Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Oxygen has been proven to be the #1 thing that our body uses to promote healing for itself. As blood flows throughout the body, it delivers oxygen to our cells to keep us healthy. How efficiently blood carries this oxygen can affect how quickly and fully cells can heal. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a technology designed to vastly improve that efficiency.
How Does it Work?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy utilizes a pressure pod that increases the pressure of the air inside the chamber, while breathing in a greater concentration of oxygen. The increase in pressure forces a greater saturation of oxygen in the bloodstream, plasma, lymphatic system, Central Nervous System and bone. Our bodies are designed to utilize this extra oxygen by sending it to the areas in the body that need it most, thus stimulating and increasing the body’s healing response.
Over the years, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has shown great benefits and success in helping patients who have been diagnosed with numerous conditions. In addition to the FDA approved uses for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, there are over 120 internationally recognized conditions for which Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been shown to be effective and beneficial.
The History of HBOT
The therapy began in the early 1900s, and gained traction in the 1940s as the U.S. Navy used it for sea divers with decompression sickness. By the 1960s medical professionals also found it effective for treating carbon monoxide poisoning. We still use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for these ailments today.
It’s also been well established as an assistive therapy for both infections and air bubbles in blood vessels. The Mayo Clinic discusses its uses to aid in healing tissues struggling to recover because of diabetes. (Diabetes can decrease proper circulation and make it more difficult to recover from injuries and surgical incisions.)
In fact, Dr. Claus of the Mayo Clinic says Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve healing in diabetes patients by up to 60% (Source). Hospitals often have hyperbaric chambers to treat these conditions.
But Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has practical benefits for a variety of more common maladies, and is available at Winston Salem chiropractic offices like ours.
Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Extra oxygenated blood flow reduces inflammation and pain in the body. For sports injuries like sprains, straints, and even bone breaks, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can shorten recovery times and reduce scarring.
Quick, uncomplicated recoveries are the key to avoid jeopardizing sports careers, after all.
The Mayo Clinic reports that after a 4-6 week HBOT treatment series, patients continued to benefit from noticeably better circulation for up to 4 years because of the capillary growth during the treatment.
Improvements to blood flow are also beneficial for preventative measures. White blood cell count is higher in well-oxygenated tissue, allowing the body to more readily deal with germs and general illness.
Conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s have been directly linked to hypoxia, which is a decreased flow of oxygen to the brain over time. This contributes to mental decline, but can be mitigated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
HBOT also improves the effectiveness of antibiotics.
10 Primary Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Anti-Inflammatory
Stem Cell Release
Wound Healing
Decrease Edema and Swelling
Increase Oxygen Perfusion
New Blood Vessel Growth
Nerve Healing
Mitochondrial Healing
Antimicrobial/Microbiome Balancing
Increase White Blood Cell Function
Promote Healing with Hyperbaric
Neuropathy
Many Neurological conditions see great benefits with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Many conditions occur due to poor circulation and/or damage to nerves which impairs our ability to get oxygen our brain and nervous system. With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, we are able to increase oxygen saturation and absorption, giving the brain and nervous system the oxygen it needs to heal. Neuropathy conditions such as: Bells Palsy, cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, Peripheral neuropathy, Erb’s Palsy and more.
Neurological
New research shows how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is helping patients regain neurological activity and functionality. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy provides the brain with increased levels of oxygen to help recover/repair brain tissue, proliferate the creation of new brain cells and improve cognitive function. Studies have show to increase regeneration of the nervous system, improve neurological conditions as well as improve brain functioning, performance, repair and recovery. Neurological conditions such as: post stroke recovery, dementia/Alzheimer’s, concussion/traumatic brain injury, autism, Parkinson’s and more.
Recovery and Healing
Wound healing has been proven to be one of the most powerful benefits on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. From the smallest tissue damage (aging), to feeding stem cells, diabetic wounds to post surgical wounds, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been proven to speed along the healing process and promote regeneration. Recovery and Healing conditions such as: burns, sports recovery, anti-aging, stem cells, post surgical recovery and more.
Immune System
Our body’s are full of unhealthy bacteria and healthy bacteria. Unhealthy bacteria that enters our body’s live without oxygen and most of our healthy bacteria (probiotics) need oxygen for life. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy helps our body’s better reach that balance by killing unhealthy bacteria with a flood of oxygen while feeding our healthy bacteria the oxygen it needs to thrive. Immune System conditions such as: Lyme disease, pot COVID, microbiome balance, C. Diff and more.
Autoimmunity
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy helps promote tissue repair: skin, nerves, intestinal lining, muscles, tendons and joints. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy helps balance the immune system while helping to reduce the inflammation associated with many autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune conditions such as: Arthritis, Chron’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Ulcerative colitis and more.
With the many benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy we can help treat everything from difficulty sleeping, diabetes, bells palsy, low energy, dementia, Lyme disease, autism, cerebral palsy, sports injury recovery, traumatic brain injuries, post surgical car/healing, chronic fatigue, post stroke care, multiple sclerosis, chronic headaches, cancer, ALS, anemia, wound healing, and many, many more.
Preparation for a HBOT Session
Wear comfortable clothes (preferably cotton) to your appointment. Typical sessions last 1-2 hours, where you’ll be laying on a soft, comfortable surface.
For the best experience, please avoid wearing/bringing the following to a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy appointment:
- Makeup, perfume, or aftershave
- Alcohol or petroleum-based skin products
- Food or candy
- Flammable items like lighters and hand warmers
If you have cold or flu symptoms, let our staff know in advance. We may need to reschedule your appointment.
