I have blogged extensively on hyperbaric oxygen therapy before, but wanted to answer some of the recent questions. First a review of how HBOT works.

The air we breath is approximately 21% oxygen (depending on how polluted it is). Air in an HBOT chamber ranges from 92-100% oxygen, depending on how pressurized it is. “hard” chambers (the kind you see them using for the men they rescue out of mines) pressurize up to 2.5 ATAs and are 100% oxygen. Mild HBOT chambers (soft-sided) pressurize to 1.3 or 1.5 ATAs and deliver 92-95% oxygen.

When your body is... more

New research just released from Denver found that children on the autism spectrum who had 40 sessions in a mild hyperbaric oxygen chamber (mHBOT) had significant language gains compared to a control group.

This research, led by Dr. Dan Rossignol, found that not only did HBOT help with language issues, but also with sleep and intestinal issues. Rossignol has been researching the use of HBOT to improve the lives of autistic children for some time. The hypothesis of why... more

This headline caught my attention, because I’m a believer in the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (especially mild HBOT), but also because I have had Bells Palsy.

What is Bells Palsy?

Bell's palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to one of the two facial nerves. It is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Generally, Bell's palsy affects only one of the paired facial nerves and one side of the face, however,... more

We put LuLu in a mild hyperbaric oxygen (mHBOT) chamber this spring for 40 one-hour sessions. Why? Because some doctors have researched and are now hypothesizing that HBOT will improve symptoms in autistic individuals, much like it has done in people with cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, closed head injuries and stroke. Ok, so, in “parentese” what’s the theory behind the how and why?

Well, first you have to know that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that, at least in some individuals, has been found to... more

"I think the HBOT is working," my darling hubby said today. Those words made my heart SING!!!!!! LuLu is signed up for 10 sessions is a hyperbaric oxygen chamber (actually it's a mild hyperbaric chamber). It is a soft-sided chamber that holds only 2 people and only pressurizes to 1.3 ATA. It takes the ambient air (as opposed to pure oxygen) and forces it into the chamber in such a way as to make the chamber about 92-95% oxygen. Regular air is around 21% oxygen, depending on how polluted the air is where you live. Increasing the oxygen in the air allows your body to increase the oxygen that enters the blood stream. This, in turn, forces more oxygen into your body's tissues. Tissues... more