Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

When in our chamber, you are breathing 95-98% oxygen (the air that we breath contains 21% oxygen). However, it is not this alone that increases the oxygen in your blood.

Hyperbaric means increased pressure. When in a hyperbaric chamber, the air around you increases in pressure. Your body adapts to this pressure by opening up the oxygen membranes to increase oxygen absorption. This, combined with breathing in 95-98% oxygen, massively increases the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Oxygen has one key role within our body… To activate the mitochondria within the cells in order to produce ATP, which is essentially our energy and ‘life force’. ATP enables our cells to function, to repair, and to regenerate. The more oxygen equals as greater production of ATP and better function and repair.

It is our hemoglobin within our Blood that carries the oxygen molecules every cell in our body in order to produce ATP. Sometimes, the hemoglobin finds it difficult to reach some cells due to inflammation that occurs within the body.

When the body is flooded with oxygen, the molecules ‘overflow’ from the Blood, and into the fluid that carries the Blood, known as Plasma. Once the oxygen is in the Plasma, it can reach all of our cells much easier, and improve the production of ATP (energy) throughout the body.

When the body has an increased amount of ATP, the body’s metabolic rate increases, and the body’s cell repair and regeneration also massively increases, as does the production of Stem Cells.

This depends…



• For general health and wellbeing
  We recommend one or two sessions per week for a week or two, or as and when.  With this, patients will feel an increase in energy, improved sleep, and a considerable decrease in inflammatory markers, allowing the natural repair process to take place.




• For acute injuries and soft tissue damage
  We recommend two to three sessions per week, for two to three weeks. Especially if there is pain involved, as this will rapidly reduce inflammation and swelling so that healing can occur.

  Major injuries (or if surgery has been needed) typically require 15-20 sessions over the course of a month to six weeks. A consultation and assessment will determine a more specific treatment plan.




• For mild health issues
  Mild health concerns, such as anemia, Long COVID, and chronic fatigue etc. We recommend 10-20 sessions over the space of one to two months.




• For serious health issues
  Serious health issues, such as brain trauma, degenerative disease, dementia (including Alzheimers), and MS require a more intense treatment plan.  Typically, we recommend the ’40 hour protocol’, which we can discuss individually and work to your individual needs.

This depends… We like to give each patient a minimum of 6o minutes, which starts once you reach full pressure (this can take 10-15 minutes).

Some patients wish to do more, such as up to 90 minutes to 2 hours. However, 20-30minutes has also shown great feedback from patients using the chamber.

2 hours is the maximum per session, and there must be 6-8 hours in between these sessions.

Due to its wide spread effect on cell function, HBOT has quite a wide range of benefits.

As well as helping with injury recovery and inflammation, research has shown that HBOT has beneficial effect on conditions such as Alzheimers, dementia, Long COVID, and a range of inflammatory conditions.  We also see a lot of patients with conditions marked by fatigue, such as ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  Essentially, by increasing the amount of oxygen to the cells, there is an increase of ATP (energy) produced within the cells, that improve cell function, regulation, and cellular repair.

Not much really! When using our chamber, you simply take off your shoes, empty your pockets (no liquids or sharp object allowed), and lie down… You have a comfy foam matress to lie down on and a pillow to rest your head.

You may take your phone or iPad/tablet in there with you if you wish to use it during your session, or you can simply rest and sleep. Some like to listen to music in the chamber, some like to do their work, or some like to rest an enjoy the peace.

After your time is up, we depressurise the chamber, you stand up and get out.

Yes, there are no age restrictions for use of the chamber. However, we asses on a case by case basis to decide if the child would be comfortable in the chamber.

For very young children, an adult can accompany them as there is plenty of room in the chamber for an adult and small child.

Unfortunately not. Increased oxygen in the Blood can actually increase the growth rate of the baby, and cause the baby to grow quicker and bigger. Some studies in Russia have shown its use in fetal maldevelopment and slow fetal growth, however we do not allow use of our chamber whilst pregnant.

Yes – Due to the increase in Oxygen and the increased production of ATP, the body’s metabolism is raised, therefore burning more calories.

Typically, a one hour session in the chamber will cause the body to burn an additional 700 calories.

Yes, just like any other medical intervention, you can overdose on Oxygen causing what is known as ‘Oxygen toxicity’. This has an affect on the Lungs and the central nervous system.

At Concordia Clinic, all of our HBOT operators are trained and skilled in understanding the causes of oxygen toxicity, and the pressures/time to prevent this. The risks of oxygen toxicity are extremely low with the protocols that we stick to.

Most likely, yes!  The increase of oxygen to the lungs and within the bloodstream can be beneficial for most respiratory conditions.

However, if you have suffered Pneumothorax (collapsed Lung) within the past 3-6 months, you cannot use HBOT.

COPD is also cautioned, which we have explained below in the following FAQ.

Although HBOT is excellent for most respiratory conditions, COPD can be a tricky one.

Due to the increase of oxygen within the body, this increases the amount of carbon dioxide that needs to be expelled (breathed out).

Some types of COPD create a diffculty in expelling carbon dioxide, which is why some types of COPD require lower levels of oxygen in the Blood to avoid Hypercarbia.

If you have COPD, we can have a consultation to discuss and assess whether or not HBOT would be suitable.