Stellate Ganglion: The Nervous Nexus

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, Our Place, and AquaTru.

What if trauma isn’t just something you feel but something physically happening inside your body? This episode challenges everything we’ve been told about PTSD and reveals a new way of thinking about healing.

Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Dr. Eugene Lipov to unpack a bold new perspective on trauma and why it may not be a mental health disorder, but a physical injury to the nervous system. Dr. Lipov explains what’s really happening in the body during PTSD, the hidden role of the sympathetic nervous system, and how trauma can quietly impact everything from aging and chronic disease to relationships and daily energy. He shares the unexpected discovery behind the Stellate Ganglion Block, often called the “God Shot,” and walks through how this procedure may rapidly reset the body’s stress response. Along the way, he dives into his personal story, the growing interest and skepticism around this approach, and what the latest research is beginning to reveal. 

Dr. Eugene Lipov is one of the world’s leading experts in treating symptoms related to post-traumatic stress and a pioneer in the use of Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for PTSD. Shaped by a deeply personal history, growing up with a father suffering from PTSD and a mother who battled severe depression and ultimately took her own life, Dr. Lipov has dedicated his career to helping others heal from trauma and restore hope. In 2006, he introduced the use of SGB as a treatment for PTSD. The technique involves an injection of medication into a bundle of nerves in the neck and has been widely used for pain relief, hot flashes, and shingles, and is now emerging as a promising approach to alleviating symptoms of trauma.

In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Lipov dive into:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:08) The Idea That Could Change Trauma Treatment Forever

(4:05) What’s Really Happening Inside The Body During PTSD

(8:35) The Hidden Nerve System Driving Your Stress

(11:02) The Unexpected Discovery That Started It All

(22:21) Could This Work For You

(35:22) Why It’s An Injury And Not A Disorder

(39:05) Why The Current System Might Be Getting This Wrong

(45:57) What Actually Happens When This “Switch” Gets Flipped

(58:29) Why Trauma Might Be Aging You Faster Than You Think

(1:18:52) What The Latest Research Is Starting To Reveal

(1:25:23) Why People Call This The “God Shot”

(1:35:26) What More Doctors Are Starting To Notice

(1:42:02) The Risks You Need To Know Before Considering This

(2:00:06) What Dr. Lipov Changed His Mind About

(2:09:22) The One Thing He Wants Everyone To Understand

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Brain on Fire: Doomscrolling, the Hidden Biology of Digital Life, and the Fight for Attention; The Science of Reclaiming Mental Health

• It’s PTSI site 

• Publications mentioned by Dr. Lipov

• TEDx: PTSD to PTSI, An alternative perspective Dr. Eugene Lipov

• Stellate Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial

• Department of Veterans Affairs Position on Effectiveness of Stelate Ganglion Block 

• What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond with Dr. Bruce Greyson

• Anita Moorjani on Her Top Lessons Learned from Her Near-Death Experience

For more on Dr. Lipov, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Spotify, or visit his Website.

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, Our Place, and AquaTru.

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