Hyperbaric therapy has gained increasing attention in recent years, not just in hospitals but also in the world of wellness and recovery. At its core, it’s a treatment that uses pressurised oxygen to support the body’s natural healing processes. But how does that work, and why are more people turning to it?
From helping divers recover from decompression sickness to supporting wound healing and even being explored for sports recovery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used across a wide range of applications. By delivering higher levels of oxygen to the body than we can normally absorb, it may help tissues repair faster, reduce inflammation, and improve overall recovery.
In this article, we’ll break down what hyperbaric therapy is, how it works, and the ways it may benefit your health, so you can better understand whether it’s something worth considering.
What is Hyperbaric Therapy?
Hyperbaric therapy aims to increase blood oxygen levels to help the body heal and fight infections.
Previously, it has been used in the medical field to treat conditions such as decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, soft tissue infections, gas bubbles in blood vessels and chronic wounds that aren’t healing.
However, now more people are turning to it for its general health benefits.
How it works
The treatment takes place in a Hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which is pressurised with pure oxygen
We use a monoplace chamber, suitable for one person to use it at a time. The chamber is tube shaped and horizontal, allowing you to lie down and relax as your body absorbs the oxygen.
The high pressure within the chamber helps the oxygen dissolve directly into your blood which optimises recovery and health.
How Hyperbaric Therapy Helps the Body
When you breathe pure oxygen in a pressurised environment, your lungs can take in significantly more oxygen than under normal conditions. This oxygen is then carried throughout the body via the bloodstream, reaching areas that may be deprived due to injury or poor circulation.
This increase in oxygen can:
- Support faster healing and tissue repair
- Reduce inflammation and swelling
- Help the body fight infection more effectively
- Stimulate the formation of new blood vessels and arteries (a process known as angiogenesis)
- Aid new nerve growth
- Facilitate diabetic neuropathy
Together, these effects can enhance the body’s natural recovery processes and support overall health.
Emerging & Wellness Applications
As mentioned above, while well practiced within the medical field, hyperbaric therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the wellness space. While research is still ongoing in some areas, it is commonly used for:
- Supporting sports recovery and reducing muscle fatigue
- Enhancing general recovery and performance
- Promoting skin health and anti-ageing benefits
- Supporting brain health and cognitive function
These are many of the benefits that draw people to our cutting-edge Optima Hyperbaric Chambers.
What to Expect During a Session
A typical hyperbaric therapy session lasts 60 minutes. During this time, you’ll lie comfortably inside the chamber while it gradually pressurises.
You may feel a slight pressure in your ears, similar to what you experience during a flight or while diving, but this usually settles quickly. Most people use the time to relax, listen to music, read a book, or simply rest.
Risks and Considerations
Hyperbaric therapy is generally considered safe when carried out correctly. However, as with any treatment, there are some potential side effects to be aware of:
- Mild ear discomfort or pressure
- Temporary changes in vision
- Fatigue after sessions
- In rare cases, more serious complications can occur
This is why it’s important to ensure treatment is carried out in a professional setting with trained supervision. At Elements Health Hub, our staff are fully trained to offer guidance and supervision on usage of our oxygen chamber, helping you learn when you should be using it, how often and for how long.
Who Should Avoid It?
Hyperbaric therapy may not be suitable for everyone. It’s important to seek medical advice before starting treatment, particularly if you:
- Have certain lung conditions
- Have a history of collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
- Are taking specific medications that may interact with oxygen therapy
A proper assessment will help determine whether it is safe and appropriate for you. This is something we will discuss with you before you start using our oxygen chamber, but if you have any specific questions or concerns about using it, you should always reach out to our team before use.
Is Hyperbaric Therapy Effective?
At Elements Health Hub, we are often asked if hyperbaric oxygen chambers are effective. Our answer, yes.
There is strong scientific evidence supporting the use of hyperbaric therapy for specific medical conditions, particularly those related to wound healing and oxygen deprivation.
And there is growing evidence showing it is effective for general wellness and performance too.
Specific benefits we see include:
- Optimising oxygen delivery via arteries/capillaries
- Enhancing all healthy cellular function
- Lowering inflammatory cytokine activity in tissues
- Improving learning and brain/neurological function
- Supporting new arterial/capillary growth for better blood flow (angiogenesis)
Hyperbaric Therapy at Elements Health Hub
Hyperbaric therapy is a unique and increasingly popular treatment that works by delivering high levels of oxygen to support the body’s natural healing processes. From established medical uses to emerging wellness applications, it offers a wide range of potential benefits.
Today, the therapy offers you advanced healing and vitality along with the chance to relax and let your body recuperate from activity, illness or everyday life.
Discover more about our hyperbaric chamber and how you might be able to benefit from it today. Book your tour with one of our experts online or by calling us on 01425 203303.
You can also learn more about becoming a member of Elements Health Hub to get access to discounts, health tips from specialists and easy access to all of our therapies.