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

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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy might be the next big thing in wellness. Photo: Getty Images

Kate Whitehead

Published: 3:15am, 29 Oct 2024

I missed out on a summer holiday, so stepping into the hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Cryo, in Central, Hong Kong, feels like the trip I’ve been craving. The sleek silver chamber resembles a space capsule and is fitted with two comfortable seats and ample space to stretch out. After a brief rundown of the safety features and what to expect, I put on my nasal cannula, and the glass door slides shut. I’m ready for take-off. Destination – better health.

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.

A hyperbaric oxygen therapy tank chamber in hospital clinic treats patients for diseases and medical conditions. Photo: Getty Images

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.

There’s a television ahead of me – promising Netflix – and my phone within reach, but I settle back to immerse myself in this trip, which was delayed a week because of a cold (I didn’t fancy the risk of a burst eardrum). Recent ear surgery or injury, pregnancy and certain types of lung disease would also have ruled out HBOT.

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.

Sharon Tan and husband Dennis Tan in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Cryo. Photo: courtesy of Cryo

Sharon Tan, who is in her late 70s, experienced pain in her joints and knees before trying Cryo’s HBOT a year ago. Tan says she is still feeling the benefits she experienced from the 20 sessions she did with her husband.