Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment in which a person breathes 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber—typically at 1.5 to 3 times atmospheric pressure (ATA). This greatly increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood plasma, which can have powerful effects on healing, inflammation, and cellular function.

Scientifically Supported Benefits of HBOT:

1. Accelerated Wound Healing

1. • • Enhanced tissue oxygenation promotes:

• Angiogenesis (new blood vessels)

• Fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis

• Epithelialization and granulation tissue formation

• Used for: Diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, radiation wounds

2. Neuroprotection & Brain Repair

• Increases cerebral oxygenation and may:

  • • Reduce inflammation and edema

    • Stimulate neurogenesis and synaptic repair

    • Improve mitochondrial function

• Used for: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke recovery, post-concussion syndrome, cerebral palsy

3. Mitochondrial Biogenesis

• HBOT mimics intermittent hypoxia/hyperoxia, triggering:

  • • PGC-1α activation → mitochondrial proliferation

    • SIRT1, NRF1, and TFAM upregulation

4. Stem Cell Mobilization

• Boosts circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs)

• Enhances repair of vascular and tissue damage

• May synergize with regenerative therapies like PRP or exosomes

5. Reduced Inflammation

• Suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β)

• Enhances T-reg cells and M2 macrophages

• Beneficial in autoimmune diseases, Long COVID, IBD

6. Anti-Aging & Epigenetic Rejuvenation

• A landmark 2020 study (Tel Aviv University) showed:

  • • Telomere length increased by ~20%

    • Senescent cell burden reduced by ~30%

• Possible DNA methylation age reversal (ongoing trials)

7. Carbon Monoxide and Gas Poisoning

• Gold-standard treatment for:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning

• Air/gas embolism

• Decompression sickness (the bends)

8. Antimicrobial & Immune Support

• Enhances white blood cell function (especially neutrophils)

• Promotes clearance of anaerobic bacteria and infections

• Often used with antibiotics in osteomyelitis, gangrene

Potential Risks & Considerations

• Barotrauma (ears, sinuses, lungs)

• Oxygen toxicity seizures (rare, at high pressures >2.8 ATA)

• Temporary visual changes (myopia)

• Claustrophobia

• Cannot be used with pneumothorax, certain lung diseases

Emerging or Experimental Areas

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – controversial but explored

• Cognitive longevity – memory, processing speed, and mood

• Cancer support – sensitizing tumors to radiation (with timing)

• Athletic recovery – faster healing, reduced DOMS

• Long COVID & fatigue – oxygen diffusion improvement, immune modulation

Notes

• Mild HBOT at home (1.3 ATA with 90% O₂) may still offer cognitive, inflammatory, and mitochondrial benefits, albeit at slower pace.

• Hard chamber HBOT is essential for FDA-recognized treatments and more severe medical applications.

• Combining HBOT with interventions like red light therapy, NAD+ precursors, or nootropics may synergize with cognitive and mitochondrial effects.

• Spaced repetition HBOT (e.g., 5-on, 2-off weekly) seems optimal for repair and adaptation in aging protocols.

Most of the hard-shelled (and soft-shelled) chambers that I've seen at conferences and trade shows look like the chamber above, or worse, having only a small porthole to the outside world. If you're claustrophobic at all, you're probably not going to like the experience!

Oxygen is highly explosive and flammable.  Due to the high-oxygen content within these medical grade hard-shell chambers, no electronics are allowed inside.  Unless you've got a good paperback book, or you can sleep or meditate through each of your entire 90-minute treatments, being sealed within a steel coffin for that long might be a challenge.

I'm extremely pleased that I've found a place near me for treatments offers completely clear chambers, enabling you to binge your new favorite Netflix series!

More details about this will follow!