Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the administration of 97% oxygen in an environment of twice normal atmospheric pressure (2.0 ATA).  The regular air we breathe contains 21% oxygen. Under standard conditions, the oxygen is carried by our red blood cells through its attachment to hemoglobin. This limits the extent of oxygen that can be delivered to the tissues. Only 4 to 6% of the oxygen we breathe is utilized.

When there is inadequate blood flow, red blood cells are less able to supply tissues with oxygen. In a pressurized environment, both the blood plasma and the hemoglobin are saturated with oxygen. The combination of increasing pressure and the breathing of 100% oxygen causes large amounts of oxygen to transfer from the plasma into tissues, cells, organs, neurons and bone structures.

The pressurised environment typically provides the body with many times its normal supply of oxygen to support the repair of cells and tissues.

The healing power of oxygen is not something new. The use of hyperbaric therapy dates back nearly 350 years. The very first hyperbaric chamber was created in 1662 with the clinical use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy starting in the mid 1800s. During the 1960s, studies began to show a wide variety of beneficial uses for HBOT therapy. Today, there are over 150 internationally approved conditions for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to be effective and beneficial.

10 Primary Benefits of HBOT

  1. Increased oxygen perfusion- (Immediate increase in free floating oxygen available for tissue use)

  2. Neovascularization- Angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth)

  3. Increased white blood cell function (improved neutrophil and macrophage activity)

  4. Nerve healing factors (increases in VegF, BDNF, HIF1)

  5. Wound healing Increased capacity for healing (PDGF, VegF, collagen production circulatory healing)

  6. Stem cell release (up to 8-fold increase in mesenchymal and CNS stem cells)

  7. Vasoconstriction (decrease edema and swelling from damaged tissues)

  8. Mitochondrial healing (increase in size, shape and number of mitochondria)

  9. Anti-inflammatory (reduction of inflammatory cytokines, increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines)

  10. Anti-microbial/microbiome balancing (reduction in anaerobic pathogens and increase in aerobic probiotics)

Benefits Associated with our 2.0 ATA Hyperbaric Chamber

The heightened pressure in our chamber allows for a greater oxygen uptake by the body’s tissues, accelerating healing, rejuvenating skin, and improving overall wellness.

Here are some further of the benefits associated with 2.0 ATA hyperbaric chamber models: 

Faster Recovery

2.0 hyperbaric chamber models deliver pure oxygen to our tissues faster than models with lower ATA. Deeper tissues also need to be stimulated, but pure oxygen cannot reach these tissues because they’re in hard-to-reach areas. Sometimes, these deeper tissues are responsible for the length of recovery. When these tissues aren’t properly oxygenated, they can’t facilitate faster muscle or wound recovery. Fortunately, 2.0 ATA hyperbaric chambers can reach these tissues because of their higher air pressure, leading to more rapid recovery.

Mental Clarity 

Sometimes, merely taking a deep breath already helps clear our minds. The sudden influx of oxygen stimulates our brains and makes them sharper. Additionally, breathing meditation helps slow our heart rate, ultimately contributing to a calmer mind. If that’s the effect of taking in oxygen at 1 ATA, imagine taking in 90-97% pure oxygen at 2 ATA. A 2.0 ATA chamber amplifies the calming effects of breathing meditation and adds benefits like tissue stimulation. This benefit goes to show that HBOT isn’t just for physical recovery. 

Improves Physical Performance

Aside from addressing concerns like damaged muscles and wounds, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also improve physical performance. This benefit is also why athletes prefer to include HBOT between training sessions. HBOT improves physical performance by stimulating harder-to-reach tissues. Aside from facilitating faster recovery, these oxygenated tissues allow our muscles to push themselves more. When you add proper training and diet to this HBOT benefit, you can get the most out of your body while training.