HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyper = high Baric = pressure
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves a patient breathing air or varying amounts of oxygen within a pressurized chamber, where the pressure is above 1 atmosphere. Our hyperbaric chamber goes to 1.3 atmospheres, or about 10 feet below sea level. Increasing oxygen levels creates an environment in the body in which cellular energy is boosted, inflammation is suppressed and regenerative healing is optimized.
The use of hyperbaric therapy dates back nearly 350 years. The very first hyperbaric chamber was created in 1662 and the clinical use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy started in the mid 1800s as a treatment for decompression sickness. During the 1960s, studies began to show a wide variety of beneficial uses for HBOT.
Who can it help?
Traditionally HBOT has been used for diabetic foot wounds, air and gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, gas gangrene, thermal burns, decompression sickness and acute mountain sickness. These are called “on-label” uses which are approved by the FDA and may be covered by insurance at pressures above 2.0 atmospheres for a life or limb saving situation (with an approved authorization).
Our soft chamber works at a lower pressure (1.3 atmospheres) that is often more appropriate for functional medicine uses. These uses include chronic inflammatory illnesses and autoimmune conditions, as well as neurological conditions such as concussion, stroke, MS, ADD/ADHD/Autism. See the list below for some of the conditions we support using hyperbaric medicine at Ikigai Wellness.
FDA-Approved Uses
Functional Medicine Uses
- Air or Gas Embolism
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
- Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis
- Crush Injury & Other Acute
- Traumatic Ischemias
- Decompression Sickness
- Diabetic Lower Extremity Wounds
- Failed Skin Grafts & Flaps
- Gas Gangrene
- Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
- Radiation Tissue Damage
- Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- Thermal Burns (severe)
- Intracranial Abscess
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has developed a successful track record of helping with numerous conditions including, but not limited to…
Neurological conditions:
- ADD/ADHD/Autism
- ALS
- Alzheimer’s/Dementia
- Concussions/Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Parkinson disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Post-stroke healing
- Neurodegenerative conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Epstein Barr
- Lyme Disease
- Long COVID
- Mold exposure/toxicity
Chronic Inflammatory Conditions:
- Crohn’s / Colitis /IBS
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Quicker wound healing:
- Surgical Prep & Recovery (including major dental procedures)
- Scar Healing
- Strains/Sprains
- Non-healing Wounds +/- infection
General wellness:
- Anti-aging
- Exercise recovery & performance
Want to learn more about how HBOT works and how it can help?
Our IBUM-certified functional hyperbaric medicine provider, Amy Homer-Brown, will be hosting a FREE VIRTUAL info session to talk about all things HBOT! From the mechanisms of how it works and why oxygen is so important for our bodies beyond just breathing to treatment plans and pricing.
Join us for our next HBOT Info Session on: