> Holistic Healing > Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Human beings cannot exist without oxygen. Since our bodies are mostly H₂O (hydrogen and oxygen in the form of water), we depend on oxygen not only to live, but also to protect our bodies against viruses, bacteria, infection and disease.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an increasingly popular method of utilizing the healing powers of oxygen. Not to be confused with the latest rage of oxygen bars that are popping up across North America, HBOT is a clinical treatment provided by highly qualified medical staff who use it as an effective complementary healing method.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses pure, 100-percent oxygen in a pressurized environment to treat numerous physical ailments and diseases. The Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society and The American College of Hyperbaric Medicine recognize HBOT for treatment of a wide range of injuries, infections, poisonings and resulting symptoms. Currently research is being done to confirm HBOT for heart attack, neurological conditions, near-drowning and chronic fatigue. According to Drs. Sanja Savic Kallesoe and Klaus Kallesoe of the Baro Medical Clinic in Vancouver, many medical professionals would like to see more Canadian research dollars dedicated to HBOT. This would ensure a higher level of efficacy in the treatment of an even wider range of ailments–diabetes, for example.

"Diabetics stand to gain enormously from HBOT, given the high risk of secondary complications like leg ulcers, bladder and kidney problems, eye problems and limb amputations," says Dr. Klaus Kallesoe. "These complications are typically caused by long-term oxygen starvation of the tissue."

He says clients who have been almost blind from diabetic retinopathy have even been able to see again. "As remarkable as this may sound, this is considered only a positive side-effect. The real benefit is in the regeneration of tissues throughout the body."

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, has published much research on HBOT, particularly its effects on autism and neurological disorders. In one study, printed in Science, he found that HBOT brought dissolved oxygen to the gilia cells (which may be a vital part of the brain’s wiring, providing physical support to the neurons). The oxygen was found to redistribute blood to the area, preventing further damage. Dr. Mehl-Madrona maintains that injuries, infections and diseases can reduce and eliminate oxygen in the tissue, inhibiting the body’s ability to heal, but HBOT can reverse the problem by helping red blood cells deliver maximum oxygen to tissue.

How It Works

Two types of chambers are used: multiplace and monoplace. Multiplace chambers accommodate groups of people, depending on chamber size. Patients receive pure oxygen through masks or hood-like devices while the chamber itself contains "normal" air, the basic oxygen-nitrogen mix we all breathe daily. This arrangement exposes all patients in the chamber to the same level of pressure and duration of time. Monoplace chambers are designed for one person at a time, affording a 100-percent pure oxygen environment and individualized therapeutic use of more specific pressure, oxygen and length of exposure.

Both methods allow more dissolved oxygen in the blood, which helps reduce infection and promote healing. With the introduction of pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, hemoglobin and plasma can transport a higher concentration of oxygen. More blood and oxygen in tissue means increased circulation and healing.

Hyperbaric clinics vary depending upon equipment, level of expertise and focus. Some are very specific in what they offer, while others may take a more wholistic approach, preferring to combine HBOT with other modalities that address lifestyle issues, nutrition and detoxification. Well-equipped clinics should be able to provide a safe, regulated environment staffed with responsible, qualified doctors, medical professionals and technicians. Dr. Alibhai of HOC Health Center in Coquitlam, BC, says the patient’s medical history should be thoroughly researched, and any changes in the patient’s condition should be recorded.

Medical hyperbaric oxygen facilities have diagnostic equipment that can determine the level of oxygen delivered to a specific area of the body before and after treatment. This is essential to ensure that the basic principle of HBOT is effective, each patient is progressing and treatment is carried through to a satisfactory result.

As with therapy of any kind, it’s important to consult with your health-care provider and find out what conditions your health insurance provider may cover. In Canada, Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage is minimal and restricted because of lack of standardization in private HBOT facilities. Currently, a Canadian committee headed by Dr. Sanja Savic Kallesoe is working closely with America’s Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society to establish a sister organization that will be recognized by the College of Surgeons and Physicians and, subsequently, MSP.

Because Canada is still in its infancy regarding HBOT, only a handful of hyperbaric chambers are available, mainly in large hospitals and private facilities. Yet the US has hundreds and Europe, Russia and Japan boast many thousands. As consumer demand increases and standardization is achieved in Canada, we should begin to see more widespread use of HBOT. Meantime, it’s advisable to choose wisely and read up on this new therapy. The Internet is a good place to start. Most facilities can provide a wide range of written materials, including general information and, more specifically, case studies and testimonials.

Web Resources

hbomedtoday.com
oxytank.com/quanda

American College of Hyperbaric Medicine:
hyperbaricmedicine.org 

Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society:
uhms.org

Randomised Controlled Trials in Hyperbaric Medicine:
hboevidence.com

Health Canada on HBOT:
hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/medical/hyperbaric

Reg Block is the producer of The Susan Cameron-Block Radio Show (Current Health Issues). He writes for a number of magazines on various topics.

Source: alive #241, November 2002