WHAT IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT)

Therapy consists of two inseparable parts: remedial therapy (physio) and oxygen therapy. Through the use of oxygen therapy inactive “dormant” brain cells are reactivated. These are generally located close to the damaged brain cells. This alone could be beneficial to the brain, but not enough so. It is through applying therapy aimed at neurology (e.g. physiotherapy) that these now active brain cells acquire a function. This combination increases recovery considerably.

Hyper means “ to increase something in quality or quantity” and baric means “pressure”. It is a means of therapy whereby the body is placed under heightened pressure (1.4 atm) and is offered 100 % oxygen.

Normally we breathe in 19-21 % of this important element, but through HBOT the concentration of oxygen in the blood is greatly increased. Not only in the blood, but also in other bodily fluids such as in the lymph, and in brain- and spinal fluids, a higher concentration of oxygen is dissolved. Because of this, oxygen reaches places in the body where blood circulation is reduced or obstructed. In this way the natural capacity of the body to heal itself can be increased or accelerated.

A few positive effects of the therapy:

• Increasing the functions of white blood cells
(and consequently the killing of bacteria);
• The stimulating of the formation of new hair vessels in afflicted areas;
• Accelerated wound healing and lessening of swelling.

The therapy is already used for the treatment of diving incidents, serious injury, MS, cancer and ear problems. Nowadays, patients diagnosed with neurological disorders are also treated with hyperbaric oxygen. The therapy has been in use in America for quite some time. In the Netherlands, a clinic in Zwijndrecht has recently started applying it (December 2004).