilitating mental health symptoms to the desire to quit smoking, many look for alternative ways to meet their health goals and regain control. The CDC reported an estimated 34.2 million American adults smoke in the United States and of those smokers, more than 16 million live with a smoking-related disease. Of these active smokers, 70% have expressed interest in wanting to stop smoking, but in reality, only 7% manage to successfully quit. Based on these facts, tobacco use is still an issue for many, which can be attributed to the highly addictive nature of nicotine.

Nicotine dependence is linked to many conditions, like heart disease and cancer, and due to its sedative and stimulant properties, can cause a surge of adrenaline by the adrenal glands and a reduction of insulin in the pancreas. These effects lead to increased heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Additionally, nicotine is associated with many brain pathways related to the reward system, which is believed to involve the autonomic nervous system. 

The toll of nicotine dependence can leave many feeling overwhelmed, but Ketamine Health Centers is here to bring hope for a better tomorrow through life-changing techniques. 

What is a Stellate Ganglion Block?

A Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is an injection of local anesthetic (numbing medicine) using ultrasound guidance on the sympathetic nerves, located at the base of the neck. By targeting the sympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the autonomic nervous system, the body’s response to stress, also known as your “fight or flight” response, can be reset to baseline. Dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system can lead to prolonged hyper-arousal, hyper-vigilance, and stimulated PTSD related anxiety symptoms. Stellate Ganglion reduces the nerve impulses and messages sent to the brain center, thereby, providing relief in the symptoms. 

This minimally invasive procedure has low risks and no major side effects and takes less than an hour and a half! Results and relief have been seen within 30 minutes and can last from a few months to years. SGB can be used to treat many conditions such as Anxiety, Depression, Lymphedema, Nicotine Dependence, Migraines, Facial Pain, Upper Extremity Pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Post-Herpetic Neuralgia, Hot Flashes, and Hyperhidrosis. 

The overall benefits of SBG include improved quality of life, better sleeping habits, decreased alcohol and substance use, improved cognitive function, improved physical functioning or exercise capacity, and healthier relationships.

While the Stellate Ganglion is not FDA approved, the FDA has ruled that approval is not needed for this approach since SGB is a conventional procedure that has been used worldwide since 1925.

Schedule Your FREE Consultation

Here at Ketamine Health Centers, we have expert faculty to perform this procedure in the safest and most effective manner. We offer a professional and relaxing environment for the best patient experience.  If you or anyone you know would benefit from this treatment, we urge you to contact our team for a FREE consultation: 1-833-964-9750.

Amidst the Tragic Toll of Substance Abuse, KHC Provides a Path to Healing

Amidst the Tragic Toll of Substance Abuse, KHC Provides a Path to Healing

September marks Substance Abuse Awareness Month. The scope and depth of substance abuse and addiction are devastating not only for individuals and families but also for society as a whole. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. With the events and tragedies that occurred this past year, it will take years to fully see the ramifications of the events that unfolded in 2020. The economic hardship faced by millions and the many thousands of individuals grieving loved ones will leave an indelible mark around the globe. Even with our current uncertainties, Ketamine Health Centers seeks to curb the most devastating of mental conditions, including substance abuse cases.


Substance abuse is not only a crippling mental illness for society with its correlation with domestic violence and increased crime rate, but also has been associated with lost productivity and is known to cause additional stress on our health care system. It is most preventable within a social framework that allows for healthy developmental growth. Meaning, that in a society that fosters self-care and provides citizens with the tools to manage emotional and mental health concerns, there is no doubt that there would be a curb in substance abuse and addiction per capita. Many individuals fall into addiction as a result of depression, trauma, sustained stress, or social habits and when combined with a genetic predisposition, it leads one down the rabbit hole. Substance abuse, like mental health, in particular, falls along a spectrum.

If today’s youth was equipped with the coping skills to manage difficult and traumatic life experiences (given that not all families can establish healthy dynamics without societal support), many more of our youth and adults will learn to use healthy methods to manage life’s challenges. We are slowly starting to move in this direction with our renewed focus on wellness and growth mindset perspective. Ketamine Health Centers is here to help you re-ground and focus on your overall wellness. 

The benefits of developing coping skills in adolescent years foster a positive mental health environment for children and families. It is important for individuals to understand the unique set of coping skills that are available for different kinds of stressors. Self-soothing, distraction, action, emotional awareness, mindfulness, and crisis planning are some of the categories of coping skills that can support those struggling with substance abuse. Here is our list of suggested coping:

  •  Comforting yourself through your five senses.
  • Taking your mind off the problem for a while. 
  • Doing something the opposite of your impulse that’s consistent with more positive emotion. 
  • Tools for identifying and expressing your feelings. 
  • Tools for centering and grounding yourself in the present. 
  • Contact info of supports and resources, for when coping skills aren’t enough. 

The underlying factors that lead to substance abuse and addiction are unique to each individual, and so treatment must be tailored to each person. Multifaceted approaches to overcoming addiction are essential, as some individuals will need therapy, a change of lifestyle, cutting-edge treatments, and most importantly change of perspective. With our alternative treatment methods for individuals who have found traditional options to fall short of their needs, Ketamine Health Centers is ready to help.

There are layers to every addiction story, and each of those layers may require a distinct approach to healing. First, is the lived experience of the individual that should be worked through in a therapeutic setting. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy provides an alternative method to talk therapy during ketamine infusions, proving to be effective for individuals with a genetic component to their addiction. Ketamine infusion therapy helps dislodge entrenched brain circuitry and reestablish new neuronal connections, thus breaking down some of the genetic pull of addiction.  Other treatments offered at our clinics, such as Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB), can provide relief for individuals that have developed an addiction due to trauma by resetting the body’s internal fight or flight responses.  Combining traditional therapy with alternative treatment methods can help one heal more quickly and more effectively, leading to sustained sobriety and recovery from other types of addictive behavior. 

Ketamine Health Centers offers an array of wellness procedures to enhance any therapeutic approach. Schedule your free consultation today to learn how Ketamine Health Centers can help you make your life your own again.

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