Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves pressurizing the body to pressures greater than normal (the pressure at sea level). The process is achieved inside a specialized chamber. Based on laws of physics – Boyle's law, Henry’s law, and Dalton’s Law – breathing under pressure allows oxygen to be dissolved into plasma portion of the blood.  Under normal conditions, plasma does not carry oxygen, that is left to the red blood cell and hemoglobin.  Dissolving oxygen into plasma allows it to carry oxygen at least four times further into the body’s tissues which results in a much higher concentration of oxygen within the body – as much as 1,200% higher! 

But why would you need or want to increase the concentration of oxygen in your body? Under normal conditions, the air we breathe contains a mixture of gases, of which only about 21% is oxygen. This is generally sufficient for the body’s basic functions in those with normal lungs.  However, elevating the oxygen level in the body creates a whole cascade of benefits both in the immediate short term as well as more long term (if done enough times).  It is this cascade of benefits that enhances and accelerates the body’s ability to repair itself, generate energy, and create an environment in which inflammation is suppressed and regenerative healing is promoted. 

Benefits of HBOT

The power of HBOT is that it provides the body with the necessary energy and the optimal environment to heal wounds no matter where they are or how they got there; from the inside out.  This healing power can help those struggling with a variety of diseases as well as those seeking to simply optimize their health.

Hyperoxygenation

As discussed above, HBOT increases the amount of oxygen carried into the blood stream, enabling more oxygen to dissolve deep into the body’s tissues, including the lymphatics and the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This reverses hypoxia (areas of the body that are low in oxygen) helping to oxygenate cells and tissue that are at risk of dying (such as tissue damaged during surgery, or from loss of blood supply) or that are in a quiescent or non-functioning state.  

Anti-Inflammation

In the short term HBOT downregulates inflammatory pathways and constricts blood vessels to allow less leakage of fluid thus decreasing swelling.  In the long term HBOT has epigenetic effects turning off the genes responsible for inflammation.  Inflammation is a key factor in why our body’s degrade with time. Reducing inflammation and swelling, strengthens the immune system and enhances mitochondrial function.

Antimicrobial Effect

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the immune system by weakening infection-causing bacteria. It also increases the body’s natural antioxidants and free radical scavengers, which increases the ability to fight disease and infection.  It can also synergize with certain antibiotics improving their efficacy.

Neovascularization

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the body, which increases circulation, allowing revitalized tissue to thrive even after the treatment protocol has been completed.  

Stem Cell Mobilization

During treatment, HBOT has the power to increase stem cells in circulation eight-fold. These stems cells already exist in the body and have the unique ability to differentiate into any type of tissue, making them a valuable tool for regeneration and healing.  

Mitochondrial Support

HBOT allows mitochondria, the batteries of our cells, to generate adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. ATP is the chemical that stores and releases energy necessary for many cellular processes and is the main energy source for our body. When you have experienced cellular damage and oxygen-carrying capacity is threatened, your body is in jeopardy of not creating enough ATP.  Breathing 100% oxygen under pressure allows 1,200% more oxygen to enter your circulatory system directly into your plasma. Thus, by providing super high levels of oxygen, HBOT helps optimize cellular energy production.