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Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) is a form of oxygen therapy that raises the levels of oxygen in the body’s blood plasma. Increased oxygen in the plasma leades to higher amounts of oxygen being delivered to the body’s tissues, organs and brain.
mHBOT promotes relaxation, stimulates the body’s healing processes, increases stamina, endurance and recovery.
mHBOT may be beneficial as an adjunctive modality for conditions including:
Physicists figured out years ago that a gas under pressure is more likely to dissolve into liquid—in mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the gas is oxygen and the liquid is blood. But 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. When that plasma circulates near dormant or injured tissue such as an encephalopathic brain, a bruised muscle, a sprained tendon, or a surgical wound, the oxygen in the plasma can and does dissolve further into the damaged area than the oxygen that’s attached to the red blood cell in that “traditional” delivery system.
In looking at the areas of stroke, concussion, autism and other brain “insults”, apparent healing of the brain can be monitored by its perfusion and activity. Behaviours, response to stimuli (sensory function) and motor skills can also be observed.
Monitoring of cerebral brain flow has been done with a Brain SPECT (Single Photo Emission Computed Tomography) scan. SPECT scans before and after 40 sessions of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (MHBOT) have shown dramatic improvements in cerebral brain flow that is sustained over time. In addition, three recent small studies conducted independently at three different centers showed significant improvement in behavior ratings scales with mild hyperbaric therapy. This would seem to correlate with the improved cerebral brain flow that has already been documented.
These results will need larger studies and ongoing research but initial findings are very promising.
In addition to impacting cerebral brain flow in injured brains, lower pressure hyperbaric therapy has been shown to positively impact natural killer cell function and thus, immune function.
It has also been found to be of benefit in inflammatory conditions and has facilitated improvement in gut disease such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. MHBOT has been shown to increase glutathione levels by 15% for at least 24 hours after therapy in previous studies. These areas are all of interest for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as they are often impaired in their children.
Jet lag is a type of fatigue causing a brain ”fog” caused by travelling across different time zones and by exposure to the low pressure environment of an airliner,where recovery can take from a few days to a few weeks.
A little known fact is that cabin pressure in an aircraft is like being approx. 2400 metres above sea level.
A result of the lower air pressure is that the body takes in less O2 during flight. Even for healthy people this can be quite fatiguing. Having the body in this state of low air pressure for up to 20hrs or more on a long flight will contribute to the symptoms of jetlag.
mHBOT can re-oxygenise the body quickly and eliminate the negative signs of jet lag.
Hit the ground running when you get home – do not waste days or weeks reacclimatising!
ASD, a condition present from early childhood may be characterised by difficulty in communication, forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.
By increasing the air pressure and available oxygen, we are increasing the amount of oxygen that is diffused into the serum and increasing the delivery of oxygen to the brain. SPEC scans have shown an increase of O2 levels within the brain tissue leading to major improvements in sociability, bowel activity, communication and irritability.
Chronic inflammation is often present and and it has been shown that mHBOT can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the entire body.
Hyperbaric therapy is not a cure for ASD, but it is a new and powerful tool that may used in the biomedical treatment of autism as an adjunctive therapy.
Oxygen is carried to the cells where it is the vital ingredient in the healing process. This treatment can decrease the amount of scar tissue, bruising and swelling visible after surgery and decreases post-operative inflammation and infection.
The treatment protocol for wound healing is dependent on the individual cases. Most treatment requires an initial concentration (O2 saturation) period and then further assessment and prescription relevant to the initial response. mHBOT before and after surgery can assist to heal wounds and accelerate recovery.
Often a patient’s main concern is getting back to their normal routine quickly. MHBOT will assist in post-surgical recovery and healing by decreasing swelling and bruising association with surgery and making more oxygen available to the cells to speed up the healing process.
More and more health professionals are now recommending mHBOT to help patients make a faster and better recovery after surgery.
The term ‘myalgic encephalomyelitis’ means pain in the muscles, and inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.
ME/CFS is a very complex, multi-system, chronic illness, many symptoms will occur.
Diagnosis is based partly on discounting other illnesses and on a collection of symptoms. This absence of a definable pathology often results makes treatment of CFS difficult for the physician, who are increasingly looking for a range of modalities to assist in treatment and recovery. Many physicians are now using hyperbaric oxygen therapy as part of their treatments.
The recommendation is 40 x 1.5hr sessions in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Patients will often feel the benefits from mHBOT after the first session though others will feel the results more gradually. Published results from testing of CFS patients using mHBOT are still limited; however further research needs to be conducted although results are encouraging.
Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) has been shown to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and other chronic pain disorders. mHBOT saturates the entire body in oxygen at atmospheric pressures higher than normally experienced. This leads to some fascinating and advantageous results including a reduction in the chronic inflammation in the tissues and joints which is one of the main causes of pain in arthritis.
mHBOT for stroke is based on Henry’s Law which states that the amount of a gas, e.g. oxygen, that is dissolved in a liquid solution, e.g. blood, is proportional to the pressure of the gas interfacing with that solution. Since nearly 98-99% of haemoglobin in blood is saturated with oxygen at sea level all additional oxygen added by hyperbaric oxygen exposure is dissolved in the liquid plasma portion of the blood. It is this dissolved oxygen that exerts its drug effect on the pathology and pathophysiology in stroke and the other neuropathologies.
When cells in the brain die, either from trauma or lack of oxygen, blood plasma leaks out into surrounding brain tissue causing swelling and reducing blood flow. These otherwise normal cells go dormant because they can’t function without the appropriate amount of oxygen. mHBOT increases the oxygen carried in the blood plasma, making oxygen available to heal damaged capillary walls, preventing plasma leakage and reducing swelling. As the swelling decreases, blood flow can be restored to the dormant tissue and these cells then may have the potential to function again as they ‘switch on’ because of the increased availability of life changing oxygen.
Remedial Massage is a holistic treatment and involves the use of massage and a wide range of diagnostic techniques to treat a condition.
Remedial massage can be helpful in treating specific areas of muscle tension caused by stress or injury. The therapy also helps to get the blood flowing to injured tissues to speed up the repair process. Remedial massage can also be used for relaxation and general wellbeing. The therapy has both short and long-term effects on the body.
Remedial Massage uses several specialised techniques to locate and repair damage and to support and speed up the body’s own repair mechanisms. The massage is applied directly to the skin using a lubricating medium, usually oil, which ensures that the muscles associated with the disorder and mobilisation of the joint are deeply penetrated. Passive stretching moves are also used.
Key benefits of Remedial Massage include: the stimulation to the blood supply allowing toxins in the muscles to be removed; the calming of the peripheral nervous system to ease pain and discomfort; and the toning and relaxing of muscles to improve joint mobility. An improvement to the health of the cells, the repairing of tissues, and the easing of stiffness and tension can also be experienced through therapeutic relaxation.
Muscular and skeletal dysfunctions often addressed with Remedial Massage include Fibrositis, Spondylitis, Arthritis, frozen shoulder, muscular cramps, Whiplash, muscular atrophy, sports and dancing injuries.
As oil is used, it is necessary for the patient to be unclothed for the treatment.
Myotherapists assess and physically treat myofascial pain, injury and dysfunction affecting movement and mobility. Myotherapy is applied in the preventative, corrective and rehabilitative phases of therapy to restore and maintain the normal integrity of the soft tissue structure (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) of the human body. Pain or symptoms caused by muscle (myo) or fascia is described as myofascial. Myofascial pain is usually not specific and is often described by the patient as a ‘deep ache’, ‘tightness’ or ‘tenderness’ in an area. It can vary in intensity and radiate to other areas. Other symptoms can include reduced range of motion of muscles and joints, stiffness, fatigue, weakness, numbness or a tingling sensation. There are many other symptoms depending on the condition and patients can have one or many symptoms.
Common conditions that Myotherapists can treat include:
Assessment – Clinical assessment is reliant on history taking, examination routines of particular joints or regions, assisted by highly developed tactile, palpatory skills and a thorough understanding of joint and muscular assessment procedures. These skills distinguish Myotherapy from other physical therapies. Assessment of potential causes of dysfunction is also important, as is a detailed postural examination.
Treatment – Soft tissue manipulation, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial dry needling, Myofascial release, Cupping, Postural assessment and correction, Corrective exercises (stretches, strength), Core stability exercises.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a set of tools, techniques that can help with ways of thinking about how we communicate, both with ourselves and others. Assisting clients to create change in their outlook, self talk, way of thinking, or as a way to develop strategies to success.
It is a psychological approach that involves analysing current strategies, what is working and what’s not, and then either changing them, adapting new ones or marrying them up with those used by successful individuals and applying them to reach a personal goal. It relates to your thoughts, language, and patterns of behaviour and a focus towards a specific outcome.
Most people seek an NLP Practitioner, because they aren’t satisfied with the results of their habitual ways of living or their current situation, be that – mindset, emotions, and/or behaviours.
Clients who want to achieve more, do more, have the skills to connect more deeply with others, be more confident, motivated and self-assured. Be more influential with others and have more impact in the world utilise NLP.
A Practitioner uses NLP to help clients achieve work-orientated goals, such as improved productivity or job progression. More widely, it has been applied as a therapy for psychological disorders, including phobias, depression, generalized anxiety disorders or GAD, and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
NLP Practitioners are sometimes described as Magicians of Change. … In short, an NLP Practitioner is a highly useful and resourceful coach who uses the methodology of NLP in a professional way to help others
The initial part of the session will involve history or background to their current situation, the sharing of goals or changes that the client desires, and what you may have done in the past to try to make this change.
From there the practitioner utilises NLP methods to assist the client to develop new thought processes, programming, strategies, and goal setting techniques in order for the client to reach their new desired state.
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