Ketamine is continuing to get the attention that it deserves. CNN recently ran a piece from Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, sharing about the life saving and rapid effect of ketamine in a man with suicidal ideation. https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/03/health/ketamine-suicide-depression/index.html
Want to know more about how ketamine works? Especially curious about how it transforms the lives of those with depression, anxiety, and pain? Love science? A google or PubMed search will give you numerous articles on this topic. At Reset Ketamine, we are big readers and lovers of learning so we found three articles you should check out regarding depression and ketamine...especially if you are science nerds like us!
Perhaps you’ve decided to try ketamine infusions for your depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic pain. Or maybe you have yet to decide and want a little more information. Some level of nervousness is normal and very common when facing something new, especially something that is so cutting-edge. To ease some of your worries, we’ll share with you four things to expect during your ketamine infusions…
The Default Mode Network (sometimes called simply the default network or the DMN) refers to an interconnected group of brain structures that are hypothesized to be part of a functional system. The DMN includes areas of the brain which researchers found to have higher activity when the mind was supposed to be at rest. For example, when you are day dreaming, thinking about the future, replaying memories, etc. without a specific goal in mind. Now, why would we care about this? The DMN is found to have increased activity in certain mood and pain disorders. That being said, let's look at our 3 reasons why you should know about the DMN.
Ketamine infusions are at the frontier of treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and pain disorders. And just like the pioneers of the Wild West, ketamine physicians are also trailblazers. Ketamine infusionists create their protocols based on studies and the responses of their patients to treatment. Since ketamine is still a relatively new treatment, researchers are still investigating the optimal dose and frequency.
Raise your hand if you like cleanliness or if you're against getting infections! Well if you raised your hand, you are in luck. We are excited to share another health property of ketamine you may not have been aware of. Ketamine is also an anti-microbial (aka kills or stops growth of microorganisms)!
Michael Pollan is known for writing books like The Omnivore's Dilemma, Food Rules, and In Defense of Food. However, in his most recent book he ventures into the uncharted territory of psychedelics, How to Change Your Mind.
Ketamine has a long track record being used as an analgesic for medical procedures. Historically, this medication was used to reduce peri-operative pain (pain before, during, and after a procedure). Now, ketamine is proving to be useful in treating daily chronic pain, unrelated to a medical procedures.
Imagine a lush green forest, filled with many trees with numerous branches. Now, imagine the opposite. The same trees, but instead brown and with branches falling off. These trees are now dying out. This forest is now sparse due to repeated fires, harsh weather, and pollution. The forest is functioning below what it could, and producing less oxygen and food for the creatures it protects.
