Though hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not an FDA-approved treatment for autism, there are progressively, and exponentially, more autistic families that are seeking out hyperbaric therapy for their children, and some claim amazing benefits. The purpose of this review was to analyze the data and studies and try to help shed more light as to some of the key mechanisms of actions <view study> Read Less

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is widely used for a variety of diabetes-induced conditions, particularly, but not limited, to wound healing. Its effects on diabetes-induced cataracts is still unclear. A study published in late 2001 in the Journal of Diabetes has given some new insights. They used lower pressures (1.25 ATA) and found that this dosage was able to delay both the development and the progression of diabetes-induced cataracts. <view study> Read Less

Lund University in Sweden has just published a study that will appear in a journal of the British Medical Association next month–February 2011. The aim of this study was to follow 2 groups of Diabetics with chronic foot ulcers. One group was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the other group was given a placebo (they were put in a hyperbaric chamber but treated with air instead of 100% oxygen). Of important note is that even the air group will effectively be getting more oxygen. Even so, the group that were treated with 100% oxygen scored significantly higher in their physical and mental/emotional health. They reported:

• better social functioning
• better mental health
• better physical health

Overall, the study concluded  that Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves long-term health related quality of life <view study> Read Less

With the increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions for anxiety, this study may provide a safer and more natural option for those suffering from from this condition. In this study, a single application of hyprebaric oxygen therapy was shown to have an anxiolytic effect in mice. Typical HBOT programs involve the use of multiple sequential visits, in short duration. It would be therefore interesting to see if the conditioning of the brain through hyperbaric oxygen therapy can have a long-lasting effect on anxiety. Until further studies, we will not know, but what we do know is that there is an effect in the brain, probably mediated through the release of nitric oxide <view study> Read Less

For decades now, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been an off-label use for traumatic brain injuries (TBI's). More and more, private clinics are opening up to provide this therapy for those suffering from TBI’s (both acute and chronic victims) and documenting success. Now, a recent article has just been published showing two football players that were successfully treated for TBI. Both were documented with their improvements by functional brain imaging concomitantly with neurological examinations. Of important note, one player was suffering from symptoms of TBI for more than 10 years and still showed benefits from HBOT. With more professional athletes being diagnosed with concussions and putting their career at risk, the implications for timely hyperbaric therapy are enormous <view study> Read Less