What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a highly specialised form of medicine where the patient breathes 100% oxygen at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. In HBOT treatment, hyperbaric pressure is created in a rigid-walled medical chamber where the amount of oxygen entering the body increases in proportion to the increase in breathing pressure.

Oxygen is delivered by red blood cells, normally at atmospheric pressure. In the context of HBOT, the extra oxygen will be dissolved directly in the tissues, in body fluids, in large quantities.

This allows oxygen to reach tissues with reduced blood supply or damaged tissues. Increased oxygen levels stimulate capillary remodelling, regeneration of damaged tissues and organs, help prevent and fight infections, reduce inflammation and significantly speed up the healing process. It increases the body's own antioxidant function, and the circulating stem cell numbers.

Its uses are defined by the European Underwater and Baromedical Society (EUBS) at consensus conferences, following the principles of evidence-based medicine.

Our oxygen chamber - also known as the high pressure oxygen chamber - is manufactured by the European market leader, the German company HAUX. The maximum pressure of the chamber is plus 5 atmospheres and treatments are carried out at plus 1.5 atmospheres. The chamber can accommodate 8 people at a time in a seated position.

Interesting fact

It is not only the high oxygen levels achieved during treatment that are involved in the healing process. Between treatments, oxygen levels normalise, i.e. they decrease and then increase again with the next treatment. This change in oxygen levels is the most powerful trigger for tissue regeneration and capillary regeneration. The phenomenon is known in medicine as the hypoxia - hyperoxia paradox.