The Medical Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – HBOT
What do you know about hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its many medical benefits? Many of us think of sci-fi movies when we think about a hyperbaric chamber. However, there is so much more to this natural therapy. It can greatly speed recovery and promote healing for many different medical conditions. Water’s Edge Wellness provides an onsite Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber that can help with some of these medical issues in a safe and natural way. Read on to find out more about our HBOT therapy and the medical benefits it provides.
What Is HBOT?
To understand Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy it is important to understand the way it works. First, the terms may seem confusing, but they are actually describing exactly what an HBOT chamber does. “Hyper-” means increased and “-baric” means pressure. Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a special chamber where the standard 21% oxygen breathed under typical atmospheric conditions increases to 100%. This non-invasive chamber supports the entire body as it pressurizes to 100 percent oxygen. This is equivalent to diving 33 to 45 feet below sea level.
What are the Benefits of Increasing Oxygen to 100%?
Oxygen is necessary to produce cellular energy in the mitochondria of every cell in the body. By using 100% pure oxygen, the HBOT chamber has been shown to have extraordinary health benefits. When the human body takes pure oxygen into the bloodstream it dissolves at a greater rate. This means the blood plasma becomes saturated, carrying 20 to 30 times the normal amount of oxygen to the body’s tissue. More oxygen to the tissues can speed healing and recovery time. Over time, and with multiple sessions of HBOT, the increased oxygen can produce many benefits. Some benefits include supporting the body’s natural (oxygen-dependent) wound healing mechanisms, reducing inflammation in bones and tissue, and improving new blood cell formation and nerve growth. HBOT improves oxygenation and can help patients with non-healing wounds, chronic wounds, ulcers, and diabetic damage to feet/lower extremities, and aid in the healing of injuries and sores due to radiation therapy for certain cancers. Research has also found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy also has medical benefits including the following:
- Restoration of functions for patients with traumatic brain injuries
- Decompression illness due to diving
- Patients with rapidly spreading infections
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Thermal burns
- Brain abscesses
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Reduction in inflammation for those with radiation injuries
- Some positive improvements in the functioning of autistic patients such as receptive language, eye contact, cognitive awareness, and an overall improvement in functioning. in some.
In general, HBOT can: increase oxygenation to the body’s tissues, increase blood flow and circulation, boost white blood cell counts, enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics, and reduce swelling and pain. Our trained technicians can show you exactly what the therapy entails and how you may feel during the procedure. Most of our clients report feeling extra pressure in their ears, similar to going up or down in an airplane, but that regulates after a short time. The time spent in the chamber can be a time to relax, nap, or watch some television.
Are you looking to find out more about HBOT beyond what celebrities and science fiction movies have portrayed? Talk to one of our technicians about how this therapy can benefit you. We have included resources for you to explore, but don’t hesitate to contact us through our contact page on our website!
Resources:
National Library of Medicine – Clinical Study | The Health Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | Hyperbaric Healing