What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Commonly referred to as HBOT, hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances the body’s natural healing process by delivering oxygen under pressure, which increases the oxygen content in the blood, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, and other body tissues. There are two basic types of HBOT—high pressure HBOT and mild HBOT. Mild HBOT refers to hyperbaric oxygen therapy at lower pressures, typically 1.5 ATA or below, and benefits from the addition of an oxygen concentrator which delivers 92-97% oxygen through a face mask while in the chamber. Mild HBOT has no known safety risks with fire or toxicity, and it is substantially less expensive. With high pressure, or hospital grade HBOT, treatment occurs in a hard-sided chamber at pressures greater than 1.5 ATA using 100% oxygen. Pure oxygen is extremely flammable and high pressure HBOT involves managing the risk of explosion and oxygen toxicity. In clinical trials to date, there has been virtually no difference in clinical outcome between mild HBOT and high pressure HBOT.
How should I expect mild HBOT to feel?
You will be seated or lying down inside the chamber as you breathe concentrated oxygen (90-95% O2) through a face mask. You can rest, meditate, read, sleep or use your Smartphone or tablet. People often report feeling less pain and a sense of relaxation and mental clarity following a session, as mild HBOT is a good central nervous system de-stressor and can be helpful in addressing brain fog related to Lyme disease, MS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
Is mild HBOT safe? Are there any risks?
Generally, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very safe. Otic barotrauma (ear pain) is a risk due to difficulty equalizing ear pressure. It is typically quite temporary and easily controlled. Yawning or swallowing can remedy it—similar to what one would do when taking off and landing in an airplane.
Is a prescription required to purchase a hyperbaric chamber?
In the U.S., a physician’s (DC, ND, DO, or MD) prescription is required to receive mild HBOT treatments and/ or to purchase a portable hyperbaric chamber.
Are there any reasons a person should NOT go into a mild hyperbaric chamber?
The only absolute contraindications to mild HBOT are pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and air-trapping emphysema. If you are safe to fly in an airplane, you are safe to receive mild HBOT.
If you are taking the following medications you should speak with your provider about discontinuing them prior to receiving mild HBOT.
• Cis-Platinum—a chemotherapy agent *HBOT increases the effectiveness of this medication and dosage may need to be modified.
• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®)—a chemotherapy agent
• Mafenide Acetate (Sulfamylon®)—a topical cream used to prevent and treat bacterial or fungal infections.
Research demonstrates that HBOT does not increase cancer metastasis and in fact may inhibit its growth and enhance quality of life during treatment. HBOT is the only treatment known to repair radiation damaged tissue. Other issues such as seizures, myopia (nearsightedness), cataracts, and oxygen toxicity do not relate to mild HBOT therapy in a soft chamber and are unheard of at pressures below 1.5 ATA.
What are the possible side effects?
Occasionally one may experience temporary ear discomfort while pressurizing or depressurizing the chamber, but this typically resolves after the first few sessions. This may be due to inflammation or congestion within the cranium, which can make it difficult for the ears to equalize. Since mild HBOT is a good anti-inflammatory, this typically resolves with treatment and pressurizing more slowly may be all that is required.
Parasitic or microbial infections such as Lyme disease or candida may cause a temporary exacerbation of symptoms early in treatment as high levels of oxygen are a natural anti-microbial and these organisms may release toxins as they die. those organisms die off and release toxins your system detoxifies. Mild exercise, saunas, drinking extra water or detoxifying teas, epsom salt baths and herbal supplements to support detoxification may be helpful.
How frequently should I receive treatments?
Many doctors recommend an initial group of 40 sessions, one per day, for 60 minutes each, 5 to 7 days per week. If you are dealing with a systemic infection, such as Lyme disease or candidiasis, you may need to treat less frequently initially and support detoxification processes to address die-off related discomfort. For people with chronic and neurological issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, autism, traumatic brain injury, or stroke, repeated series of 40 sessions may be required, depending on the extent and severity of the condition and other underlying health issues. Please contact your doctor to discuss the best protocol for your condition. Athletes, those interested in wellness and optimal aging may benefit from regular HBOT 3-4 times per week.
What conditions are treated with HBOT?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used internationally for more than 80 different conditions. In the US our FDA has only approved it for 14, and it is rarely covered by insurance.
Research and clinical experience supports its use for athletic injuries and performance, arthritis, autism, attention deficit disorder,auto-immune disorders, Bell’s Palsy, brain and head injuries, cardiovascular disease, cerebral palsy, chemo-brain, cognitive impairment, Crohn’s disease, dermatological conditions, diabetes and diabetes related retinopathy and neuropathy, dementia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, Lyme disease and coinfections, learning disabilities, macular degeneration, MS, neuropathies, non-healing wounds, Parkinson’s disease, pervasive development disorders, PTSD, radiation damaged tissue, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, reconstructive surgery, spinal cord injury, stroke, and more. Used pre-and post-surgery it can improve outcomes for difficult surgeries and research shows that that it may be effective as an anti-aging and cancer prevention strategy.
In the US, HBOT is FDA approved to treat air or gas embolism, carbon monoxide & cyanide poisoning, crush injury, acute traumatic ischemia, decompression sickness, delayed radiation injury, diabetic footulcers, enhanced healing of problem wounds, exceptional blood loss, gas gangrene, intracranial abscess, necrotizing soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis (refractory), skin grafts and flaps(compromised), and thermal burns.
Portable hyperbaric chambers are cleared by the FDA to treat acute mountain sickness only. In the US, all other conditions are considered off-label, although HBOT is approved internationally for treatment of 60-120 different conditions and over 35,000 research studies support its use.
How can I learn more about HBOT?
See our Research page resources and studies about HBOT and various conditions.