This might come as a surprise because autism, just like HBOT, hasn’t come up yet with a detailed explanation of its root cause. Autism occurs in 1 of every 150 Americans and its clinical signs usually manifest within the first three years of life. The disorder continues to affect every single family who has a child with autism so it’s safe to assume that the news about HBOT’s effectiveness is a good one to start with. Now the question here is not about HBOT’s authenticity but on whether the mainstream society is ready or not to accept its effectiveness to manage some known conditions like autism.

Autism and Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: What’s the real deal?

Autism is not new to our ears anymore. Although it has been existent for so many years already, its real cause is still covered both with mystery and controversy. On the other hand, several experts have given a lot of theories regarding its source. Some of its potential causes are the following: brain injury, deficiency in some essential vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, convulsions, traumatic birth injury, oxygen deficiency and side-effect of MMR vaccine. There are medications and therapies that are tailor-fit for children with autism but as far as impressive improvements are concerned, they really fell short. This is when HBOT comes to the picture.

One of the most notable studies made to establish the link between autism and HBOT was the one published in BMC Pediatrics last 2009. The research group was helmed and co-authored by Dr. Dan Rossignol, a family physician from the prestigious International Child Development Resource Center in Melbourne. What they found out has surprised the whole medical community: Out of 62 children ages 2 to seven who participated, a significant number of children with autism have manifested significant improvement on their temperament, social skills and tolerance to noise after spending a total of 40 hours within the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. What is more surprising is the fact that those who continued receiving the same therapy outside the research facility have shown better progress than those who received it for research purposes alone.

How can people with autism benefit from the therapy?

HBOT has been known for improving the blood flow and production of new blood vessels in cases like gangrene and burns. For children with autism, the same mechanism works in favour of them. According to the research team led by Dr. Rossignol, exposure of children with autism to highly pressurized oxygen can both change the chemical and physical make-up of their brains. HBOT helps in decreasing the inflammation of the brain tissues which, in turn, can significantly improve the blood flow towards the areas that have experienced a serious deficiency in oxygen supply. This is a very crucial step in autism management because as I mentioned above, one of the proposed causes of this developmental disorder is the lack of blood supply feeding those areas in the brain responsible for speech, socialization and personality. As a result, children who have received ample hours of exposure from the hyperbaric oxygen therapy have manifested impressive improvements in their personality like less tantrum attacks, less sensitivity to noise and an increased interest in socialization.

How safe is hyperbaric oxygen therapy for people with autism?

Although a more accurate and credible scientific study hasn’t arrived yet, more and more anecdotal evidences are attesting to the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in alleviating the negative manifestations associated with autism. However, Dr. Rossignol admits that there are cases when this therapy produces less than desirable results like ear pain, myopia, sinus problems and rare cases of seizures. In addition to that, HBOT requires temporary enclosure to a cylindrical chamber that can give unfavourable results especially to claustrophobic children.

HBOT has a great potential in making the lives of children with autism a little bit better but further research is still required before the general public can finally embrace the whole idea. Insurance companies are not yet ready to cover the expenses related to HBOT which can amount to almost $150 per session. If we’re going to base the previous studies and testimonies of people who already tried it, HBOT is clearly working in favour of children with autism. Everyone must weigh the pros and cons first because in the end, the safety of those who suffer from autism will still matter above all.

A lot of positive feedbacks have been propagated about the therapy but the truth still remains that it hasn’t reached its full potential yet. If a lot of people have been raving about it, then why hyperbaric oxygen therapy still remains unappreciated? The answer is simple: It’s either the therapy is too expensive for other people to get access to it or the medical community is not yet ready to embrace it wholeheartedly. True enough, only 20 medical schools in the U.S. have their own hyperbaric facilities according to Elmer M. Cranton, M.D. and the traditional patients are not too risky to spend at least $160 dollars per hour to avail of its health benefits. But away from the public spot light, what is the real deal about hyperbaric oxygen therapy that the general public are starting to be more open about it? What are its benefits and how can people benefit from this latest product of medical ingenuity?

