Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy History & Research
As early as the 1800s, a Bulletin of the Academe of Medicine reported on the wonderful recovery achieved in patients from a variety of debilitating conditions – all through the use of oxygen.
Please call us on 01458 860 425 or email info@originoxygen.co.uk to hire an oxygen chamber, buy handheld lasers, hire or buy red light therapy panels or for more information or some hyperbaric oxygen therapy advice.
The effects of compressed oxygen were further studied and developed in the early 1900s by John Scott Haldane, who became known as the ‘father of decompression’.
Haldane studied the beneficial effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on decompression sickness (the ‘bends’) in divers and subsequently created diving tables giving decompression times for staged return to the surface from deep water.
In 1928, Harvard Medical School had a hyperbaric oxygen chamber built. It provided a tool for years of research into its therapeutic benefits.
Public interest for HBOT started to grow in the 1960s, after publicity about its use to benefit President Kennedy’s sickly infant. It has long been used for emergency recovery in hospitals and in recent years its benefits have been rediscovered for a wide range of health issues and wellbeing.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers
For the human body, oxygen equals energy and science shows that absorbing extra oxygen can have significant health benefits. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive, drug-free therapy which involves breathing oxygen in a pressurised chamber.
A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is a sealed, pressurised environment, where oxygen is administered to enhance the body’s natural healing processes. There are various types of chambers for example sitting or lying chambers and different pressures. Our chambers are mostly 1.5ata (5m depth). This is the most common type of rental chamber and easy to operate on your own.
During a session, the chamber’s pressure is increased, allowing oxygen to dissolve into bodily fluids at a higher concentration. This process promotes healing by enhancing oxygen availability to tissues and stimulating repair mechanisms.
Users may experience a range of benefits including faster recovery from injuries, reduced inflammation, improved circulation, enhanced oxygen delivery to tissues and potential relief from conditions such as anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and many more.
For most people, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is safe. However, there are certain contraindications such as untreated pneumothorax, someone with cataracts or certain types of respiratory and severe cardiac conditions that will need to be discussed with a health care provider. It is best to consult with a medical professional before undergoing HBOT to ensure safety and suitability if you have a medical condition and are unsure.
Our chambers use 93-95% oxygen delivered through a concentrator (not stored tanks) making them very safe for use at home.
HBOT may not be suitable for some individuals due to certain contra indications.
An absolute contraindication for HBOT is untreated pneumothorax.
Relative contraindications include:
Acute asthma
Cateract
Severe COPD and if you retain C02
Recent thoracic/ chest surgery
Upper respiratory tract infection
History of ear surgery and eustachian tube dysfunction
Cardiac conditions including uncontrolled congestive cardiac failure CCF or heart failure and recent heart attack
Untreated fever and seizure disorders
Pregnancy
Caution with certain chemotherapy drugs. Check with a medical professional who is knowledgeable of hyperbarics and oncology/ chemotherapy drugs.
A typical session in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber can last between 60 to 90 minutes depending on the treatment goal and specific protocols being followed.
Frequency can vary depending on individual needs and health goals. Some people may benefit from several sessions a week, while others may use it less frequently. We provide advice on how to get the most out of your sessions and support clients to tailor an individual protocol plan for sessions to meet their health goals.
During a session, you will enter the chamber and the pressure will gradually increase. You may feel a sensation in your ears, similar to what you experience during a flight take-off. Equalising your ears as the chamber reaches pressure helps manage this comfortably. You can easily slow the process down to allow for your ears to equalise by opening a valve. Our chambers offer a calm and relaxing environment, with either a mattress or a chair depending on the model. The temperature inside remains normal, and the only sounds you will hear are low-level ones from the compressor and concentrator outside the chamber. Most people relax inside the chamber by meditating, reading or sleeping.
