Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, How It Works & Risks

Overview

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that involves breathing nearly 100% pure oxygen within a pressurised chamber, increasing oxygen concentration within the body. HBOT is used to accelerate recovery of damage or trauma to tissue, treat brain injuries, increase neurological function, prevent disease, reduce inflammation and fight infections.

Beyond its medical applications, HBOT is also associated with promoting overall well-being. It can help enhance energy levels, support faster recovery from physical activity, improve sleep quality, support anti-ageing and boost mental clarity.

HBOT can also be used to treat the following:

• Burns
• Decompression sickness
• Radiation injury
• Severe anaemia
• Severe skin and bone infections
• Skin grafts
• Loss of vision or hearing
• ADHD
• Anxiety and depression

How it works

While room air contains around 21% oxygen, which is relatively effective for healing, in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, you breathe nearly 100% oxygen at 2 to 3 times higher than normal air pressure. When under increased pressure, oxygen is delivered directly into the blood plasma, increasing oxygen concentration and accessing tissue with limited blood supply. This promotes faster healing and improves body and brain function.

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

For years, HBOT therapy has been a reliable method for treating medical conditions. However, it has recently gained recognition as a transformative therapy for the following reasons:

1. Enhances your mental clarity and focus

HBOT increases blood flow to key brain regions, and a study on healthy adults undergoing the procedure shows that it can significantly improve attention, executive function, and information processing speed.

2. Improves neuroplasticity

When more oxygenated blood reaches your brain, it encourages the growth of new neural connections, improving memory, learning, and cognitive flexibility.

3. Supports long-term brain health

Regular HBOT sessions may slow cognitive decline and promote sharper mental acuity as you age.

4. Helps muscles recover faster

HBOT can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation after intense physical activity, promoting faster muscle repair and recovery.

5. Improves endurance and stamina

The body’s aerobic capacity and endurance increase when tissues receive more oxygen. Research has shown significant improvements in VO2 max, a metric for measuring aerobic fitness, among athletes undergoing HBOT.

6. Reduces stress

By improving oxygenation in the brain, HBOT reduces stress and fatigue, which can be helpful for those with busy lifestyles.

7.Promotes longevity

HBOT helps repair blood vessels and stimulates the growth of new vessels, stem cells, and connective tissue. All these help your body heal and regenerate damaged cells faster, which makes you age slowly and improves your overall vitality.

Risks and Potential Side Effects

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally safe, but knowing the potential risks and complications can help you make informed decisions. Some of them include:

• Claustrophobia
• Lung collapse
• Middle ear injuries
• Oxygen toxicity
• Sinus congestion

If you have diabetes and are using insulin, you might also experience low blood sugar or temporary near-sightedness after a session, but your vision will usually become normal after a few minutes.

What to Expect

Preparing for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

If you suffer from a medical condition, it’s recommended that you consult your medical practitioner prior to using the hyperbaric chamber. They will review your age, medical conditions, medications, and any medical devices you use. Some older implants, like pacemakers from the 1960s, might not handle hyperbaric conditions well, so we recommend double-checking with your practitioner.

When you’re ready, our team at Reju Clinic will assist you through your 1-hour private session. We recommend wearing loose-fitting clothing and bringing earplugs or headphones to help ease any discomfort while the chamber is pressurising and decompressing.

What Happens During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The procedure for hyperbaric oxygen therapy depends on the type of HBOT chamber you’re using, and there are two main types:

• Monoplace chamber: A monoplace HBOT chamber is designed for individual use. While there are different variations, the most common involves lying inside a single-person chamber, sometimes with a specialised mask delivering pure oxygen. In other designs, you lie on a table that slides into a clear, cylindrical chamber, similar to an MRI machine. Once inside, the chamber is sealed and pressurised with 100% medical-grade oxygen, providing a safe and effective therapy. 
• Multiplace chamber: This chamber is more like a room and can accommodate two or more people at a time. You may sit or lie down during a session and breathe pure oxygen through a specialised mask or a lightweight, see-through oxygen hood.

Once the door to the chamber closes, you might hear a soft hissing noise as oxygen fills the chamber and the air pressure increases slowly. You may feel pressure in your ears like you’re on a plane. However, you should be able to relieve this pressure by yawning or equalising.

At Reju Clinic, we offer the lying down Cell Regen chamber as our HBOT solution. The medical grade chamber is 2.0 ATA and has three large transparent windows bringing you a bright and comfortable experience and greatly reducing the impact of claustrophobia.

Post-Treatment: What to Expect After Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Some people report feeling energised post-treatment, while some people who practice meditation report the feeling to be similar to the feeling post-treatment. You may notice colours seem brighter, your vision may improve, and your mind feeling clearer.

Treatment Plans and Expected Outcomes

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe, painless way to heal faster and improve your well-being. At Reju Clinic, we offer our customers a comfortable, rejuvenating experience every step of the way. Book your session today.  We offer one-off sessions for $79 or prepay for a pack and pay $69 per session. We also offer weekly memberships where you receive 2 sessions per week for $120.