How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy work?

Room air can only support you respiration but it won’t increase the oxygen concentration in the body. However, if you’re going to bring a twofold or even threefold increase in air pressure (more than 1 ATA or atmospheric absolute) and then use this to allow yourself get a consistent supply of 100% oxygen, there’s no doubt that you will be ahead of the game. The pressurized oxygen that you will receive will be enough to replace toxic gases in the body and provide ample supply of oxygenation to wounds and ischemic tissues. Ad because of the high pressure, trapped or toxic gases will now be easier to eject out of the body, making hyperbaric oxygen therapy a perfect choice for people with cyanide poisoning or cases of air embolism.

What the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is used for?

Some insurance companies are not that ready to cover the expenses that a patient will spend using hyperbaric oxygen therapy due to certain controversies regarding its effectiveness that has long been proven by reliable research and experimental studies. Nonetheless, the therapy has been proven safe and effective with side-effects ranging from a simple “fullness” of the ears to mild dizziness that are known effects of exposure to pressurized air. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been recommended to be used in cases of thermal burns, gas gangrene, peptic or diabetic ulcers, decompression sickness (usually experienced by several divers) and air embolism. HBOT is also beginning to prove its significance in managing several forms of brain-related/degenerative disorders. New England Journal of Medicine first published the claim that HBOT significantly helps in improving the lives of patients with multiple sclerosis. Another milestone in hyperbaric oxygen therapy took place when a surprising research result published in Family Practice News last 2006 has revealed an impressive link between HBOT and improved cognitive and motor skills of children suffering from cerebral palsy. Clinical studies done over  the past few years has also suggested that at least 30 times of full one-hour HBOT sessions can significantly increase one’s chance of recovery and quality of life after getting stroke. The main mechanism used by the therapy focuses more on the pressure that can either displace harmful agent or produce necessary changes in the quality or amount of blood vessels depending on the existing needs of the body.

What happens during the therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to begin with, is a therapy that can be as peaceful as you want it to be. You will be asked to get inside a chamber and spend the one full hour receiving 100% of pure oxygen. The pressure will be gradually increased as the therapy progresses and decrease it in the same manner before you get out of the one-person, transparent chamber. You will be monitored and be provided with your needs by a medical professional so don’t worry about any minor glitch that might come along the way.

What are the preparations being done for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Just like in any hospital procedure, every patient who is about to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy must stick to a certain protocol. A complete medical and/or drug history is very vital at this point because some drugs, especially prednisone, aspirin, insulin and pain killers, can react negatively with the therapy. Nicotine that is usually found in tobacco products is also prohibited so one must expect to stop smoking few hours or days before the actual therapy. Cosmetic products like cologne, nail polish and lotion are also a big no-no before and during the procedure although patients can use them again once the procedure is done. Patients are also advised to delay therapy if they are experiencing symptoms of mild sickness like sore throat, cough, colds or even flu; you can’t expect pressurized oxygen to heal these health problems in just a snap so it will always be better to be in your tip-top shape the moment you enter the clinic to avail the therapy.

What Decompression Chambers are used for?

When it comes to diving, it is very crucial to learn a detailed approach to avoid the dangers of diving deeper into the sea. Atmospheric pressure is not constant; it can decrease or increase depending how deep you are in the water. Technically speaking, the deeper you get, the higher the atmospheric pressure is. And for any scuba diver, the risks of getting entangled into a danger zone can significantly increase once the atmospheric pressure increases. In addition to this, the task at  hand can get a little more complicated once a diver realizes that he has been put in a dangerous water literally- -sharks roaming around and risks of injuries are higher than ever. Now, it’s a good thing that there is decompression chamber that can keep anyone safe from the hazards of too much atmospheric pressure and being surrounded by dangerous sea animals. The higher the pressure is, the more nitrogen that the body will take in so decompression chamber is one way of decreasing one’s chance of getting decompression sickness and nitrogen toxicity, two health concerns commonly encountered by divers. Decompression chambers, aside from its usual role in preventing health problems among divers, can also act as a safe haven for this group of people, providing a main storage area for diving equipments and a place for eating or relaxation especially for those who are doing a scientific expedition. In the same way that these chambers help in stopping the process of decompression once the group of divers reach the desired depth, hyperbaric chambers can also help them to adjust to normal pressures once they get out of the water surface. But beyond its indispensable role in keeping professional divers alive and kicking, decompression chambers can also work in miracles for those people who are seeking effective remedies for their health concerns.

