Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBOT) therapy is which enhances tissue levels of life giving oxygen. Normally, oxygen is almost exclusively carried by red blood cells. During HBOT therapy, there is a substantial increase in the amount of oxygen dissolved and carried in all body fluids, including  cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, lymph, and intracellular fluids. This then permits an increase in oxygen levels even in areas with poor or compromised blood supply as well as in areas of tissue damage.

Increasing tissue oxygen levels produces several important long term therapeutic benefits including enhanced growth of new blood vessels, increased ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria and remove toxins, increase growth of fibroblasts (cells involved in wound healing), and enhanced metabolic activity of previously marginally functioning cells including brain neurons.

The mechanisms by which HBOT enhances healing include:

	Hyperoxygenation - increase tissue levels of oxygen
	Neovascularization - enhance growth of new blood vessels.
	Antimicrobial effect - destroys harmful bacteria.
	Leukocyte activation - enhances ability of white blood cell to remove bacteria and debris.
	Fibrolastic proliferation - increases growth of cells which form reparative tissue.