Hyperbaric Chamber Treatment (HBOT)

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During hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a patient is placed in a pressurized chamber and breathes in pure oxygen, which increases the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. This increase in oxygen levels can have several beneficial effects on the brain:

  1. Promotes angiogenesis: HBOT promotes the growth of new blood vessels, which can improve blood flow and supply of oxygen to damaged brain areas.

  2. Reduces inflammation: HBOT has been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help prevent further damage and support healing.

  3. Mobilizes stem cells: HBOT mobilizes stem cells, which can differentiate into different types of cells in the body and contribute to tissue repair.

These effects of HBOT have been observed in studies on various brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In addition, HBOT has also been found to be beneficial for other conditions, such as stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.

Soft shell chamber used for brain injury patients at KOS Integrative.

The Specialists explain

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is a medical treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing processes. It is a simple, non-invasive, and painless treatment. The combination of increased atmospheric pressure and increased percentage of oxygen in a total body chamber treats a wide variety of medical conditions. It is also commonly referred to as oxygen treatment, hyperbaric therapy, or hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Under normal circumstances, oxygen is transported throughout the body by red blood cells with a tiny amount also dissolved in plasma, the liquid portion of the blood. When oxygen is delivered under pressure much greater amounts of oxygen are dissolved in plasma where it is more readily available for transfer to all of the tissues and fluids in the body, such as the central nervous system fluid, the lymphatic system, connective tissue, all solid organs, and bone. In the smallest blood vessels, plasma blood flow carries the increased oxygen to areas where circulation is diminished or blocked. In this way, adequate oxygen can reach all of the damaged tissues, especially those where healing is delayed or diminished. Once sufficient oxygen is delivered to these damaged tissues, the oxygen reduces swelling. This greatly enhances the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria and stimulates new blood vessels to grow more rapidly into the affected areas.

Paul G. Harch M.D. - New Orleans

resources to understand HBOT


Podcast:

  1. "The Miracle of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy" by Bulletproof Radio: Host Dave Asprey interviews Dr. Paul Harch about the benefits of HBOT for brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion. They discuss how HBOT works and the science behind it.

  2. "The Brain Possible" by Dr. Stephanie Daniel: In this episode, Dr. Daniel talks with Dr. Paul Harch about HBOT and how it can help with a variety of brain injuries and conditions, including stroke, cerebral palsy, and autism.

  3. "The Dr. Hedberg Show" by Dr. Nikolas Hedberg: Dr. Hedberg interviews Dr. Paul Harch about HBOT and its potential benefits for brain injuries and neurological conditions. They also discuss the controversy surrounding the use of HBOT in mainstream medicine.

  4. "The Regenerative Health Podcast" by Dr. Chad Edwards: In this episode, Dr. Edwards talks with Dr. Scott Sherr about the use of HBOT for brain injuries and other conditions. They discuss how HBOT works, its potential benefits, and the latest research on the topic.

  5. "The Joe Rogan Experience" by Joe Rogan: Joe Rogan talks with Dr. Mark Gordon about brain injuries, including CTE, and the potential benefits of HBOT. They discuss the science behind HBOT and how it can help with brain healing.


Studies:

  1. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis" (2019) - This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of HBOT on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and found that HBOT significantly improved cognitive function, decreased mortality rates, and improved overall outcomes.

  2. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial" (2012) - This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of HBOT on patients with moderate to severe TBI and found that HBOT improved cognitive function, increased cerebral blood flow, and reduced inflammation.

  3. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for post-concussion syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial" (2018) - This study protocol outlines a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of HBOT on patients with post-concussion syndrome.

  4. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis" (2017) - This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of HBOT on patients with TBI and found that HBOT significantly improved cognitive function, reduced mortality rates, and improved overall outcomes.

  5. Rockswold SB, Rockswold GL, Zaun DA, et al. A prospective, randomized Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of traumatic brain injury. J Neurosurg. 2016;125(4):872-883. doi:10.3171/2015.11.JNS151659. PMID: 29132229.

  6. 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. 2018;35(23):2636-2645. doi:10.1089/neu.2018.5755. PMID: 29152209.