Comfortable, cotton clothing should be worn in the chamber with jewellery kept to a minimum. Pockets must be empty and do not wear any battery-operated medical devices such as insulin pumps or hearing aids (please speak to us in advance if you use one). Avoid flammable products and strong scents as smells can intensify during pressurisation. Do not bring any devices that have not been approved for use under pressure.
Hot and cold drinks are fine in the chamber although drinks bottles need to have the lid open for pressurisation. Eating is not permitted in the chamber.
This varies from person to person. Some people feel energised by a session and may prefer not to use the chamber right before bedtime. Others feel sleepy after a session. We recommend allowing some time after eating before having a session.
Most users experience little to no side effects. However, some may experience mild ear discomfort, fatigue, or light-headedness. More serious side effects are rare but can occur above 2 ata which most home use chambers don’t go to due to added risk.
While hyperbaric oxygen therapy can complement other medical treatments, it is not intended to replace them. Always consult with your healthcare provider to discuss how it fits into your overall treatment plan.
The dimensions for each of our chambers can be found on the website and will be detailed in the rental quote you will be provided.
As a guide, the sitting chambers are 150cm long x 120cm wide and the lying chambers are 210cm long x 90cm wide. There must be clearance around the chamber so that it does not touch anything. The chamber plugs into a normal power outlet, 2 sockets are required and an extension may be needed.
Your chamber will be delivered and set up by qualified members of our team. Setup typically takes around 30–40 minutes.Once installed, we provide full information to ensure you feel confident and comfortable using the chamber. You will also receive a user manual for ongoing reference. We guide you through a short session, including pressurisation and depressurisation, so you have hands-on experience before we leave. Our team is usually with you for approximately 1–2 hours.
Our team is on hand to answer questions via phone or email. Technical support is available to trouble-shoot anything that arises with the equipment (although this is rare) including video calls to look over equipment for example if a pipe has come undone and the chamber is not pressurising.
You can book a session at our clinic in Somerset if you would like to try one of our chambers.
For soft chambers, the minimum rental period is typically 2 months. For customers located a considerable distance from us, the minimum rental period is 3 months. For hard chambers, the rental period ranges from 3 to 6 months.
We offer a rent-to-buy programme. If you decide to purchase the chamber, the rental payments you’ve already made will be deducted from the purchase price. To qualify for this option, a purchase decision must be made within the first 6 months of rental.
Yes, absolutely and we have specific finance options for clinics.
Red Light and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy
Red light therapy involves the use of low-level wavelengths of red light to promote healing, reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. It penetrates the skin, stimulating cellular function and enhancing energy production in cells.
Combining red light therapy with hyperbaric oxygen therapy may enhance overall healing by increasing cellular energy production and accelerating tissue repair processes. The two modalities can synergistically improve recovery from injuries and boost overall wellness.
PEMF therapy uses low-frequency electromagnetic fields to stimulate cellular function and promote healing. It aims to improve circulation, reduce pain and enhance cellular repair, making it a valuable complementary therapy.
Using PEMF therapy in conjunction with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can enhance the effectiveness of treatment by improving blood flow and cellular function. This combination may lead to faster recovery and improved health outcomes.
While there may not be universally established protocols, many practitioners recommend using PEMF therapy and red light therapy either before or after hyperbaric sessions. The timing can depend on individual needs and treatment objectives, we are happy to give more specific advise on this.
Yes, using red light therapy and PEMF therapy alongside hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally considered safe for most individuals. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider to ensure compatibility with your health status.
Typically, red light therapy sessions can last between 10 to 30 minutes while PEMF sessions may range from 15 to 30 minutes. It is generally recommended to schedule these therapies either before entering the chamber or afterwards to maximise benefits.
It is essential to consult with a healthcare provider if you are pregnant or have existing medical conditions. While many individuals can safely use these therapies, specific precautions may need to be taken.
Insurance cover for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), red light therapy and PEMF therapy may vary by provider and specific health plans. It is advisable to check with your insurance company to understand what is covered under your policy.