05.03.2024 - Therapies

HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT)

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy entails inhaling pure oxygen within a pressurised chamber to boost health, well-being, and cell rejuvenation. The increased concentration of pure oxygen allows higher and faster oxygen supply to the lungs, tissues, and cells to improve well-being and boost longevity, among its other benefits.

Our body's natural ability to take in oxygen diminishes as we age. Insufficient oxygen levels can lead to tissue weakness and damage, hasten the ageing process, and potentially affect memory function. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy supplies the body and cells with increased oxygen to help optimise its functioning.

What is a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber?

A hyperbaric chamber offers a controlled, pressurised environment where oxygen levels are significantly higher—ranging from 1.5 to 3 times more concentrated than in the atmosphere. Unlike the air we typically breathe, which contains around 20% oxygen, the hyperbaric oxygen chamber delivers air enriched with 100% oxygen. This abundance of oxygen saturates the bloodstream, facilitating the repair of injured tissues and promoting the restoration of normal bodily functions.

Individuals can sit comfortably or recline on a specialised surface within hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Once settled, they are encouraged to take slow, deep breaths and relax throughout the treatment. By adopting a relaxed posture and deep breathing pattern, patients can optimise oxygen absorption and circulation, facilitating its delivery to tissues needing healing. This gentle and tranquil atmosphere within the chamber fosters a sense of comfort and well-being, enabling individuals to fully engage in the healing process.

How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing individuals in a hyperbaric chamber where air pressure is elevated above normal levels, allowing the lungs to gather more oxygen with each breath. This excess oxygen is transported throughout the body via the bloodstream, leading to therapeutic effects. HBOT promotes accelerated tissue repair and regeneration by supplying tissues with ample oxygen, which is essential for cellular metabolism and healing processes. This heightened oxygenation is particularly beneficial for individuals with wounds, injuries, or medical conditions where oxygen delivery may be compromised, facilitating faster recovery and tissue healing.

The foremost advantages of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are often realised through a treatment regimen comprising three sessions per week, typically spanning over a period of 2 to 4 weeks, tailored to individual requirements. This frequency and duration allow sustained exposure to increased oxygen levels, maximising tissue oxygenation and promoting optimal healing responses. By adhering to this structured approach, individuals can experience notable improvements in certain conditions, achieving enhanced outcomes and better overall recovery.

Conditions Treated by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy encompasses various medical applications, offering therapeutic benefits across numerous conditions and injuries. From promoting wound healing to treating decompression sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning, HBOT has become an integral part of modern medical practice. It has been proven to promote healing and has shown to be beneficial for treating;

Radiation injuries
Lung disease
Reperfusion injury
Compromised skin grafts and flaps
Delayed radiation injury
Gangrene or gas gangrene (a form of gangrene in which gas collects in tissues)
Acute or traumatic reduced blood flow in the arteries
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Cyanide poisoning
Crush injuries
Decompression sickness
Flesh-eating disease (necrotising soft tissue infection)
Air or gas embolism
Diabetic wounds that are not healing properly

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers a range of therapeutic benefits by delivering oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure. This treatment has shown effectiveness in accelerating wound healing, reducing inflammation, and enhancing tissue repair in various medical conditions. Its other benefits on the body and mind include;

Promoting anti-ageing and longevity
Improving energy levels
Boosting tissue function
Enhancing immune function
Encouraging tissue regeneration
Rejuvenating skin and boosting collagen
Reducing fatigue and physical pain
Shortening recovery time after sports or injuries
Optimising mental and cognitive functions

Biochemical and physiological benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly augments oxygen delivery to the body's tissues, effectively re-oxygenating hypoxic tissues or those experiencing compromised blood flow. By enhancing oxygenation in affected areas, HBOT supports cellular function and promotes healing, offering crucial relief and recovery in diverse medical scenarios.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy exhibits potent antimicrobial effects by creating an oxygen-rich environment that inhibits the growth and survival of various microorganisms, particularly anaerobic bacteria. The oxygen-rich environment disrupts the cellular respiration process of these bacteria, which rely on low-oxygen environments for development. By saturating tissues with oxygen, HBOT helps fortify the body's natural defences against infections, supporting the immune system's ability to combat microbial invaders.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) stimulates angiogenesis and the formation of new blood vessels crucial for wound healing and promotes collagen and skin cell production by releasing vascular endothelial growth factor. This essential growth factor facilitates the generation of endothelial cells necessary for tissue repair. Injuries to the skin disrupt blood vessels, leading to fluid leakage into surrounding tissues and subsequent swelling, which hampers oxygen delivery and can result in tissue death. HBOT addresses this issue by delivering oxygen-rich plasma directly to oxygen-deprived tissues, preventing reperfusion injury—tissue damage that occurs when blood supply is reintroduced to oxygen-starved tissues. By bolstering oxygenation and mitigating the risk of tissue damage, HBOT plays a crucial role in advancing the wound healing process, promoting efficient recovery, and preventing complications.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy exerts a multifaceted influence on the body's immune system, particularly by enhancing the activity of white blood cells crucial for tissue repair. Within the hyperbaric environment, the increased oxygen levels stimulate various immune responses, including the activation and mobilisation of white blood cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, which are integral components of the body's defence system. These cells orchestrate the inflammatory response, remove cellular debris, and combat pathogens. By bolstering the activity of these white blood cells, HBOT enhances the body's ability to mount an effective immune response to injury and infection, promoting a more efficient tissue repair process and facilitating the removal of damaged tissue.

Additionally, HBOT exerts anti-inflammatory effects, which are essential for wound healing. Although inflammation is a natural reaction to injury, prolonged or excessive inflammation can hinder healing by restricting cells' oxygen supply, frequently leading to hypoxia in chronic inflammation scenarios. HBOT helps regulate the inflammatory response by boosting oxygen levels and inhibiting pro-inflammatory immune cells, thus promoting the resolution of inflammation and facilitating optimal tissue repair.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has additional benefits beyond wound healing, including increased energy levels, cognitive function enhancement, and immune system support. By delivering higher oxygen concentrations to tissues, HBOT enhances cellular metabolism, potentially improving vitality and stamina. Moreover, HBOT may bolster cognitive function by promoting neuronal health and supporting cognitive processes such as memory and attention.

From accelerating wound healing and alleviating chronic pain to rejuvenating skin and enhancing overall well-being, hyperbaric oxygen therapy presents an unparalleled opportunity for individuals to reclaim their vitality and embrace a brighter future. With its proven efficacy and safety and the growing body of scientific evidence supporting its myriad applications, hyperbaric oxygen therapy emerges as a cornerstone of modern healthcare.

We are thrilled to announce our latest advancement in hyperbaric oxygen therapy—a state-of-the-art chamber designed to revolutionise your healing journey. Our new chamber combines cutting-edge technology with unparalleled comfort, providing an immersive and rejuvenating environment for your treatment sessions. With its advanced features and enhanced functionality, this chamber offers exceptional care and convenience, ensuring that you experience the full therapeutic benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as comfortably and effectively as possible.

Whether you seek relief from chronic conditions, are recovering from injury, or are simply striving to optimise your health and well-being, our new hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber is poised to exceed your expectations and elevate your healing experience to new heights. Step into the future of healthcare with The Kusnacht Practice and discover the transformative power of hyperbaric oxygen therapy like never
before — a pathway to healing, restoration, and renewed vitality awaits.