What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? (HBOT)
A medical treatment that takes place in a pressurized chamber, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) enhances the body’s natural healing process via providing an environment that consists of 90-100% oxygen. It is typically used for a wide variety of treatments and also can serve as a part of an overall medical care plan.
The History of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
The first Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) chamber was created in 1662 by a physician with the belief that this sealed, pressurized room could help treat certain respiratory diseases and ailments. His work is especially remarkable because it occurred before the discovery of oxygen.
Paul Bert, a French engineer, physician and scientist, paved the way for the foundations of hyperbaric medicine and treatment in 1872. Bert wrote about the physiological effects of air under increased and decreased atmospheric pressures in La Pression Barometrique. This paper focused on his experimental demonstration of the hypoxic etiology of altitude sickness.
What to Expect From HBOT Sessions
To benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, you’ll likely need more than one session. The number of sessions depends on your medical condition. Some conditions, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, might be treated in three visits. Others, such as nonhealing wounds, may require 20 to 40 treatments. After a HBOT session is complete, some patients notice sensations of tiredness or hunger.