What do Decompression Chambers treat?

Decompression chambers are the main compartments that trained medical professionals use to administer hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The process is almost identical to what they commonly use for diving professionals but in this case, increasing oxygen saturation in the body is done with only one goal in sight and that is to improve the health condition of an individual. Decompression chambers are either classified as multiplace or monoplace. Multiplace is a decompression chamber that is every claustrophobic’s dream place; it can contain several patients and allow them to receive 100% pure pressurized oxygen using a nasal cannulae or a simple plastic hood. Monoplace, on the other hand, lets the patient lie down within an airtight cylinder and receive the oxygen therapy for one to two hours. The process of the therapy is quite simple: You inhale pure oxygen using an atmospheric pressure that is three times higher than the normal room air to let the gases become easily dissolved by the blood. This can be applied for non-diving purposes because deep into the sea, the usual atmospheric pressure that is being utilized is about six times higher than the normal pressure. However, the secret of this therapy clearly relies on this increased pressure. For example, toxicity with cyanide and carbon monoxide can be greatly reduced with enough oxygen to replace them. The same pressurized gas will enable your body to get rid of air embolism by expelling them out of the body. High percentage of oxygen saturation also helps to release certain types of antioxidants that are known to fight cancer-causing and age-related free radicals. Moreover, decompression chambers are also useful tools in terms of fighting aerobic and anaerobic bacteria involved in ulcers and gas gangrene. Recent studies have also revealed that the wonderful health benefits of decompression chambers can potentially reach greater heights with its potential in preventing complications and exacerbations of known disorders like stroke, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy among children.

Some of these units are nearly home made with compressor parts, valves and fittings that can be purchased over the counter at the local Home Depot and others have custom machined parts all of which have been specifically designed with precise tolerances for hyperbaric use. This is not to say that the simple models are not effective, they certainly are less expensive to maintain and repair, and for simple non commercial use they may be strong an durable enough for personal use. Whereas the larger commercial built hyperbaric chambers may be better suited to continuous use in commercial medical or industrial diving an military environments.

In addition to the new hyperbaric chambers, there is a strong and thriving market for used hyperbaric chambers. These machines are from military surplus, closed medical facilities, and the chambers being discarded as they are replaced for newer models. Many of the used chambers in fact have been fully refurbished, oftentimes allowing an individual access to a commercial grade machine for the same price as a newer but less durable and precise personal grade model. As with any purchase, there are many variables within each purchase with price being only a single factor among many.

The price of hyperbaric chambers is directly related to the grade, instrumentation, maximum pressurization, and size of the chamber in question. A typical new chamber for personal use can easily be priced around $15,000 with the same unit being sold for $5,000 – $8,000 used. For commercial models the used units typically sell for prices close to 60% of new. It is not unusual to see a commercial grade fully monitored and instrumented chamber selling new for $120,000 and used for $72,000. These prices are simple examples of expected prices when purchasing a hyperbaric chamber. Actual prices vary with countless variables including overall demand. The best way to purchase a hyperbaric chamber is the same as with shopping for any other large ticket item shop, compare, study the market and take the time necessary to ensure that you are purchasing the best deal available.

HBOT treatments were originally designed as a specific treatment for decompression sickness in deep sea divers. The treatments would subject the diver to a pressurized pure oxygen environment where the residual bubbles of gas in their tissues, the source of their decompression sickness, would be dissolved and eliminated through the infusion of the oxygen. With the success of this therapy and the understanding that oxygen is critical in the stimulation of new cells, blood vessels, and tissue growth as well as critical in healing and overall well being, that researchers began experimenting with the hyperbaric chambers and their effect on various illness and disease. Once they found that the beneficial effects of HBOT reached far beyond decompression sickness, the field of research opened up to include everything from treatments for multiple sclerosis through cerebral palsy.

