A method of ablating the sympathetic ganglionic cell bodies in the thoracic paravertebral space is provided. The method includes ablating the sympathetic ganglionic cell bodies in the thoracic paravertebral space through a posterior, non-invasive or minimally invasive approach for the treatment of resistant hypertension. The ablation may additionally involve various permutations of the gray and white rami and the dorsal root ganglion in addition to the sympathetic chain ganglionic cell bodies, all located in the triangular paravertebral space.