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Specifically, Ketamine is a "dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen", and it is called this because it makes patients feel detached from their pain and environment.  But what does that mean to someone who is dealing with depression, chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, or some other malady that they can't get relief from other medicines?  When administered in a clinic under the direct supervision of a physician or by a certified registered nurse anesthetist, Ketamine infusions can help you to heal.  

Neuroscientists believe that depression may be due to a connection problem between nerve cells in ares of the brain that regulate mood.  Research suggests that people suffering from long-term depression may have fewer synapse that allow these nerve cells to communicate.  Ketamine works by targeting a key neurotransmitter in the brain called "glutamate", an important amino acid present in almost 90 percent of all brain synapses affecting  memory and learning.  N-methyl-D-aspartate. (NMDA) is a receptor of glutamate, and is integral in synaptic plasticity.  As an NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist, Ketamine blocks this subtype of glutamate receptor, increasing glutamate, and contributing to a rapid recession of depressive and suicidal ideations.  Ketamine is also thought to affect brain cell growth and repair damaged brain circuits.  Studies have shown that Ketamine quickly improves the functioning of certain brain circuits involved with mood, and within hours of administration, begins to restore faulty connections between cells in these circuits.

For some patients, Ketamine can actually change one's mind and heal unhealthy thought patterns.  Ketamine can rapidly reduce depression and provide relief for several days, which is considered a much faster response compared to other treatments.  Trials have shown the Ketamine can help to relieve feelings of helplessness, sadness or even suicidality.   While using Ketamine for the treatment of various mental symptoms is still in early stages, numerous studies are showing that Ketamine can act as a fast-acting antidepressant, indicating it works in up to 60 to 70 percent of patients not helped by the slower-acting SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), antidepressants, or anti-anxiety medications commonly used for treating depression.  In higher doses, Ketamine also works on opiod receptors, activating them to help reduce pain sensations. Ketamine can cause the brain to experience relaxed, slowed down sensations by increasing the amount of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid A) which is the opposite of glutamate, in the brain.