Currently there are more than a dozen commonly accepted conditions, by medical associations and even Medicare, that are treated with HBOT and hundreds under research. In alternative medicine circles HBOT is being effectively used for the treatment of countless conditions that have yet to prove themselves and be accepted through the slow bureaucratic governmental process. Yet it is fortunate that HBOT is non-chemical and a non-drug treatment enabling patients access to HBOT therapies while the Government and insurance companies continue to research and decide which of the additional HBOT treatments should be approved and covered. In the meantime thousands of patients across the globe enjoy the benefits and healing qualities of HBOT daily. While the use of Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for the treatment of many conditions is being throughly researched and put to the test, the generalized acceptance of HBOT in medical journals and associations is increasing with each new proven therapy and undeniable peer reviewed clinical trial.

These hyperbaric chambers are at a minimum large enough for a single person with some chambers used in larger diving or military applications having the capacity to hold up to 9 or 10 people. Most traditional hyperbaric chambers are only built for a single person.

When the person enters the chamber they normally lie on their back during the chamber processes. Once sealed with the person inside, the chamber is then filled with varied amounts of oxygen, depending on the specific therapy, using a series of valves and an air compressor. The air within the chamber is monitored and the specific air mixture between oxygen and traditional room air is altered to fit the prescribed therapy. Most therapies target a 100% oxygen level with the person being given periodic breaks where they are able to breathe traditional room air in order to avoid oxygen toxicity.

Some chambers, normally the ones with more than a single person capacity, also have those inside the chamber wearing sealed hoods where their personal airflow can be altered without changing the overall body exposure to the pressurized oxygen. In these situations the air in the hoods is only reduced from 100% oxygen for brief periods, this is to ensure that all of the air in the body, including the air in the lungs, is at a maximum level of pressured oxygen for the longest allowable time.

Hyperbaric chambers are used in medical facilities across the globe to treat a variety of illness and disease including air and gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, diabetic foot, thermal burns, as well as countless other applications. While these are all approved and recognized therapies, there is promising research in the use of hyperbaric chambers for autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis as well as a host of other conditions. The typical use of hyperbaric chambers by diving companies and the military is for decompression sickness and other diving related conditions.

The official term for hyperbolic chamber treatments is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and is represented by the acronym HBOT. The following HBOT treatments are recognized by United States Medicare programs under certain diagnosed situations: decompression sickness, thermal burns,. carbon monoxide poisoning, cyanide poisoning, blood loss anemia, gas gangrene, cellulitis, ulcers and certain abscesses. While not yet recognized by any medical authority HBOT treatments are showing signs of having a positive impact on such varied ailments such as fibromyalgia, tendon injuries, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy among dozens of others.

With hundreds of diseases and conditions being studied as to their potential in being treated using HBOT there are many generalized benefits from the treatments that are already understood, these proven and accepted benefits are used as the basis for understanding their impact and use on other ailments, treatments, and cures. The first is that HBOT not only increases blood flow, but it also reduces and eliminates some sources of blocked blood flow. HBOT also stimulates the growth and repair of blood vessels and previously damaged capillaries due to restricted circulation. This improved circulation also helps increase volume and overall flow of blood to body organs that before the therapy were experiencing restricted blood flow due to any number of circulatory conditions. Finally HBOT is known to be an effective means by which the body can increase its fight against disease and internal illness due to an increase in white blood cell activity and the stimulation of increased production of superoxide dismutase, a natural antioxidant and scavenger of free radicals.

Whether used as a treatment for a specific disease or for generalized circulatory and other health reasons, the benefits of using a hyperbolic chamber are clear, with new benefits being found regularly as more scientific research is directed toward this revolutionary non chemical approach to health and medicine.