You’ve probably seen celebrities talk about it on Instagram. Maybe your friends mentioned oxygen chambers. Or perhaps a doctor brought it up.Indeed, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is everywhere. Still, what does it really do? And if it works, why isn’t it used more?
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
HBOT is breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. As a result, it helps oxygen reach damaged tissues faster.
Doctors have used HBOT for decades. For instance, it treats:
- Scuba divers with decompression sickness
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Hard to heal wounds in diabetics
It is also being tested for other health issues in ongoing studies.
The Two Sides of the Story
The Believers: “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Changed My Life”
Walk into any HBOT clinic and you’ll hear some amazing stories. Patients will tell you about wounds that wouldn’t heal for months, then finally closed up. Plus, they’ll mention how their brain fog just disappeared. And they’ll describe getting their energy back after feeling exhausted for years.”
In addition doctors swear by it for conditions like:
- Brain injuries
- Chronic pain that won’t go away
- Long COVID symptoms
- Autism in children
- Anti-aging and wellness
The treatment centers are booming. Indeed, the global HBOT market will grow from $4 billion in 2025 to nearly $7 billion by 2034. That’s a lot of people betting their money on oxygen.
The Skeptics: “Show Me the Science”
However, mainstream medical experts are cautious. Several tests show HBOT offers little more benefit than a placebo effect.
In contrast, take the recent HOT-LoCO trial for long COVID. Researchers gave some patients real HBOT and others got fake therapy. They thought they were getting oxygen but weren’t. The results? No real difference between the groups.
Major medical groups like the NHS warn that HBOT clinics may be misleading patients. They say clinics drive up costs for treatments with only stories to back them up.
Why Isn’t Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy More Popular?
Economics, Not Conspiracy
First, HBOT isn’t a drug, so it can’t be patented. That means drug companies don’t have much incentive to fund big studies.
Second, proving HBOT works for new conditions would require evidence from those costly studies. However, hardly anyone wants to pay for them since there’s no big profit to be made.
Third, there’s no real evidence that big pharma is actively blocking HBOT research. Instead, the slow adoption comes down to simple economics, not some conspiracy theory.
Doctors Who Do Use It
Nevertheless, some hospitals are big supporters of HBOT for the approved uses. For instance, they use it for wounds that won’t heal and damage from radiation.
Meanwhile, some cancer doctors are using HBOT to help patients bounce back from treatment. It might cut down on side effects. But it’s just an add-on, not a cure.
Additionally, early studies hint that HBOT could help with brain recovery too. Yet, the research is still in early stages.
Bryan Johnson’s 90-Day Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Test
Tech businessman Bryan Johnson recently tested HBOT for 90 days. Specifically, he documented everything in his YouTube video.
His Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Protocol:
- 60 sessions in 90 days
- Each session lasted 90 minutes
- He tracked blood tests carefully
Reported Results:
- Inflammation dropped to zero
- New blood vessel growth went up 300%
- Good gut bacteria grew 1,000%
- Alzheimer’s blood marker dropped 28.6%
- Skin got better
- DNA markers suggested he got “younger”
Takeaways:
HBOT may help recovery and brain function. However, we need bigger studies to know for sure.
Some experts say HBOT works best as part of a complete health strategy . Weight training, for instance, is one of the most proven ways to build resilience as you age.”
Why People Still Try Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Despite limited studies, patients report feeling better after therapy. and therefore, many continue trying it.
Nothing Else Worked: When treatments fail, HBOT becomes hope.
Celebrity Influence: Social media spreads trends fast.
Ritual & Belief: Breathing oxygen in a high-tech chamber feels healing. Also, believing it works can actually help you feel better.
A study published in PubMed Central looks at the Neuroplasticity Placebo Theory. Essentially, it suggests that belief in a treatment can help the brain change. This happens in the brain’s emotion and thinking areas. This brain change may cause the placebo effect. People experience real improvements in symptoms due to their belief in the treatment. This happens even if the treatment itself does nothing.
Ultimately, this research shows the big role of belief. It shows how belief affects brain function and health outcomes.
Much like cold exposure and ice baths. HBOT taps into the growing recovery and performance trend.
Both are popular with athletes and biohackers searching for faster healing and sharper focus.”
What the Science Says
Proven Uses:
- Decompression sickness
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Certain diabetic wounds
Emerging Evidence:
- Cancer recovery support
- Brain rehabilitation
- Anti-aging benefits
Unproven Claims:
- General wellness
- Autism treatment
- Miracle anti-aging
Bottom line: HBOT is safe when used correctly. However, many wellness uses lack big studies. Still, early research shows promise.
The Bottom Line: Hope vs. Evidence
HBOT has solid evidence for certain conditions. However, many of the popular claims you’ll hear haven’t been properly tested yet. Personal stories and small studies look encouraging. Nevertheless, we really need larger, more rigorous research to know for sure.
Before you drop thousands of dollars, ask yourself this: Am I paying for something that’s been proven to work, or am I betting on potential? Sometimes taking that bet makes sense, especially when conventional options have failed you. Just go in with your eyes open about what you’re really buying.
