What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Updated: 09/09/2024

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is an innovative therapeutic process that involves the user breathing pure oxygen within a pressurised environment. Our Hyperbaric Hydroxy Airpod is the first of its kind in the UK and increases the user's oxygen absorption by up to 35%.

Hydrogen is proven to selectively target and reduce free radicals, preventing disease, degeneration, and ageing resulting from oxidative stress.

By increasing oxygen and hydrogen to the cells via atmospheric pressure, the AirPod supports the body in optimising detoxification, increasing energy production, improving mental clarity, deepening sleep quality, and improving the health and well-being baseline to help you thrive in everyday life.

Scientific Mechanisms Behind HBOT

Under normal conditions, oxygen is carried by the red blood cells, but during HBOT, oxygen dissolves directly into plasma, reaching tissues and areas with compromised blood flow. This boosts oxygen levels in the body, promoting faster cellular regeneration, reducing inflammation, and supporting tissue repair.

The higher oxygen concentration also encourages collagen production, angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), and the reduction of harmful bacteria, accelerating the healing process and improving recovery.

Why Use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Injured tissues in our body naturally require more oxygen to heal. HBOT can increase the amount of 'normal' oxygen within this tissue. This additional capacity can continue through repeat uses, even when therapy is not used.

HBOT is an excellent treatment for difficult-to-treat injuries, such as wounds caused by diabetes. Similarly, it can aid with the long-term side effects of radiotherapy and speed up the healing of carbon monoxide poisoning.

While HBOT is primarily used for physical recovery, many users express other benefits, such as increased mental clarity, improved sleep, and more energy.

Let's take a look at these benefits in more detail.

The Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

HBOT is primarily used as a therapy for injuries, sickness solutions—such as carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness—and blood-related complications. However, HBOT research has been expanding, with more studies exploring HBOT’s capabilities to positively impact age prevention.

We have also noticed a substantial impact on mental clarity, general body wellness and quick recovery in our members who use HBOT regularly.

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help with Jet Lag?

Jet lag is an all-too-well-known complication for athletes. Travelling around the world regularly can make it challenging to perform at peak performance when the effects of jetlag last for a few days after landing.

Cabins are pressurized, and while at cruising altitude, the air pressure is equivalent to 6000 - 8000 feet above sea level, resulting in less oxygen being absorbed by the blood. Jetlag can persist for multiple days and cause fatigue, grogginess, reduced mental and physical performance and daytime sleepiness.

These symptoms can be catastrophic for athletes looking to perform their best; however, HBOT can reduce or negate jetlag symptoms, allowing users to return to their norm far sooner.

Healing Wounds and Recovery

Damaged blood vessels cause swelling, which deprives our cells of oxygen. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment helps bring oxygen-rich plasma to oxygen-starved tissue. If this tissue does not receive the oxygen it needs, it starts to die, creating a cycle of swelling, deprivation, and cell death.

HBOT interrupts this cycle by drastically increasing the oxygen available to these cells. The increased oxygen helps to lower the swelling around the tissue and promote healing.

Treating Sports-Related Injuries With HBOT

Similarly to healing, injuries create the same problematic cycle. When a part of our body becomes injured, our circulation becomes damaged, which impacts our ability to heal.

Ligament and tendon damage are often more severe and can cause complications for athletes due to their long healing time. This is because they have a more limited blood supply than muscles and other body areas.

Already at a disadvantage, injuries to these areas pose a more significant challenge for our bodies to heal. HBOT can be a promising solution, as it doesn't rely on the body's natural ability to circulate oxygen.

Increasing Energy and Cognitive Function

HBOT can also profoundly affect our energy and cognitive function. The increased pressure and oxygen absorption can help us focus and remove mental blocks. Countless times, our members have explained how, after a session in HBOT, they felt clear-minded and full of energy.

HBOT has been used as a solution for chronic fatigue, and it shows. Athletes need to feel energized and on top of their game, and HBOT helps them do that.

Delays the Onset of Ageing and Degenerative Diseases

HBOT encourages new blood vessels to grow while stimulating cells to produce substances like vascular endothelial. Research suggests that undergoing HBOT regularly can increase our PBMC telomere length by a substantial 20% while reducing the number of senescent cells by up to 37%.

Another study has shown, for the first time in humans, that HBOT positively impacts pathophysiological ageing effects on the skin of human adults.

HBOT for Athletes and recovery

HBOT offers unique advantages. By increasing oxygen delivery to muscle tissue, it aids in reducing muscle fatigue and inflammation, which are common after intense physical activity. It can also speed up recovery from injuries, such as ligament tears, fractures, or soft tissue damage, allowing athletes to return to training quickly.

It can be invaluable for post-competition recovery and ongoing performance enhancement due to its ability to alleviate oxidative stress and enhance stamina.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Performance

HBOT can be highly advantageous for improving performance, whether you’re an athlete or an individual looking to get ahead in your training. By delivering oxygen at elevated levels, HBOT can enhance stamina, endurance, and overall cardiovascular efficiency. The increased oxygen supply thus supports the body’s ability to perform at higher intensities for longer durations.

Combined with faster muscle recovery and reduced risk of injury by improving tissue oxygenation, HBOT can be the hidden gem in any wellness enthusiast’s recovery and performance toolkit.

Guidelines for Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

As with most therapies, it is recommended that you consult your doctor before undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment, especially if you plan to use it outside of clinical practice to target a specific condition.

Ensure you inform the team assisting you with your HBOT of any underlying effects you may have or concerns about. Due to the pressurised nature of HBOT, injuries to the eardrums or eyes can cause complications and potential adverse side effects of HBOT use.

Our staff is trained extensively and can assist you and answer any questions you may have about whether HBOT is suitable for use, given your circumstances.

What to expect from an HBOT session in our Kensington, London Centre

At The Body Lab’s Kensington Centre, your Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy session starts with a consultation to assess your needs and goals. Once inside the hyperbaric chamber, you can relax and benefit from the increased oxygen uptake. Sessions typically last between 60 minutes, during which you can read, meditate, catch up with work or rest. Our London staff will monitor you throughout the process to ensure comfort and safety, making the experience effective and soothing.

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for You?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a well-trusted therapy that revitalises your body with enhanced oxygen absorption. Athletes can bounce back from intense sessions, injuries or mental fog quicker than ever and perform at their peak.

Interested in HBOT?

Benefit from a state-of-the-art, extensive range of regenerative therapies and services that enhance health optimisation inside and out. Our world-class gym has specialist equipment sourced globally, and bespoke personal training is available on demand. This includes direct access to the UK's first Hyperbaric Hydroxy Airpod.

Contact our team or visit our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy page to learn more.