Beside the C7–T1 vertebrae
Quiet the Nerves. Reclaim Your Nights.
Led by board-certified anesthesiologists
Stellate Ganglion Block — a precise, image-guided procedure that calms an overactive nervous system, performed by our anesthesiology team.
Stellate Ganglion Block
A stellate ganglion block is a precise injection of medication into a cluster of nerves at the base of the front of your neck. It has long been used to treat circulation and pain conditions — from complex regional pain syndrome to peripheral artery disease — and researchers are now studying how it may support mental health conditions such as PTSD.
What is a stellate ganglion block?
A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an injection of anesthetic medication around a collection of nerves called the stellate ganglion, located in your neck on either side of your voice box.
The injection can help relieve pain in the head, neck, upper arm, and upper chest — and can also improve circulation and blood flow to your arm.
What is the stellate ganglion?
The stellate ganglion is a bundle of sympathetic nerves at the front of your neck, sitting beside the C7–T1 vertebrae near your first ribs, just beneath the collarbones. You have one on each side. Shaped like an oval — and often like a star — it takes its name from "stellate," meaning star.
It relays most of the sympathetic nerve signals to your head, neck, arms, and part of your upper chest. As part of the autonomic nervous system, it helps govern the functions your body runs without you thinking about them — heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and more.
"Stellate" means star
One on each side of the neck
Helps govern heart rate, blood pressure & sweating
Why Can't You Sleep?
Insomnia is rarely just a bad habit. Often, it's your body stuck in "fight-or-flight" — a sympathetic nervous system that never switches off.
An Overactive Nervous System
Chronic stress keeps norepinephrine levels high, holding your body on alert — even at midnight.
Stress & Anxiety
Racing thoughts, a pounding heart, tense muscles — signs your body still isn't ready to rest.
Trauma & PTSD
Past experiences can leave the brain locked in "danger mode" — nightmares, night waking, restless sleep.
Chronic Pain
Pain wakes the body through the night, and poor sleep amplifies pain — a cycle that must be broken.
Hormones & Aging
Menopause, hormonal shifts, and a drifting body clock all reshape how you sleep.
Lifestyle & Stimulants
Caffeine, alcohol, screens, and irregular bedtimes quietly erode sleep quality.
When the cause lives in the nervous system, sleeping pills alone rarely solve it — they quiet the symptom, not the source.
The Reset Switch of Your Nervous System
What is the stellate ganglion — and what does a block do?
The stellate ganglion is a star-shaped cluster of sympathetic nerves at the base of your neck. It acts as a relay station for your body's "alert" signals — heart rate, blood pressure, and the stress response itself.
In chronic stress, trauma, and long-term insomnia, this circuit can become stuck in overdrive. A stellate ganglion block (SGB) uses a precise injection of local anesthetic, guided by real-time ultrasound, to quiet this relay station — giving your nervous system a chance to reset.
Research suggests this "reset" may lower nerve growth factor and norepinephrine — the chemistry of hypervigilance. That's why SGB is being studied and used, alongside standard care, for PTSD, anxiety, depression-related sleep disturbance, and chronic insomnia. Many patients describe feeling calmer within hours — and sleeping more deeply within days.
Studied and used to support
- Chronic insomnia
- PTSD and trauma-related sleep problems
- Anxiety
- Depression-related sleep disturbance
Responses vary between individuals. The use of SGB for mental-health-related conditions is off-label and is considered case by case together with your doctor.
A 30-Minute Procedure. Better Nights Ahead.
Every step is performed by a board-certified anesthesiologist under real-time imaging.
01
Consult & Assess
Your anesthesiologist reviews your symptoms, sleep history, and suitability for the procedure.
02
Relax & Prepare
You lie comfortably on your back. Gentle IV relaxation may be offered, and the skin of your neck is cleaned and prepped.
03
Image-Guided Precision
Ultrasound pinpoints the stellate ganglion in real time. Local anesthetic numbs the skin first — always.
04
The Block
A small, carefully measured dose of anesthetic is delivered around the nerve cluster. The whole procedure takes under 30 minutes.
05
Recover & Follow Up
We monitor you for 40–60 minutes. You go home the same day — with someone else driving — and we follow up on your sleep quality.
Benefits & Considerations
Why patients choose SGB
Fast-actingMany people feel calmer within the first hours after the block.
No hospital stayAn outpatient procedure, completed in about 30 minutes.
Not a sleeping pillNo daytime drowsiness, no dependence risk.
Works with your current careComplements therapy, medication, and rehabilitation — often helping them work better.
Cumulative effectA planned series of blocks tends to bring longer-lasting relief with each treatment.
What to know before deciding
Common, temporary effectsA drooping eyelid, red eye, stuffy nose, hoarse voice, or warmth in the arm on the treated side — usually resolving within hours. These are signs the medication reached the right place.
Duration variesRelief may last days to weeks. Most patients benefit from a planned series for sustained results.
Serious complications are rareWhen performed by an anesthesiologist under image guidance, risks such as infection, bleeding, or injury to nearby structures are uncommon and closely monitored.
Not for everyoneBlood thinners, infection near the injection site, and certain conditions require careful evaluation first.
Sleep Care FAQ
Is SGB surgery?
No. It is a local anesthetic injection near a nerve cluster at the base of the neck, performed under ultrasound guidance in under 30 minutes, with no hospital stay.
How does SGB help with insomnia?
SGB calms an overactive sympathetic nervous system — a key driver of chronic insomnia in many patients. Responses vary between individuals.
Is SGB safe?
When performed by an anesthesiologist under image guidance, serious complications are rare. Common side effects are temporary and resolve within hours.
Ready to sleep like yourself again?
Book a consultation with our anesthesiology team.
Reviewed by The YOUNIFY Clinic medical team · Last reviewed
Individual results may vary. Please consult a doctor before treatment.