An article in Arch Phys Med Rehab discusses the role of Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Blocks in treating Rage Reactions.
The article (abstract below) “Sphenopalatine (nasal) ganglion: remote effects including “psychosomatic” symptoms, rage reaction, pain, and spasm” points out additional uses for Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks.
Self -Administered SPG Blocks (SASPGB) are frequently utilized for many wide and diverse types of pain including headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, sinus pain, eye pain and Temporomandibular disorders.
This article points out to more additional uses. The first is treating Rage, which is frequently uncontrollable and can cause marital issues, spousal and child abuse and work place disturbances.
Many individuals with uncontrollable rage frequently end up mired in our legal system and frequently imprisoned. Rage is a Limbic System disorder where we also feel emotions including anxiety and fear.
Rage is often a response to Sympathetic Overload. Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks can help balance the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nerves of the autonomic nervous system. The Blocks are a reset button for the emotional system balance similar to hitting Control/alt/delete to reset a computer.
This is probably why it is also effective for treating psychosomatic symptoms which is also an imbalance in the brain.
Self-administered SPG Blocks (SASPGB) can controlSympathetic Overload caused by over expression of the Fight or Flight reflex and let the Rest and Digest or Feed and Breed Parasympathetic reflex predominate. Self Administration is an easy inexpensive way to maintain balance with minimal negative side effects.
Both reflexes are important but balance is key.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1979 Aug;60(8):353-9.
Sphenopalatine (nasal) ganglion: remote effects including “psychosomatic” symptoms, rage reaction, pain, and spasm.
Ruskin AP.
Abstract
Many articles implicate the nasal ganglion in the production of remote symptoms and discuss treatment. Symptoms are primarily spastic, involving both visceral and voluntary muscles including muscle spasm in the neck, shoulder, and low back; asthma, hypertension, intestinal spasm; diarrhea, angina pectoris, uterine spasm; intractable hiccup, and many others. All these symptoms appear to have 2 common denominators. They are mediated by the autonomic nervous system and at least in some instances can be “psychosomatic.” The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is a major autonomic ganglion located superficially in the pterygopalatine fossa, with major afferent distribution to the entire nasopharynx and important connections with the trigeminal nerve, facial nerve, internal carotid artery plexus of the sympathetic nervous system and, as shown in the rat, direct connection with the anterior pituitary gland. This paper presents arguments supporting the following hypotheses: 1. The SPG probably has a crucial role in lower animals in declenching the reflex responses known collectively as the rage reaction. 2. The SPG is a major point of entry to the autonomic system exposed to pathologic influences and readily accessible for therapeutic influences and readily accessible for therapeutic intervention. 3. A wide variety of symptoms are produced or maintained by alteration in autonomic system tonus and some of these may be affected by intervention on the SPG. 4. The possible relationship of some symptoms and “psychosomatic” conditions to the autonomic nervous system and the rage reaction must be considered.