Numerous diseases and conditions (apart from MS) respond
positively to treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.
Over 3,800 papers have been published on this topic and HBOT is well
known in Europe, America and Japan.
We do not always know the precise mechanism for each
response but viewed simplistically it is likely that for most diseases and
conditions the provision of a more-than-normal source of oxygen (under strict
controls) allows the body to boost its own, natural process of healing by
targeting localized hypoxia.
For carbon monoxide poisoning it is the only
substance that will stop the poison binding with haemoglobin and it is of great
benefit in cases of smoke inhalation.
In cases of resistant wounds, ulcers and burns the response can be
dramatic, reducing healing time considerably. In ME/CFS patients there can also be a dramatic
turn-round from continual fatigue to a return to a normal pattern of sleep.
News for Cerebral Palsy is currently very good
but not yet published so we cannot display it here.
We can only say that in recent years there has been 85% improvement in a
large body of CP patients taking HBOT, so don’t be frightened away by people
telling silly stories.
Stroke and head injury
can also benefit: a large study in the USA has shown that high-dosage halves the
mortality of severe head injury. Diluting
blood to reduce viscosity reduces the oxygen transported, but HBOT actually
increases transported oxygen so that hypoxic tissue surrounding the necrotic
tissue can obtain enough oxygen to allow proper neuronal function.
Other applications for HBOT showing areas of
improvement of 50%-100% include amputations, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy,
Erb’s palsy, fibromylagia, Friedreick’s ataxia, myasthenia gravis,
necrotising fasciitis, osteomylitis, radiation burn and osteoradionecrosis,
Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, sports and football injuries, ulcerative
colitis, cartilage graft and lyme disease.
The one thing we are not equipped to deal with is
“the bends”, as we do not have an airlock.
CFS
= Chronic Fatigue Syndrome