Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) clinic (Dive Medicine)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) utilizes oxygen at higher than normal (14.7 PSI sea level) atmospheric pressure (hyperbaric) in order to increase the amount of oxygen in body tissues.

We are limited by the amount of oxygen we can get into our tissues by what our red blood cells can carry. At any given time, blood is being shunted to the tissues that have the highest immediate need for survival. When our tissues need to repair, we simply do not have the extra oxygen needed to do this effectively.

HBOT bypasses this factor. It is based upon gas laws. Under pressure, gas bubbles both becomes smaller and dissolve into fluid. This allows the oxygen to flood the plasma (portion of blood without the red blood cells) with oxygen. This, in turn, floods the tissues with oxygen. One of the great benefits of HBOT is that it slows cell death. When breathing oxygen under normal pressure, this does not happen.

This oxygen nourishes the tissue, nerves, mitochondria, and helps us to heal. The amount of oxygen in the brain during treatment increases to about 3X that of what the level normally is.

HBOT increases important cell transcription factors, including Humanin-peptide, which is made in the wall of the mitochondria of each cell and its function is to protect and repair the cell when it is under stress. This includes, cells of the neurological system, brain, organs, bones, and all cells of our body that contain mitochondria (that is every cell but red blood cells). HBOT also has been shown to increase adult stem cell activity, which is vital for repair.

HBOT is great for all ages from young children up through the elderly. In children, HBOT research shows that it is a helpful therapy for ADD/ADHD, autism, brain-injuries, stroke, mitochondrial/genetic disorders, and both learning and growth delay.

In the elderly, HBOT slows aging by repairing tissue and increasing stem cell activity, helping with dementia, Alzheimer's, fatigue, insomnia, movement disorders, arthritis, pain, inflammation, neuropathy, mood, and memory loss.

We are nationally-certified in functional medicine dives by the International Board of Undersea Medicine (IBUM)

Oxygen is one of the most important nutrients for the completion of mitochondrial energy production. This is how our body produces energy in every cell of the body (aside from red blood cells, which only function is to carry oxygen to other tissues).

We need oxygen in order to heal damaged tissue and inflammation, regenerate damaged nerve tissue, regulate immune processes, nourish and heal the brain, as well as regulate brain function for energy, sleep, and mood. Oxygen has an integral role in helping us to fight infection. It has a role in the cardiovascular system, in regulating the delivery of oxygen to tissues and regulating blood pressure.

There are two absolute contraindications to hyperbaric oxygen therapy: pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and inability to equalize pressure in the ears. We will work with you to make sure that you are able to equalize the pressure in your ears, or adjust the pressure accordingly. We also will not use this therapy in pregnancy.

HBOT does not hurt. It is very safe and well-tolerated. We ask that if you have any pain in your ears, you tell us, and we will adjust the pressure and help you to clear your ears. At times, it can feel like your ears need to “pop” for a couple hours to days after treatment, and this is normal and safe.

We use in patients with HBOT for ADD/ADHD, Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease and other infections, Retinitis Pigmentosa, ALS, Chronic Inﬂammatory Disease, TBI/concussion/brain fog, Macular Degeneration, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alzheimer's Disease, Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis, Meniere's Disease, Anoxic Brain Injury, Migraines, Autism, Diabetes, Mitochondrial Disorders, Spinal Cord Injury, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Bell's Palsy, Cancer, Infections, Raynaud's Syndrome, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Cerebral Palsy, Immune Dysfunction/autoimmunity, Mold toxicity, hormone balance, Anxiety/PTSD/Depression/Mental health, Reﬂex Sympathetic Dystrophy Vascular Disease, and many other things.

The mechanism by which this works is vast: it increases oxygen to the brain. The pressure we set is determined by what we are treating. The body will adapt by increasing or decreasing oxygen to the brain, depending upon what the goal is.

Many conditions that see improvement with HBOT rely on increased oxygen to tissue. In 75% of those with autism, there is hypoperfusion (decreased oxygen) to the brain. In TBI, migraines, brain fog, MS, Parkinsons, Dementia, the increased oxygen to the brain allows for balancing of neurotransmitters and healing of tissue.

HBOT has great efficacy in Lyme disease and cancer, as cancer cells and spirochetes (Lyme) thrive in low oxygen environments. When exposed to tissue-levels over 1000 times normal levels through HBOT, spirochetes and cancer cells begin to die.

In injury and arthritis, damaged capillary beds inhibit the supply of oxygen to the tissue. HBOT bypasses this and is able to bring oxygen to the damaged tissue, regardless. This is why HBOT is the designated treatment for non-healing ulcers and wounds.

Studies have shown that using HBOT at specified levels increased adult stem cell activity. HBOT increases our own antioxidant activity, collagen repair, angiogenesis (new blood flow), immune balance, and many other mechanisms by which it helps us to heal.

HBOT can enhance the effects of certain antibiotics, increasing white blood cell activity to fight infection and enhance immune response. It also enhances cell-signaling molecules, a huge factor in its effects.

We are currently offering bundle package pricing for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

Soft-chamber pricing is as follows:

20 hours = $1800.00*

40 hours = $3200.00*

60 hours = $4800.00*

80 hours = $6200.00*

Price per single one-hour session = $110.00

Steel-chamber pricing is as follows:

20 hours = $2400.00*

40 hours = $4320.00*

60 hours = $6240.00*

80 hours = $7950.00

Price per single one-hour session = $150.00

If you are not a current patient at Hope ND, you will need to undergo a pre-screen appointment prior to beginning treatment. Pre-screen appointment = $125.00.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is about repetition. Most conditions will require multiple sessions per week, in order to be most effective.

How quickly a patient responds is very individualized. In some cases, patients notice change right away, and for others, it can take over 20 or 40 hours to begin to notice change. In most cases, you need to expect to do about 40 hours in order to achieve the desired healing.

It is important to note that even in the absence of immediate 'noticeable change,' there are mechanisms occurring on a cellular level that are beginning to heal tissue/nerves.

*Please note, these packages must be paid for up-front, in order to be eligible for bundle discounts.

*We do not bill insurance for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, as we do not utilize it for those conditions in which insurance coverage would apply. In those instances, you would be sent to a hospital for therapy.

In a hospital, a single one-hour session can run up to $10,000.00 without insurance. If you are denied coverage in a hospital, please reach out to us to utilize the chambers at our office for these out-of-pocket costs