What is HBOT?

What is it?

This therapy treatment was actually first used in the U.S. in the early 20th century, and later used in the 1940’s by the Navy. Since then, HBOT treatments have been used to treat diabetic wounds, crush injuries, cyanide poisoning, compromised skin grafts, flesh-eating diseases, and even chronic infections like actinomycosis, or bone infections like osteomyelitis.

HBOT uses a special chamber full of pure oxygen in an augmented atmospheric pressure (1.5 to 3 times higher than average) to fill the blood with extra oxygen needed to repair tissues and restore other functions within the body

The process looks a little like something from a science fiction novel. In some locations, multiple patients sit inside a very large spaceship-looking facility, wearing large mask-helmets. These are called “Multiplace Chambers.” Although you might feel bizarre entering such an environment, a nurse or healthcare professional typically assists with the equipment and stays with the patient(s). The more common treatment option is a smaller capsule-like machine, called a “Monoplace Chamber”. The patient lies down inside the chamber, similar to what it looks like when receiving a CT-scan or full-body x-ray.

In both scenarios, there is nothing to fear, as patients remain comfortable throughout the entire treatment process, without any pain or discomfort.

How does it work?

Oxygen is an essential part of the human body (and not just because we need it to breathe!). Oxygen makes up 21% of the air you breathe. But in reality, most of the air you take in is nitrogen. However, oxygen is key for cells to complete aerobic respiration, a process which takes place in the mitochondria. When using a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment option, a patient breathes in 100% oxygen at a higher pressure than the current atmosphere. This allows more oxygen to be absorbed as it pushes into the hemoglobin of your blood and plasma. Once in your bloodstream, the oxygen can be quickly distributed throughout the body, wherever it is needed.

Oxygen plays many roles in the body. It helps transform food into energy, promotes brain function (Did you know your brain uses 20% of your body’s oxygen consumption?), fuels your immunity system, aids in organ and cellular repair, and functions as a critical nutrient. In other words, it’s kind of a big deal!

What are the benefits of HBOT?

Because oxygen provides many benefits to our mind and body, HBOT provides the perfect boost we need to see positive physical, psychological, and cognitive results.

During this form of treatment, oxygen levels increase up to 10 times the normal amount. This leads to:

• Increased oxygen to the brain
• Higher stem cell numbers throughout the body
• Stimulates capillary growth, connective tissue healing, and immune system response
• Offers anti-inflammatory effects
• Inhibits growth of bacteria to attack non-oxygen tolerant anaerobic organisms
• Improves antibiotic and medication performance
• Increases removal of foreign bodies from the bloodstream (i.e., bacteria, fungi, dead cells, waste by-products)

Essentially, HBOT gives your body “an extra shot” of oxygen so it can accomplish more. Because the process delivers oxygen in a higher atmospheric pressure, the body receives higher arterial oxygen followed by higher tissue oxygen levels.

Can HBOT be used for Mental Health?

With rising rates of mental health issues and related challenges across the country (and the world), it is not surprising that researchers have started hypothesizing and testing the effects of HBOT on mental health related conditions as a new non-pharmacologic approach.

In a recent study, a small group of patients with blast-induced concussions and post-traumatic stress disorder indicated physical, psychological, and cognitive improvements after receiving HBOT treatments (Verghese, Verman,Bhutani, 2013). Following this particular study, participants reported improved quality of life and a decrease in depression and anxiety.

At this point, the efficacy of HBOT in psychiatric disorders is still being explored. Nonetheless, there are positive results indicating improvement with HBOT. The research is promising when we consider HBOT’s ability to target tissue hypoxia (which is basically low oxygen at the tissue level). New research suggests changes in brain blood flow for individuals suffering from depression. Therefore, HBOT might work to drive fresh, oxygenated blood to the brain in order to repair or regenerate the brain tissue which may be causing the effects of depression.

Is HBOT right for me?

HBOT is an effective method to increase blood and tissue oxygen levels. Because of this, HBOT may also reveal new pathologies and uses for improved healthcare outcomes.

Currently, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 14 different conditions for HBOT treatment. Although mental health related disorders are not specifically covered by the FDA for HBOT treatment, this is only due to the lack of clinical studies for benefits of HBOT on these conditions. However, research has shown HBOT to be a promising option for individuals suffering from concussions, Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Macular Degeneration, stroke, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Even Justin Bieber has snapped photos of himself sleeping inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber as a way to improve his mental health. Of course, you shouldn’t just jump into HBOT without consulting your doctor or family physician, but there is certainly evidence to suggest that this might be one possible unique and painless path to relief from wounds, disease, and other health issues, specifically those related to your mental health.

References:

Efrati S, Hadanny A, Daphna-Tekoah S, et al. Recovery of repressed memories in fibromyalgia patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen – case series presentation and suggested Bio-Psycho-Social Mechanism. Front Psychol 2018;9:848.

Feng, Juan-Juan MAa; Li, You-Hui BAb,*. Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on depression and anxiety in the patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (a STROBE-compliant article). Medicine: July 2017 - Volume 96 - Issue 29 - p e7334 doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007334

Harch PG, Andrews SR, Fogarty EF, et al. A Phase I study of low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy for blast-induced post-concussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder. J Neurotrauma 2012;29:168-185

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Adults with Mental Illness: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2014 Aug 27. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK253746/

Latham, E., Hare, M. A., & Neumeister, M. (2021, October 17). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Overview, Hyperbaric Physics and Physiology, Contraindications. Retrieved September 10, 2022, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1464149-overview

Ortega, M. A., Fraile-Martinez, O., García-Montero, C., Callejón-Peláez, E., Sáez, M. A., Álvarez-Mon, M. A., García-Honduvilla, N., Monserrat, J., Álvarez-Mon, M., Bujan, J., & Canals, M. L. (2021). A General Overview on the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Applications, Mechanisms and Translational Opportunities. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 57(9), 864. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57090864

Trayhurn P. (2019). Oxygen-A Critical, but Overlooked, Nutrient. Frontiers in nutrition, 6, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2019.00010

Verghese G, Verma R, Bhutani S. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the battlefield. Med J Armed Forces India [Internet] 2013 Jan;69(1):94–96. [cited 2014 Jul 31]; Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3862713.