Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has raised substantial notice in the field of holistic wellness and has emerged as an effective remedy for several health issues. The process of decompression, typically within a chamber, is indeed an innovative therapy.
Therefore, HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, usually, as noted, in a specially designed chamber or another designated space.
So, What Is Exactly Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Why Does It Work
HBOT is based on a basic yet very complex concept. By increasing the air pressure around the body, the amount of oxygen is increased that enters the bloodstream.
Therefore, in a hyperbaric chamber, the air pressure increases two or three times higher than the normal atmospheric pressure. This spike allows the lungs to gather more oxygen than what is possible under normal conditions.
The Results
The elevation in blood oxygen levels provides a lot of positive effects on the body’s systems, especially the lungs and heart health. These effects end up:
- Improving oxygen supply to tissues
- Encouraging angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels)
- Decreasing edema and inflammation
- Heightening immunity
- Enhancing the healing process
These actions further explain why HBOT is used to treat medical disorders and to promote better health.
The Reasons HBOT Works
Several underlying physiological principles form the basis for the success of hyperbaric oxygen treatment:
Henry’s Law: Henry’s law states that the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is directly related to the pressure of the gas above the liquid. In HBOT, since pressure is increased, oxygen in the blood plasma is dissolved in higher volumes, promoting better oxygen distribution to the body’s tissues.
Hyperoxia: The excess intake of oxygen by the body’s tissues leads to various reactions – such as the synthesis of growth factors and stem cells – all essential for healing and reconstruction.
Vasoconstriction: Although this concept sounds counterintuitive, a higher concentration of oxygen will constrict the blood vessels, which, in turn, decreases edema and inflammation at an injury site.
Antimicrobial Effects: Hyperbaric oxygenation can facilitate the functioning of white blood cells to fight infection and support the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
HBOT For Overall Wellness: A Therapeutic Approach
Besides enhancing wellness, HBOT, as noted, can treat various health issues. You can use HBOT in the following ways:
Wound Healing: HBOT is perhaps best known for the fact that it significantly reduces the time taken to heal wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and radiation injuries.
Treating Neurological Conditions: There is some evidence that HBOT can offer some protection and recovery for patients who suffer from trauma, or diseases like Alzheimer’s, which causes the brain cells to degenerate.
Recovering from Sports Injuries and Increasing Performance: HBOT helps athletes recover from traumatic injuries and enhance their sports performance, given its ability to heal tissues and reduce inflammation.
Rejuvenating the Skin: An increased amount of oxygen to the skin tissues can stimulate the synthesis of collagen and therefore increases the skin’s elasticity.
Improving Immunity: HBOT enhances the functioning of white blood cells and increases stem cell release, thereby increasing immunity.
Treating Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia: Some patients suffering from these disorders report significant improvement with regards to their energy levels and pain relief.
Supporting Better Mental Health: The current body of literature hints that HBOT can be used to treat depression and anxiety, as the therapy improves brain metabolism and neuroplasticity modulation.
Detoxification: High levels of oxygen can enhance the body’s capacity to expel toxic substances and metabolic products.
HBOT in a Holistic Wellness Framework
The effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of certain disease conditions is encouraging. Holistic wellness seeks to treat the person as a whole, including the body, mind and emotions. As a result, certain aspects of the HBOT fit in well within this philosophy, as highlighted below:
Cellular Health: HBOT enhances a person’s basic cellular functions – necessary for overall health and well-being. It does this by increasing oxygen to the cells.
Stress Reduction: After treatment, a majority of patients feel peaceful and restored, a factor that has been attributed to stress reduction. This keeps the heart beating steadily and therefore prevents problems with cardiovascular events such as heart attack and cardiac arrest.
Complementary Therapy: There are various holistic treatments that focus on nutrition, physical activity, meditation, and acupuncture – all which can be combined with HBOT for maximum wellness.
Preventive Interventions: HBOT can be used to realize maximal tissue oxygen and cellular health, all which improves the body’s processes.
Personalized Wellness: The flexibility of HBOT is helpful in targeting and treating specific health issues.
Considerations and Precautions
Potential Side Effects: Although HBOT is considered safe, patients may experience side effects – including ear pressure, temporary myopia, and in exceptionally rare cases, oxygen poisoning. That’s why you should turn to a clinic that provides HBOT services.
Not an Overall Panacea: HBOT works best when it is combined with other holistic practices.
Conclusion
HBOT is an excellent treatment for anyone who wishes to maintain a whole-health approach to wellness. It provides the missing link, along life’s path, to a lifetime of better health.
Author: Donna Ryan is a writer from Tucson, AZ. Feel free to comment on this article or ask questions anytime.