  7. The study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma in 2018 evaluated the use of HBOT as a preventive therapy for military service members who were at high risk for TBI. The study enrolled 46 participants who received 40 sessions of HBOT over the course of one year. The study found that HBOT appeared to be safe and may have potential as a preventive therapy, but more research is needed to determine its efficacy.

  8. The study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery in 2015 investigated the use of HBOT as a prophylactic treatment for athletes in contact sports who were at risk for repetitive concussions. The study enrolled 16 high school football players who received 40 sessions of HBOT over the course of one season. The study found that HBOT did not prevent the occurrence of concussions in the athletes, but it did improve cognitive function in those who had sustained concussions.

Patient Reviews

 Essentially Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is delivered by you entering a tube structure, like deep sea divers might decompress in. You enter, and stay inside for a doctor-prescribed time period. The pressure inside can be adjusted and changed. The point is to push more oxygen into your brain for healing. It’s the same kind of tube that a deep sea diver would use if they had the bends.    When you are in the tube you are breathing pure oxygen and dropped down to a pressure that would mimic being in 10-12 feet of water. The oxygen you are breathing oxygenates your blood and is easily able to push through the blood brain barrier and start to bring fresh oxygenated blood to the brain. It also helps to drain the toxic fluids in the injured brain and brings down the inflammation. With HBOT your cells start to regenerate much more quickly, due to the high oxygenation, and you also start to create Stem Cells at a higher rate. These processes start healing your body very quickly. Being in ‘the tube’ is relaxing and you can watch movies to pass the time. The lack of blood flow to the brain is the main reason concussions take so long to recover and are so challenging. Not enough blood is getting to the brain normally to heal the damaged area. The first time I did HBOT I felt a huge improvement. I could think more clearly, I was faster mentally and just felt better overall. I could literally feel my brain working better and the relief that this brought was profound. I can’t stress enough how much HBOT can quickly and safely heal a concussion or TBI. If you can get in there very quickly after your accident you can actually reverse the damage in a few treatments (in some cases), and be back to normal. I was on the extreme side due to years of surfing and very heavy wipeouts, and I needed 80+ treatments. This was due to all the many years of damage that had accumulated from supposedly ‘minor’ concussions. HBOT took my brain to a 50% recovery.

Shawn Dollar /Scott Sherr - New York and the Bay Area in California

 

I did HBOT through a government study in New Orleans. Dr. Harch does lots of studies so look into it for some free treatments. I got 40 free. HBOT significantly changed my recovery. This treatment was the first time I had received anytime of relief. The sooner you get in a tub the better the results will be. However, you have to be extremely careful. Patients can "overdose" on this treatment. Proper dosing is our specialty, this is where Dr. Harch excels. I suggest reading Dr. Harch's book The Oxygen Revolution. 

Audrey Lambidakis /Paul G. Harch M.D. - New Orleans

I used HBOT for 3 weeks in San Jose to treat my concussion sustained in Portugal and noticed gradual improvements in my overall well being.

Nic Lamb/Scott Sherr - New York and the Bay Area in California

This was a huge help for me! Did 40 sessions to start with. Felt amazing after and the positive affects kept growing after I was finished. In the process of doing 20 more to top it off. I couldn’t recommend HBOT enough.

Thomas Lundgard /Harriet Segelcke (Chiroprator) - Half Moon Bay, CA

This was one of the first treatments I did. Unfortunately I passed out after my first treatment so they wouldn’t let me come back due to liability reasons. I never tried it again so I can’t say it helped me because I never continued treatment. I do know others who have seen improvement and say that it has helped them a lot.

Harley Rose Taich


The treatment that helped me the most was Hyperbarich Oxygen Therapy. My doctor at Amen clinic was Dr. Lawrence Tucker. He has his own practice now. But when he was at Amen Clinics he was great. He knew exactly what to do. Sent me to get HBOT after I had the SPECT Scan and it worked. It got rid of the pain in my head.

Bjorn Hazelquist/Ame Clinic, Dr. Lawrence Tucker