Introducing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

We have a new addition to Ikigai Wellness, and I’m so excited to introduce you to them! Please welcome our newest team member, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. (You can call them HBOT.) HBOT is a chamber that looks like a tanning booth and works like a Sodastream for your body by pressurizing oxygen. Breathing pressurized oxygen through a mask increases its absorption into your bloodstream, expediting the healing process for many chronic conditions.

Outside view of a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber at Ikigai Wellness, showcasing a sleek, cylindrical design. The chamber provides oxygen at high pressure for enhanced healing and recovery.

 

What does hyperbaric oxygen therapy do?

 

In normal circulation, the oxygen we breathe attaches to our red blood cells, then gets pumped back to the heart and throughout the rest of the body. At sea level, the atmospheric pressure allows us to breathe normally and the oxygen we take in attaches to 98%-100% of our red blood cells. As we go higher in elevation, the atmospheric pressure falls, reducing the amount of oxygen that gets pumped to our lungs. When we go below sea level, pressure increases, driving more oxygen into our bodies and saturating our red blood cells. The excess oxygen then floats around in our plasma and is available for our body to use. This is the pressure created in a hyperbaric chamber. The process of increasing pressure helps reduce inflammation, boost stem cell production, and heal mitochondria dysfunction found in chronic illnesses.

 

At Ikigai, some of the most common conditions we see that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help include:

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Mold toxicity and illness
  • Lyme disease and other chronic infections
  • Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions
  • Brain injuries
  • PTSD and mental health support
  • Long COVID

 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Conditions like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are internal wounds that can be difficult to treat and generally don’t heal. By increasing enriched oxygen to tissue, including organs, HBOT reduces inflammation, increases growth factors, and supports the body’s capacity to heal and fight infection. Research studies on patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis showed significant improvement in IBD symptoms such as urgency, blood in stool, pain, and discomfort, even in cases that were unresponsive to conventional treatment.

Mold Toxicity and Illness

Some mold produces harmful toxins that can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. The antimicrobial benefits of HBOT can help treat mold toxicity through a process called toxin inhibition, which suppresses the ability for toxins to release in your body. Many infections like Lyme, H. Pylori, and mold toxins are anaerobic, meaning they live in a low-oxygen environment. Sending more oxygen to the body creates an environment where those organisms can’t live. 

 

Lyme Disease

The bacterial infection Lyme Disease is often complicated to diagnose and treat. Patients with chronic Lyme can experience a wide variety of symptoms like muscle aches, fatigue, neurological reactions, brain fog, inflammation, and a compromised immune system. HBOT can help patients with persistent Lyme Disease on all of these levels. It helps repair tissue damaged by inflammation and supports white blood function and stem cell growth. HBOT is not a replacement for antibiotics, but it can be a safe and effective complement to other treatment of Lyme Disease.

 

Chronic Inflammatory and Autoimmune Conditions

In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks its own cells, which creates  high levels of inflammation- the hallmark of chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, and fibromyalgia. Many times, patients with these conditions look for help from doctors who specialize in the area of the body that is affected, leading to a frustrating cycle of unanswered questions. Because the underlying issue is inflammation, effective treatment includes the whole immune system, not just specific areas.

 

While HBOT isn’t a cure-all for autoimmune diseases, it can help manage inflammation, improve circulation, support balance in the immune system, and speed up the healing process of damaged tissue.

 

Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions can affect the ability of oxygen to get to the brain, as well as remove waste. Brain tissue needs a lot of oxygen to function, and when the flow of oxygen is compromised, areas of the brain can become hypoxic or inflamed and start to downregulate. HBOT helps get oxygen to the brain immediately, reducing inflammation and delivering oxygen to prevent further damage, support new stem cells in the affected areas, and regenerate brain tissue.

 

PTSD and Mental Health Support

HBOT has been used to treat veterans with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and both. Studies show dramatic improvement in symptoms like anxiety, depression, impaired cognition, and suicidal ideation, with very few adverse reactions. One study showed 83% of veterans with suicidal ideation and 75% with panic attacks experienced significant relief in their symptoms after just four weeks of HBOT treatment. Scientists attribute this to HBOT’s capacity to support neuroplasticity and the process of repair, function, and emotional regulation.

 

Long COVID

Between 20-50% of people who had COVID-19 experience ongoing and long-lasting symptoms like fatigue, headaches, brain fog, and even anxiety and depression. The inflammation can not only linger, but also cause damage to the lung tissue and capillaries, which exchange oxygen and waste.

 

HBOT can play a big part in treatment for Long COVID by reducing the body’s inflammatory response, delivering oxygen to the brain and lung tissue, and even helping to regenerate capillaries. Studies show significant improvement in overall physical health, especially cognitive function, in patients with Long COVID.

 

Is HBOT for you?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve a wide variety of symptoms and conditions by treating the whole body. If you suffer from any of the conditions we’ve discussed in this blog and have questions about your specific situation, Schedule a consult to learn more!

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