A Brief History
Oxygen therapy was first discovered in 1772 by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. However, he did not scientifically report his findings. In 1774, the English chemist Joseph Priestley published and introduced the concept within a scientific framework. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) began in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1834, Junod described the positive effects of high-pressure oxygen, and the production of hyperbaric chambers began in 1860. Paul Bert, considered the father of hyperbaric medicine, described the therapeutic effects of HBO. Around the same time, Haldane reported that carbon monoxide poisoning could be effectively treated with HBO.
Hyperbaric therapy is a method used to treat diseases or injuries by using pressures higher than local atmospheric pressure inside a hyperbaric chamber. According to the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, HBO therapy is defined as a treatment in which the patient breathes 100% oxygen while inside a chamber with pressures higher than sea level, typically more than 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA).
Mechanism of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The key concept of this method is the relationship between pressure and the solubility of gas in a liquid. According to the principles of physics, increasing pressure can lead to more gas dissolving in a liquid. Therefore, when the atmospheric pressure around a person increases, more oxygen can dissolve in the blood.
In the body, oxygen is carried by red blood cells. With HBOT, oxygen can dissolve in all body fluids, including plasma, central nervous system fluids, lymph, and bone.
Several therapeutic mechanisms of HBOT are described in the literature:
As explained above, HBOT increases the amount of oxygen entering the bloodstream, allowing more oxygen to dissolve deeply into body tissues, including lymph and cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. This reverses hypoxia (areas of the body with low oxygen) and helps deliver oxygen to cells and tissues at risk of dying, such as damaged tissue during surgery or blood loss.
In the short term, HBOT reduces inflammatory pathways and constricts blood vessels to allow less fluid leakage, thereby reducing swelling. In the long term, HBOT has epigenetic effects that turn off genes responsible for inflammation. Inflammation is a key factor in why our bodies deteriorate over time. Reducing inflammation and swelling boosts the immune system and enhances mitochondrial function.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy strengthens the immune system by weakening bacteria causing infections. It also increases the body's natural antioxidants and free radical scavengers, enhancing the ability to fight diseases and infections. Additionally, it can work synergistically with certain antibiotics, improving their effectiveness. HBOT restores WBC function and increases phagocytosis capability. It inhibits anaerobic organisms like Clostridium welchii and also hinders the growth of aerobic bacteria at pressures above 1.3 ATA.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the body, increasing circulation and allowing regenerated tissue to grow even after completing the treatment protocol.
During treatment, HBOT has the power to multiply the circulating stem cells eightfold. These stem cells already exist in the body and have the unique ability to differentiate into any tissue type, making them a valuable tool for regeneration and healing.
- Neurogenesis and Osteogenesis
Exciting advances in clinical research have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a powerful stimulator of neurogenesis (new brain cells), especially after brain injuries or motor disorders. All other tissues and organs can benefit from this process, right down to the bones (osteogenesis - the formation of new bone)!
- Activation of Fibroblasts and New Collagen Formation
HBOT activates fibroblasts, leading to the formation of new collagen and skin cells, resulting in new blood vessel growth. It also stimulates cells to produce specific substances like vascular endothelial growth factor, attracting and stimulating the endothelial cells needed for healing.
HBOT allows mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the chemical that stores and releases the energy required for many cellular processes and is the primary energy source for our bodies. When you experience cellular damage and impaired oxygen-carrying capacity, your body is at risk of not producing enough ATP. Breathing 100% oxygen under pressure allows more oxygen to enter your circulatory system directly. Therefore, HBOT helps optimize cellular energy production by providing extremely high oxygen levels.
- Reduction of Bubble Size by Direct Mechanical Effects of HBO
Arterial gas embolism occurs when air bubbles form in the circulatory system. The reasons for bubble formation can include mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, severe diving injuries, and pulmonary barotrauma. Bubbles cause tissue deformation, vascular obstruction, perfusion disturbances, and oxygenation issues. Biochemical effects at the level of gases within the blood cause endothelial damage, hemostasis changes, and leukocyte activation. Clinical symptoms include muscle and joint pain, arrhythmia, ischemia, confusion, neurological deficits, and loss of consciousness. HBO reduces bubble size according to Boyle's Law, and at 3 ATA, bubble volume decreases by approximately two-thirds
- Pain Reduction and Inflammation-Related Pain Conditions0
Most evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory effects are the key mechanism for this therapeutic effect. It is worth noting that 1/5 of North Americans suffer from inflammation-induced pain disorders, so its importance cannot be underestimated. Add to this the increasing number of people prescribed NSAIDs or who cannot tolerate these drugs or who risk long-term consequences from prolonged use. New data now confirm opioid-like effects after HBOT. This contributing factor may help explain the powerful and remarkable pain-relieving effects of HBOT, well-documented in clinical studies.
Dr.Amin Norouzi PHD Of Physiotherapy / Maryam Mohammadi Master Of Physiotherapy