Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, also known as HBOT, is a method used to increase the amount of oxygen supplied to the body by increasing both the atmospheric pressure and the concentration of oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been in practice for almost 400 years, but many doctors are not familiar with it. Previously, HBOT chambers were only available in large medical centers, and were used for only a few conditions. With recent technological advancements in chamber design, however, HBOT has become available to clinics and homes, greatly expanding its use in treating many medical conditions.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, has been around for hundreds of years, but was mainly used for treating severely infected wounds. It was also used for divers who got the “bends” and for mountain climbers who got high altitude sickness. It has only recently been gaining acceptance by the general medical community for enhancing the treatment of a much wider range of conditions, including neurologic, gastrointestinal, immunologic, toxic, and developmental conditions. Professional athletes adopted the use of portable HBOT chambers early on, and often use them before and after every game to enhance athletic performance and aid in physical recovery from sports injuries.

The reason why HBOT is beneficial to so many different kinds of problems is that oxygen is at the very center of every biochemical process in our bodies, and is arguably the most important nutrient on earth. We can only live without oxygen for a few brief minutes, and enhancing oxygenation turns out to be beneficial to the entire body in hundreds of different ways. The brain uses more oxygen pound-for-pound than any other organ in the body, so it makes sense that the brain is particularly sensitive to disruptions in the supply of oxygen that can occur for many reasons, including toxic exposure, inflammation from infections or autoimmunity, interruptions in blood supply such as from a stroke or head injury, or clogged vessels with age. Our primary focus at Optimal Health Spectrums is the use of oxygen under pressure to help in the recovery from brain disorders and neurologic injuries of many kinds in the pediatric and adult community.

How it works

Increasing the oxygen concentration (above the usual 21% in room air) and atmospheric pressure at the same time allows more oxygen to enter into the blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluids. Oxygen can thus penetrate otherwise under-oxygenated tissues. This helps with cell growth and regeneration, detoxification, immune support, and neurological and gastrointestinal functioning, among other things. The pressure/oxygen combination also has a potent anti-inflammatory effect, which benefits many conditions that have inflammation as part of the disease process.

Types of HBOT

Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy is typically separated into two types, mild HBOT and higher pressure HBOT. Each type of HBOT has its own advantages. Mild HBOT uses lower atmospheric pressures of 1.3 ATA and most commonly uses up to about 60% oxygen. This form of HBOT has very few side effects and is very safe, even for young children. Higher pressure HBOT generally uses pressures of 1.5 ATA or greater, and up to 100% oxygen. Optimal Health Spectrums offers Mild HBOT chambers for home rental.

HBOT is FDA approved for 13 conditions , and is therefore covered by insurance for those indications.

The 13 FDA approved conditions are:

Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Chronic Non-Healing Wounds
Refractory Osteomyelitis
  Burns
Air Embolism
Decompression Sickness
Intracranial Abscess
Gas Gangrene
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Crush Injury
Severe Anemia
Compromised Skin Grafts
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

For many other medical and neurological problems beyond the relatively rare 13 approved conditions, extensive published research and professional clinical experience has shown benefit from hyperbaric oxygen treatment. For these other medical and neurological issues, HBOT is not yet FDA approved, and is therefore usually not covered by insurance. The use of HBOT to treat these conditions is considered “off-label”. Off-label treatments are common in medicine. Read for yourself some of the articles that have been published showing benefit from HBOT in conditions that are often considered largely untreatable by conventional means – things like Autism, Strokes, MS, Concussion, Seizures, and Headaches, for example. For a great overview of the many conditions that can be improved with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, please see the newly published book, "The Oxygen Revolution" by Dr. Paul Harch, one of the pioneers in the field of HBOT.

Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very safe for most people, there are a few medical conditions for which treatment with extra oxygen under pressure is contraindicated (not recommended). If a patient does not have any of these conditions, then HBOT is generally considered safe for that patient. One example of a contraindicated condition would be if the patient has an aneurism - a swollen, fragile blood vessel that could burst under pressure – very rare in the first place, and very unlikely at the relatively low pressures that we use. Another example would be any unstable medical condition (such as severe, uncontrolled seizures) in which being in a closed, pressurized chamber where there is no immediate medical access may be problematic. If you have any questions about the safety of HBOT for your medical condition, please feel free to call us. Prior to your first treatment, you must set up an appointment with Dr. Mielke, and/or obtain a medical clearance from your primary care physician.

• Acute asthma attack
• High Fever
• Uncontrolled seizure disorder
• Optic Neuritis
• Pneumothorax
• Known ear infection or blocked ear canals
• Known sinus infection or upper respiratory infection
• Aneurism
• Glaucoma
• Pregnancy
• Severe heart or lung disease
• Congenital spherocytosis
• Currently taking: Cisplatinum, Disulphiram, or Doxorubicin

Although most people do not experience any negative side-effects from hyperbaric oxygen treatments (other than “ear-popping” sensations during pressurization), some temporary side-effects are possible. Most of the time, patients report a wonderful increase in energy, mental clarity, and sense of well-being from HBOT. If a patient is very toxic, or infected with lots of bad gastrointestinal or systemic organisms, then they may experience a detox reaction, and/or a “die-off” reaction early on in the treatment course. As HBOT helps in the detoxification of a patient, metals and other toxins may be stirred up from storage sites in the body on their way out through urine and stool. Under these circumstances, it is not unusual to experience irritability or hyperactivity for a day or two after a treatment. Treating with glutathione, vitamin C and other antioxidants is helpful with this. Die-off of toxic organisms can also cause temporary nausea or fatigue. Using activated charcoal or Alka Seltzer Gold helps to minimize this symptom. Both of these reactions are temporary, and are usually followed by signs of clinical improvement in the patient. Idiosyncratic or unusual reactions that are not listed here are possible. Please report any side-effects to the hyperbaric technician, and/or your doctor. The following is a list of the most common side-effects from HBOT:

Common:
• Ear and sinus discomfort – due to the changes in pressure within the chamber. (Can be minimized by techniques to “pop” the ears, or by inflating more slowly.)
• Temporary blurry vision.