Hyperbaric oxygen therapy consists of breathing 100 percent pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. It promotes rapid healing of chronic injuries, chronic pain, and tissue damage throughout the body, including the brain. At Balance of Life Clinic, our experienced health care and alternative medicine professionals can help determine whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy is right for you.
Conditions Treated With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
HBOT is typically an effective treatment for decompression sickness, which can occur after scuba diving. It effectively accelerates surgical and wound healing, energizes the body and mind, promotes better sleep, and relaxes the body. HBOT can also be helpful for emphysema and COPD. Many other conditions may be treated effectively with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including:
- Skin and bone infections
- Burns
- Skin graft or skin flap at risk of tissue death
- Wounds that have trouble healing due to radiation injury, diabetes or other conditions
- Brain abscess
- Gangrene
- Arterial gas Embolism (bubbles of air in the blood vessels)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Anemia
- Crushing injuries
- Sports injuries
- Sudden vision or hearing loss
What To Expect During HBOT Treatment
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you lie in a chamber where you will breathe 100 percent oxygen that is administered at about 1.5 atmospheric pressures. This increased pressure helps your lungs collect more oxygen than they could if you were breathing 100 percent oxygen in a typical setting. During HBOT, your blood carries this concentrated oxygen all over your body, helping to stimulate the release of stem cells and growth factors, which encourages healing and fights bacteria. Therapy can last anywhere from one and a half to two hours. Our doctor and members of our alternative medicine health care team will monitor you throughout treatment.
You may experience a temporary feeling of pressure in your ears, much like what you might feel when traveling in an airplane due to the high air pressure in the chamber. Yawning or swallowing can help relieve this sensation. If you experience any pain in your ears, make sure to alert us right away. After hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you may feel tired or hungry, but you can resume your normal daily activities.
You may be advised not to use petroleum-based hair- and skin-care products before treatment. Our alternative medicine team will provide specific instructions before your first session.
Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Depending on your medical condition, you’ll probably need multiple sessions to experience the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Most people see benefits after several sessions. While HBOT can be used alone to treat decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning and arterial gas embolism, it is used as part of a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan for other conditions, so it’s important to talk with your health care provider before undergoing any new treatment.
Some of the most apparent benefits of HBOT include:
- Increased oxygenation to the body’s tissues
- Increased blood flow and circulation
- Increased white blood cell counts
- Enhanced effectiveness of antibiotics
- Reduced swelling and pain
Contact Us To Learn More About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy And Alternative Medicine
At Balance of Life Clinic, we’re committed to helping all our patients lead healthier, happier lives through integrative medicine. Contact us at 330-764-4242 or toll-free at 877-764-4242 for more information about the services we offer or to schedule an appointment.
