What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? HBOT FAQ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT, is a medical treatment that delivers 100% oxygen to a patient’s pulmonary system while they are within a pressurized chamber. Basically, the patient is breathing oxygen at levels far greater than that which is found at a normal room atmosphere.
HBOT is based on numerous laws of physics. “Henry’s Law” states that the amount of a gas dissolved in a liquid is in proportion to the pressure of the gas above the liquid, provided that no chemical action occurs. “Boyle’s Law” states that at constant temperature, the volume and the pressure of a gas are inversely proportional. This means a gas will compress proportionately to the amount of pressure exerted on it. Using these laws HBOT allows more life-sustaining oxygen to be delivered to the tissues and organs. This increase of the partial pressure of oxygen at the cellular level accelerates the healing processes and assists in the recovery from numerous indications.
Oxygen is an essential part of our physiology. We need oxygen to create new cells, fight bacteria, metabolize food and heal from injuries and illness. During a normal day, the average adult inhales approximately six pounds of oxygen, of which about 2 pounds are dissolved into the blood.
While inside the hyperbaric chamber, patients inhale pure oxygen at ten times the normal rate. In one hour inside the chamber, a patient inhales 2.4 pounds. Red blood cells are immediately filled with oxygen and the rest is rapidly absorbed into the blood. Within a few minutes, tissue oxygen levels are far above normal – a state that has been scientifically proven to promote healing.
The pressure causes the oxygen to dissolve into the blood, plasma and tissues. HBOT allows oxygen to reach areas with low blood-flow caused by inflammation, injury or disease and stimulates the body’s natural healing ability.
Benefits of HBOT
HBOT has been used to successfully treat or manage a wide range of illnesses, injuries and diseases. Below are just some of the benefits every HBOT patient receives. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces swelling and inflammation, helps your body eliminate waste and toxins, promotes new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis), increases your body's ability to fight infection and illness, delivers necessary oxygen to deprived areas of the body and the brain
How oxygen-saturation fights infection
When the fluids and tissues inside the body are saturated in oxygen, the body is no longer an ideal environment for anaerobic bacteria to thrive and cause infection. HBOT directly kills anaerobes and enhances the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria and fungus.
Increased oxygen levels and blood flow
Through HBOT induced vasoconstriction and hyper-oxygenation, edema is reduced, and the plasma-oxygen concentration is increased by 10-15 times the usual amount. HBOT allows oxygen to provide immediate support to areas with restricted blood-flow.
HBOT and toxic gases
By immersing the patient’s tissues in oxygen while under pressure, toxic gases like carbon monoxide are forced out. HBOT reduces the damage done by toxic gases.
Vasoconstriction
HBOT causes vasoconstriction without depriving the injured tissue of oxygen. This action helps to manage intermediate compartment syndrome, reduce edema in grafted tissue, and reduce inflammation. HBOT speeds the healing of burns, wounds and traumatic injury.
Neovascularization
Neovascularization is the growth of new blood vessels. HBOT creates the ideal conditions for new growth to occur because oxygen encourages collagen to form as the foundation for new blood vessels. Also, HBOT stimulates new tissue growth in damaged tissue, refractory osteomyelitis, and chronic ulcerations in soft tissue. HBOT aids in growth of new blood vessels and stimulates new tissue growth.
Pressure Relationship
According to Boyle’s Law, pressure and gas are inversely related. As the pressure on the body increases, the volume of gas within the body decreases. This reaction allows otherwise trapped gas bubbles to circulate. At the very least, these bubbles are allowed to travel into a lesser blood vessel which minimizes damage. HBOT releases toxic gases and reduces their damage.
Neurological Function
Recent scientific evidence has shown that HBOT stimulates blood flow, metabolism, and tissue growth in patients with brain injuries. The treatment reawakens dormant neurons that are alive but not functioning around the injured tissue. HBOT improves recovery from brain injury by stimulating sleeping neurons.
HBOT is SAFE
Side effects are minimal and rarely last a long time. Hyperbaric Oxygen is not a cure to most indications, but it has been clearly demonstrated to dramatically increase immune capabilities, assisting patients with problems ranging from chronic wounds to complex disabilities and neurological impairment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may be ordered by a physician for “off-label” and “Experimental” indications. We make no claims as to the efficacy for any indications other than the fourteen approved by Below is a list of some common “off-label” indications.
- Acute Acoustic Trauma
- Acute and Chronic Anemia
- Acute and Chronic Arterial Insufficiency
- ALS “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Autism
- Brain Injury
- Bell’s Palsy
- Candida’s and Fungal Infections
- Cerebral edema
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chemical Poisoning
- Chronic Fatigue
- Closed head injury
- Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Compartmental Syndrome
- Cosmetic Surgery (before and after)
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Flesh Eating Bacteria
- Fracture Repair
- Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers
- Headaches, Cluster
- Hypoxic Birth Disorders
- Inflammatory Arthritis
- Infections
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
- Macular Degeneration
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Neurovascular compression
- Oral disease
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral nerve injury
- Peripheral Vascular Disorders
- Rehabilitative Care
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- RSD
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sacroiliac Syndrome
- Scleroderma
- Shingles
- Spinal Cord injury
- Spider Bite
- Sports Injury
- Stroke
- Sudden deafness
- Surgery recovery
- Tendon injuries
- Venomous Snake Bites
- Wound Healing
Disclaimer: The information provided by this web site is for educational and informational purposes only and it is not to be considered medical advice.
The HBOT Process
First time patients often have a lot of questions before taking a “dive” (that is what we call HBOT treatment.) Sometimes children can be a little scared and even some adults may feel nervous climbing inside for the first time. We have taken every precaution to make sure your treatment is safe and relaxing and that you emerge smiling and ready for more. Below is a brief outline of what you can expect during treatment.
- The patient is placed inside our chamber.
- 100% pure oxygen is inhaled via a mask.
- The air inside the chamber is slowly pressurized to allow the ears and sinuses to adjust.
- During pressurization patients may yawn, swallow or hold their nose and blow to clear their ears – just like taking off or landing in an airplane.
- "Dive" times vary depending on the condition treated. The patient may read, watch a movie or simply relax while in the chamber.
- Younger patients may be accompanied by a parent who can talk with, read to or play games with their child during treatment.