Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a simple, non-invasive therapy utilizing pure oxygen delivered within a chamber under pressurized conditions to assist the delivery to tissues. In individuals with any type of chronic illness, with injuries that have difficulty healing, inflammation, or neurological deficits, hyperbaric oxygen therapy might be utilized as an adjunctive treatment.
Here at KOS Integrative in Honolulu, we offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as part of our comprehensive, integrative approach to help you heal, recover, and enhance your wellness. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a panacea for any and all ailments; instead, it’s a carefully managed therapeutic option that we may use for patients who would benefit from improved function, symptom relief, and enhanced tissue regeneration. To find out how hyperbaric oxygen therapy might work for you, please continue exploring our site and get in touch!
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
About HBO therapy, a person in hyperbaric oxygen therapy breathes an oxygen-rich environment in a special pressurized chamber. The elevated pressure increases the ability of the lungs to pull in greater than usual amounts of oxygen. That greater oxygen intake saturates the lungs and other parts of the body.
There are two main chamber types:
- Monoplace chambers, which treat one patient at a time.
- Multiplace chambers, which can accommodate multiple patients and are supervised by clinical staff.
The key difference in HBOT, compared to simply giving oxygen, is the use of pressure along with the oxygen. This is crucial because higher pressure helps oxygen dissolve more readily into your blood plasma and supports tissues with poor circulation or poor healing in your extremities.
How HBOT Supports Healing
HBOT may support recovery through several biological processes:
- Increasing oxygen delivery to tissues.
- Supporting new blood vessel formation.
- Helping reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Supporting immune cell activity in selected conditions.
- Assisting tissue repair and wound healing.
Such effects could make HBOT a beneficial adjunctive therapy. HBOT seems to perform best as part of a broad approach that may incorporate therapy, wound care, medication, nutritional supplements, and other forms of medical support.
Conditions HBOT May Support
HBOT cannot treat every chronic health condition; however, it is most commonly recognized clinically as a method to treat specific diagnosed health conditions and as part of the healing process, helping tissue repair.
Conditions that may be considered for HBOT include:
- Certain nonhealing wounds.
- Delayed radiation tissue injury.
- Compromised skin grafts or flaps.
- Chronic bone infection in selected cases.
- Some serious infections.
- Recovery support after concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.
- Sports injury recovery.
- Neuropathy and inflammatory recovery support in integrative care settings.
More commonly, for chronic disease, HBOT is best used if your symptoms involve poor circulation, tissue damage, inflammation, or failure to heal. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a substitute for traditional medical care.
What to Expect During Treatment
A typical HBOT session follows a simple process:
- Medical evaluation.
- Preparation for the chamber.
- Gradual pressurization.
- Relaxed oxygen breathing during the session.
- Slow depressurization and post-session check-in.
The majority of treatment sessions are 60 to 90 minutes long. However, the duration may vary depending on the condition and the prescribed course of treatment. When using compression and decompression, many individuals notice a popping sensation in their ears, similar to the one they experience while traveling by airplane. It can typically be resolved by swallowing, yawning, or listening to the clinician, who will provide instructions on how to balance the pressure.
For most patients, this session is tranquil and restful. Depending on the type of chamber and the clinic, the patient can listen to music, sleep, or just relax as the treatment takes place.
Benefits Patients Commonly Seek
People explore HBOT for different reasons, but common goals include:
- Supporting chronic wound healing.
- Helping reduce inflammation.
- Improving tissue oxygenation.
- Supporting neurological recovery.
- Assisting recovery after injury or radiation damage.
- Improving overall function and quality of life.
Realistic expectations about results must be set: HBOT may help some patients dramatically, but it depends on the diagnosis, how severe the disease or injury is, frequency of treatment, and if it’s used in conjunction with another treatment approach.
Risks and Safety
When HBOT is prescribed appropriately and monitored closely, HBOT is generally very well tolerated by patients; however, it does not come without risk.
Possible side effects include:
- Ear pressure or ear pain.
- Sinus discomfort.
- Temporary fatigue.
- Temporary vision changes.
- Claustrophobia.
- Low blood sugar in some patients.
- Rare but more serious complications may occur in certain cases.
HBOT might not be the correct treatment for everyone. We recommend a medical evaluation before therapy, especially if you have any lung, ear, or sinus problems and a history of pressure-related issues. It’s another crucial reason we rely on supervised treatment.
Is HBOT Right for Chronic Illness?
HBOT is likely to be beneficial if a patient is diagnosed with a medical condition that affects their ability to heal, provides an inadequate oxygen supply, or causes elevated inflammation, and if an accredited practitioner has a professional opinion that treatment may assist the recovery process.
It may be especially worth considering when:
- Standard care alone has not produced enough improvement.
- The patient has a recognized condition that may respond to HBOT.
- The therapy is used alongside other medically appropriate treatments.
- The provider can clearly explain the expected benefits, risks, and goals.
However, HBOT is not suitable when it is portrayed as an all-curing panacea or when used irresponsibly without scientific evidence or instead of medical attention.
Why Choose KOS Integrative in Honolulu?
KOS Integrative’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Honolulu uses a personal, integrative approach that treats the whole person rather than simply addressing a symptom or condition.
Patients benefit from:
- A clinically supervised treatment environment.
- Personalized care plans based on individual goals.
- Integration with other supportive therapies.
- A convenient Honolulu location at the Ala Moana Building, 1441 Kapiolani Blvd, #609, Honolulu, HI 96814.
This technique is beneficial to those who wish to incorporate HBOT as one of the facets of an all-encompassing recovery plan, not in place of any treatment at all. To discover more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, visit KOS Integrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used for?
HBOT is used to increase oxygen delivery to tissues and support healing in selected conditions such as chronic wounds, radiation injury, and certain recovery cases. It may also be used in integrative settings for injury and neurological support.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy hurt?
No. HBOT is generally pain-free. The most you’ll experience is ear fullness during pressurization and depressurization.
How long does a session last?
Sessions are typically 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the clinic protocol and the patient’s circumstances.
How many sessions are needed?
It depends on the problem. It can take several treatments for certain problems, while others might require weeks of careful monitoring.
Is HBOT safe?
HBOT is generally considered safe for most patients when properly monitored and screened. Nevertheless, HBOT is not recommended for everyone, which explains the need for medical assessment before therapy.
Can HBOT be combined with other treatments?
Yes, HBOT therapy is used in conjunction with physical therapy, wound care, nutritional, medication, and other integrative health therapies.
Final Thoughts
It’s a cutting-edge treatment that requires strict medical supervision and provides supportive benefits for certain chronic and recovery conditions. It can be helpful to the body because higher oxygen levels at pressure allow the body to facilitate healing, reduce inflammation, and recover.
HBOT could be a good option for patients seeking a nuanced, integrated treatment approach to chronic disease when prescribed properly and under medical supervision.
Read more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy at KOS Integrative on their clinic page, or schedule a consultation with the clinical team to learn more.
Disclaimer: This article is only intended to provide general information. It should not be used as a substitute for personalized medical advice or a professional medical diagnosis.
