Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen is crucial to our health, and the circulation of oxygen to our body’s cells is imperative to ensure that life functions are carried out properly and efficiently. Our bodies are constantly dependent on oxygen, and this is still, if not more, true when we are battling cancer. The connection between oxygen and cancer is clear: “The link between oxygen and cancer is clear. In fact, an underlying cause of cancer is usually low cellular oxygenation levels.”[1] This is a crucial relationship to take note of because it serves as a reminder that oxygen needs to be emphasized and incorporated in cancer treatments.
We have previously discussed a different cancer treatment in which oxygen is the central component, known as blood ozone therapy (accessible here). Today, we are going to discuss another cancer treatment that integrates the healing power of oxygen: hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that can be traced back to the 1600s. In 1662, the first renowned chamber was built and operated by a British clergyman named Henshaw. He erected a structure titled, the Domicilium, that was used to treat a variety of conditions.”[2] The therapy continued to be revised and modernized, as they were then developed into hyperbaric chambers in the 1940s by the military. “In the 1950s, physicians first employed HBOT during heart and lung surgery, which led to its use for carbon monoxide poisoning in the 1960s. Since then, over 10,000 clinical trials and case studies have been completed for numerous other health-related applications with the vast majority of results reporting resounding success.”
Hyperbaric therapy is frequently delivered through a chamber. “In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. Your blood carries this oxygen throughout your body. This helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing.”[3]
In other words, hyperbaric oxygen therapy enriches your circulatory system with oxygen, where it is then delivered to tissues throughout the body. This flow then works in multiple ways. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
Dissolves increased amounts of oxygen into the blood plasma.
Increases oxygen tension in hypoxic tissues.
Enhances white blood cell activity at the wound site.
Reduces edema by vasoconstriction.
Blocks cytotoxic effects of carbon monoxide and hypoxia associated with cyanide poisoning.
Accelerates formation of blood vessels (angiogenesis) and nerve endings in wounded tissue”[4]
The Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is extremely beneficial to the body back to health, as it “increases the dosage of oxygen and delivers more O2 to damaged areas in the body and stimulates the healing process.”[5] This therapy is also beneficial in that it:
assists healing by raising tissue oxygen levels to normal in areas where they are reduced through illness or injury.
encourages new blood vessels to grow and carry additional blood.
increases the ability of the body’s defense mechanisms to fight infection and kill bacteria.
helps reduce any swelling that may occur around the area.
Even more noteworthy, “20 sessions of hyperbaric therapy increases our stem cells eightfold!”
For More Information
Oxygen “is one of the most natural antibiotics and it controls over 8,000 genes,” thus explaining why oxygen-enriched therapies are so important in the fight against cancer.5Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is on the rise, and the prediction is that it will be integrated into more and more cancer treatments in the future. Dr. Jeffrey Niezgoda, president of the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine stated that “hyperbaric medicine is an incredibly powerful tool. It can be as helpful and therapeutic as a surgical scalpel in the right patient for the right indication. We’re seeing a rise in specialized wound and hyperbaric centers across the United States,” thus supporting its powerful ability to aid in cancer treatment, especially as an alternative medicine.[6]
CMN Alternative Cancer Treatment Hospital is a proud provider of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. To learn more about our comprehensive treatment plan or to schedule a video consultation with Dr. Payan at CMN Hospital please contact us.
[1]“Oxygen and Cancer.” Cancer Fighting Strategies.
[2]“The Science Behind Hyperbaric Therapy.” OxyHealth.
[3]“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.” Mayo Clinic.
[4]“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Fact Sheet.’ Kent Hospital.
[5]“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cancer patients.’ Natural Health 365.
[6]Olivero, Magaly. “Hospitals Tout Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.”