Ketamine Therapy
A Transformational Approach to Mental Health & Pain Treatment
Ketamine Therapy
Are you looking for ketamine treatment in Portland, Oregon? Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic around the world since its FDA approval in 1970. It has been used extensively for pediatric and adult treatment in surgical applications, emergency departments, ambulances, trauma medicine, and combat zones. It is also commonly used in veterinary medicine. It is so widely used that the World Health Organization even lists it as one of the most essential medicines due to its therapeutic effects and the wide margin of safety.
Research in the last two decades done by institutions like Yale University and the National Institutes of Health has identified ketamine as an important breakthrough in the treatment of mood disorders and chronic pain.
How does ketamine therapy work?
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist, meaning that it affects the neurotransmitter known as glutamate. When ketamine increases the level of glutamate, this creates a cascade effect of increased neural activity and communication within the brain. This reawakens portions of the brain that have shut down to the symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma. Ketamine causes neuroplasticity, which means that it can effectively rewire parts of the brain thought to play a role in depression or mood disorders.
Ketamine may also interact with other receptors like GABA, G protein-coupled receptors, and the cholinergic receptors. Additionally, ketamine has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is thought that the dissociative effects of ketamine may play an important part in the healing process as well. When administered in the right doses and monitored by physicians, ketamine’s multiple mechanisms of action can create a rapid and effective treatment for a variety of mood and pain conditions.
A picture of a neuron. The neuron below shows new dendritic formations, or new neural growth, within just 2 hours of receiving ketamine treatment.
A CT scan of a human brain. After ketamine treatments, the depressed brain is almost identical to the non-depressed picture as new neural activity has awakened the depressed areas.
Types of Ketamine Therapy
IV Ketamine
Applying ketamine through an intravenous drip allows your body the maximum absorption of ketamine. For some, ketamine can provide rapid relief from mental health and chronic pain symptoms within hours to days.
As a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, ketamine allows the NMDA receptor to cause a surge in glutamate, a vital neurotransmitter for memory, stress regulation, and mood regulation. Ketamine also causes the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that is responsible for neuroplasticity or growth of the brain while establishing new connections between neurons. This can provide long-term release from mental health conditions and chronic pain syndromes.
Sublingual Ketamine
Elevate your treatment experience with our innovative sublingual ketamine therapy. Our commitment to your well-being drives us to offer this cutting-edge option, providing an alternative route for the administration of ketamine. Sublingual ketamine involves placing a specially formulated medication under the tongue, allowing for rapid absorption into the bloodstream. This method offers a convenient and comfortable approach, ensuring a seamless and effective treatment process.
Sublingual etamine has garnered recognition for its potential benefits in addressing mental health conditions, chronic pain, and trauma. Our experienced medical professionals remain dedicated to your care, providing a serene and supportive environment throughout your sublingual ketamine sessions. Embrace this advanced avenue towards relief and renewal by exploring sublingual ketamine at Rainfall Medicine. Contact us today to embark on your journey towards improved well-being.
IM Ketamine
Unlike other administration methods, IM ketamine stands out for its targeted effectiveness. Our IM ketamine therapy, recognized by institutions like Yale University and NIH, is meticulously administered by our compassionate professionals in a serene environment. By directly triggering vital neurotransmitters like glutamate, IM ketamine fosters mood stability and stress regulation. This non-competitive NMDA antagonist also stimulates the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), offering potential long-term relief from conditions ranging from depression and anxiety to chronic pain and trauma. This unique approach ensures optimal absorption and personalized care, making Rainfall Medicine your partner on the transformative journey toward emotional well-being.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
At Rainfall Medicine, we offer a unique avenue to healing through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. This innovative approach fuses the therapeutic benefits of ketamine with the guidance of psychotherapy, resulting in a comprehensive treatment. Unlike other forms of administration, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy blends the neurochemical effects of ketamine with therapeutic support. Experienced psychotherapists collaborate with medical professionals to create a safe environment where ketamine’s ability to lower defenses aligns with the therapeutic process. This synergy between mind-altering effects and therapy provides a unique opportunity for insights, breakthroughs, and lasting transformation. Rainfall Medicine empowers individuals to address conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma, leading to renewed well-being.
End-of-Life Care with Ketamine
The diagnosis of a terminal illness can often lead to anxiety, depression, severe grief, and the loss of meaning in one’s life. It has been shown that transformative medicines such as ketamine not only relieve pain but can also help alleviate those feelings and general distress associated with the thought of dying. For some, this can lead to an increase in purpose and acceptance while also decreasing fear. Some may also realize that even at the end, there is still great beauty in life and its transitions.
We have created a team of deeply empathetic healthcare professionals to work closely with patients using unconventional medicine so that together, they can create a comprehensive plan that will help each individual find relief and meaning during their dying process.
How does ketamine affect the brain?
Ketamine has been shown to reduce symptoms of mood disorders and chronic pain conditions alike. Unlike some other antidepressants that can take 3-6 weeks for the therapeutic effects to take place, ketamine is very rapid and for some can improve their depression within hours. Ketamine’s primary effect pathway is as a partial antagonist of the NMDA receptor and works on the glutamate system within the brain. It also increases BDNF within the brain, a protein that increases connections between neurons and is the cause of change or neuroplasticity within the brain. The antidepressant effects of ketamine-induced BDNF release was confirmed by a recent study. Ketamine is also active at a number of other neuroreceptor sites within the brain.
The amygdala is the part of the brain that handles fear and emotion. Ketamine can increase activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, the part of the brain responsible for executive control. By strengthening the connection between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, ketamine allows greater control over our emotional reactivity. This can be very helpful for mood disorders and for those who have a history or PTSD or childhood trauma. Ketamine sessions can allow ingrained habits of thought, feeling, perception and understanding to recede, diffuse and break down. It can disrupt rigid or maladaptive mental structures, loosen defense mechanisms and change self-narratives. In doing so, patients can develop new understandings and reclaim disconnected parts of themselves. Ketamine can foster greater access to the subconscious mind while also allowing greater self-acceptance, self-transcendence and an expanded sense of meaning in their lives.
Is ketamine therapy right for you?
Ketamine intramuscular therapy is at its best when it is paired with an individualized treatment plan, possibly including ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Rainfall Medicine works with patients to develop comprehensive treatment plans that are right for each patient.
The staff at Rainfall Medicine will carefully observe you during your treatment session and ensure that you are responding positively to the treatment. Although some people report mild side effects, ketamine has been used around the world for decades in clinical settings and is safe when administered at small doses. Each patient will have a proper medical intake and screening to ensure that this treatment is appropriate for you.
To learn more about this exciting new treatment, schedule a free consultation with Rainfall Medicine today.
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