Balance Natural Medicine offers a cutting-edge healing therapy called mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) in both our Telluride and Ridgway offices. Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a safe, relaxing and highly effective way to deliver more oxygen to the cells of the body to stimulate cellular health and regeneration and increase the volume of oxygen in the blood. mHBOT provides the optimal environment for the body to carry out vital cell processes and promote healing.
mHBOT at Balance Natural Medicine has been successfully used to treat a wide variety of health concerns and is also used by individuals as a proactive, preventive way to stay healthy. Numerous healing benefits in addition to the regenerative and anti-aging effects of mHBOT are well-documented for the following:
Arthritis/Inflammatory Conditions
Anti-Aging
Fatigue
Altitude Illness
Chronic Pain
Musculoskeletal Injury
Fibromyalgia
Stroke
Parkinson’s Disease
Respiratory Conditions
Autism
Head Trauma
Digestive Disorders
How Does mHBOT Work?
During a hyperbaric session, the patient rests comfortably inside an enclosure called a hyperbaric chamber. The pressure in the chamber is slowly increased to a pressure of 1.3 atmospheres of pressure, which is equivalent to the pressure felt when diving to the bottom of an 11-foot pool or descending nearly 8,000 vertical feet. The increased pressure in the chamber (hyper=high, baric=pressure) in conjunction with breathing 91 percent oxygen-enriched air through a mask allows the blood, plasma and other liquids of the body to absorb additional oxygen, greatly increasing oxygen uptake by the cells, tissues, glands, organs, brain and fluids of the body. These elevated oxygen levels prompt a multitude of healthy benefits that culminate in a dramatic healing effect.
A gas under pressure is more likely to dissolve into a liquid. In mHBOT, the gas is oxygen and the liquid is blood. However, under pressure, oxygen doesn’t only hook up to red blood cells (the “traditional” way oxygen is delivered to tissues); it also dissolves into the plasma, the liquid portion of the blood. When that oxygen-enriched plasma circulates near dormant or injured tissue such as a bruised muscle, a sprained tendon or ligament, a surgical wound, or an injured brain as a result of head trauma, the oxygen in the plasma can infiltrate more deeply into the damaged area.
mHBOT provides numerous health benefits such as cell growth and regeneration, detoxification, immune support, new capillary growth, and improved neurological functioning. Professional athletes have adopted mHBOT as a regular part of their training regimens; in this instance the concept is: “Train hard, recover faster, train even harder, perform at a higher level.” Many physicians now recommend mHBOT for their surgical patients to speed healing and reduce scarring, and for the treatment of other conditions.
mHBOT at Balance Natural Medicine is a peaceful, enjoyable experience. Our state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber is comfortable and spacious enough to accommodate two people. Patients can stretch out in total comfort and read, listen to music or even use a computer while oxygen therapy bestows its benefits. Many people practice breathing, relaxation and even stretching techniques during their sessions. A typical treatment lasts one hour, and patients breathe oxygen-enriched through a mask or a nasal cannula to maximize the effectiveness of the therapy.
