Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, HBOT, has been used for more than a quarter century to help expedite recovery from many conditions by increasing oxygen flow to body tissues.
This safe and efficient treatment, which involves placing a patient in a high-pressure, oxygen-rich environment, enables more oxygen to circulate through the lungs than does breathing regular air or even pure oxygen. It has been shown to promote healing, enhance the activity of infection-fighting white blood cells, increase antioxidant response and improve the growth of new blood vessels in areas with arterial blockage or reduced circulation.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
HBOT is a medical treatment performed by placing the patient in a full-body chamber containing 100 percent pure oxygen, in which atmospheric pressure is controlled and increased. This enhances the body’s natural processes by substantially increasing oxygen uptake to the brain, nervous system, skeletal muscles and other internal body components. A related effect is the increased oxygen transport capacity of the blood. Under normal atmospheric pressure very little oxygen is transported by blood plasma. However, this process is significantly enhanced by using HBOT.
Neuro-rehabilitation
A 2001 study published in The Lancet, The Collet trial in Quebec, was the largest randomized trial evaluating hyperbaric oxygen therapy for children with cerebral palsy. The study found that the ones treated with hyperbaric treatment dosages improved significantly. The motor improvements that were seen and measured were obtained in a shorter period of time than most of the changes found in any other studies. On average, the subjects exhibited a level of improvement during two months of HBOT that was 10 times greater than that which occurred during three months of medication and other treatments. This impressive change was a clear indication of just how much of a difference hyperbaric oxygen therapy can make.
What conditions are hyperbaric oxygen therapy prescribed for?
HBOT is prescribed for conditions as wide-raging as cancer, Lyme disease, ADD/ADHD, stroke, migraines, autism, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Bell’s palsy, carbon monoxide poisoning, excessive blood loss, gangrene, radiation necrosis, diabetic foot ulcers, severe anemia and much more. It is also useful for post-surgical and wound healing as well as for broken or damaged bones and muscle tissue. Many professional athletes use HBOT for sports injuries. We also have found that it helps our patients with concussions, post-concussion syndrome, traumatic brain injury, head injuries and Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome.