Now available at OWM Integrative Wellness in Buffalo, NY, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment option that allows you to breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. HBOT is a well-established treatment for decompression sickness that can occur during scuba diving. Additionally, it can successfully deliver high-pressure oxygen and increase tissue oxygen tensions for various diseases or disorders resulting from hypoxic conditions.
HBOT can be used to treat poor tissue oxygen supply due to vascular damage or circulation insufficiency, tissue damage due to injuries or infections, and impairment of tissue recovery. While typically used as adjunctive therapy, recent findings suggest strong benefits as a stand-alone treatment.
How is the HBOT oxygen delivery different from normal air pressure?
Under normal conditions, oxygen is transported by red blood cells through hemoglobin attachment, limiting oxygen delivery to tissues (only 4-6% utilized). In a pressurized environment, both blood plasma and hemoglobin become saturated with oxygen. This results in around 24-30% available oxygen during treatment, ten times more than usual. This substantial increase helps fight bacteria by activating stem cells and mitochondria, which stimulates regenerative healing responses.
Current state of HBOT applications:
Traditionally found in hospitals, research facilities, and dive decompression centers, HBOT therapy has gained recognition over the past decade in regenerative medicine, anti-aging medicine, and as an adjunct in cancer therapy.
Most outpatient wellness centers use a soft shell HBOT chamber, capable of achieving a pressure of 1.3 ATA. However, studies indicate that for various applications, particularly in regenerative and anti-aging medicine, 2 ATA hard shell chambers are more effective. OWM Integrative Wellness boasts one of the few 2 ATA hard shell HBO Therapy chambers in Western New York.
Here are just some of the wellness and anti-aging applications of HBOT:
- Air and gas bubbles in blood vessels
- Anemia (severe when blood transfusions cannot be used)
- Burns (severe and large burns treated at specialized burn centers)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Crush injury
- Decompression sickness (diving risk)
- Gas gangrene
- Hearing loss (complete, sudden, and without known cause)
- Infection of the skin and bone (severe)
- Radiation injury
- Skin graft flap at risk of tissue death
- Vision loss (sudden and painless in one eye due to blockage of blood flow)
- Wounds (non-healing, diabetic foot ulcers)
- Cognitive function, mood, and memory
- Sports performance and recovery
- Post-surgery recovery
- Erectile function
- Sleep optimization
- Neurodegenerative disease management (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)
- Inflammation and autoimmune disease
- Arthritis
- Nerve damage
- Heart function
- Long Covid
- Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) from Lyme and Mold.
- Anti-aging, telomere lengthening
OWM Integrative Wellness’s 2 ATA hard shell HBOT chamber is one of the most sophisticated units on the market. Its progressive pressure control allows users to adjust pressure from 1.3 to 2.0 ATA while inside. The chamber features a quick pressure release valve for rapid exits, a large 36” 7-foot shell for comfort and accommodates individuals of all sizes. An air conditioning unit chills the chamber to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Before choosing an HBOT provider, consider the following:
- All regenerative and anti-aging studies use 2 ATA hard shell chambers.
- OWM Integrative Wellness uses a state-of-the-art 36” 7-foot long 2 ATA hard shell chamber.
- HBOT offers numerous healing and anti-aging benefits.
- Session duration varies from 60 to 90 minutes.
- Recommended sessions: 10 minimum for extended benefits, with an integrated air ionizer for additional benefits similar to a salt cave (improved sleep, reduced stress, mood elevation, and improved immune function).
HBOT is safe for everyone, with no known side effects reported for Mild Hyperbaric Therapy (ATA pressures under 4.0). It is comfortable, safe, and can be combined with most other therapies without associated side effects. Request an appointment online.
