What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy – and how can it help with insomnia and muscle aches?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) offers some real wellness benefits – just ask Michael Phelps, Novak Djokovic or Maria Sharapova
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised environment, has been around for decades. It is a well-established treatment for decompression sickness and accelerates the healing of carbon monoxide poisoning and non-healing wounds. More recently, it has transitioned from hospitals to wellness clinics, promising a wide range of benefits from improved cognitive function to better sleep.
My hour-long journey begins with the familiar sensation of a fullness in my ears as the pressure builds, similar to the feeling during an aeroplane taking off and landing. I drink small sips of water. It takes about five minutes to reach 1.5 ATA (atmospheres absolute) – the cruising pressure for this session – and then my ear pressure resolves itself. HBOTs in wellness centres can reach up to 2 ATA while those in hospitals can go even higher – that’s the key difference between the two.
HBOT is a huge step up from the oxygen bar trend of the early 2000s. The main difference here is the higher atmospheric pressure in a HBOT chamber, which allows us to breathe in three times the regular amount of oxygen. The oxygen is delivered to our cells, nerves and plasma, boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation and promoting faster healing of injured cells and organs.