How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (Hbot) Helps In Addiction Recovery
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) was reportedly used to treat 340 patients with severe cases of alcoholism, drug addiction, and narcomania during the post-intoxication periods. Out of the 340, 223 were alcoholics, 68 were drug addicts, while 49 were hard narcotic users. This is according to various medical reports released a decade after the new millennium. These figures no doubt brought a new sense of hope to many drug users, especially those on various drug addiction recovery programs and their physicians alike about the so called HBOT. Any wild guesses would suggest naturally they did ask the question; so what about it? Well..
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a natural healing process of the body through 100% oxygen inhalation. HBOT involves taking in pure oxygen under increased and controlled atmospheric pressure. It is an established treatment for decompression sickness and hazardous effects of deep-sea diving among others. Most notable of the other medical conditions where HBOT may be recommended include serious infections, air bubbles in the blood vessels, stubborn wounds that come about as a result of diabetes or radiation related injuries as well as long term treatment option for drug addiction.
Brief History of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT); And How it Works
History of hyperbaric oxygen therapy dates back to 350 years ago. The first (HBOT) chamber was erected in the year 1662. Use of HBOT however properly began mid in the 18th C. It was first tested by the military in the 1930s, precisely to find out its significance in deep-sea diving and aeronautics. Serious studies however began later in the 1960s against a number of medical conditions. These activities have continued to date but more important is the fact HBOT has been found to have long term positive effects on addiction recovery. Check out this: www.awaremednetwork.com for the timelines.
Atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1 ATM. People take in approximately 21% oxygen at the sea level. In a hyperbaric chamber however they breathe in 100% oxygen, usually because the pressure is increased to about 3 times that at sea level. Blood vessels therefore carry more oxygen, providing about 15-25 times more oxygen to the rest of the body organs and tissues. Oxygen is said to have abilities to heal naturally. Increasing volume of oxygen supply therefore promotes faster healing of various medical conditions as earlier mentioned. This always comes with a number of health benefits.
Effects of HBOT on Patients’ Health
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment has a positive effect on the patient’s physical and psychological status during treatment sessions and could as well persist for a given period of time after treatment depending on the duration of exposure. Those with co-current symptoms and other initial status often experience sedative and bio-energizing effects. Various psychopathological examinations indicated the patients experienced faster decline of mental disorders, which brought about a further reduction in the duration of time spent while getting relevant treatment. Also, the parameters of central hemodynamics stabilized and myocardial status recorded further improvement. Such favorable attribute of HBOT were largely thought to be as a result of the anti-hypoxic detoxifying and bio-energetic effects of HBOT Treatments.
Normally, oxygen is supplied via red blood cells. Under intense pressure however oxygen dissolves into all other body’s parts and fluids including; the plasma, lymph, and into the bone and transported to areas with low oxygen uptake, normally because of damaged body cells or the blood vessels. This extra oxygen reach to all the body parts, including the damaged parts therefore is essential in aiding enables the body parts to develop its own healing mechanisms. Increased amount of oxygen also greatly boosts the white blood cells to kill bacteria even faster, thereby reducing swellings and rapid formation of new blood vessels in the affected areas.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Addiction Recovery
Increased levels of oxygen supply to the brain can also improve the brain’s ability to function. This is particularly significant in addiction recovery because as indicated hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps in neuroplasticity. This is the brain’s ability to recover from damage. Addiction distorts normal neuron pathways, that is, drugs often lead to formation of new neuron pathways that identifies and recognizes the substance. Since the brain has a natural recovery mechanism, and that HBOT has the ability to increase that mechanism, it is therefore a great way of treating drug addiction.
Other than recovering from brain damage, many addicts on rehabilitation programs where this particular method of treatment is used confess they become more alert and that they are able to think much more clearly during or after treatment. Effect of the same on the patients’ physical strengths is substantial, and also they exhibit healthier skins. In addition, many of these patients claim they feel healthier at the end of their sessions than when they start.
In order to achieve better results, many physicians have also reported combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with amino acid therapy. While further researching on the possibilities of using HBOT in addiction treatment Dr. Kenneth Blum discovered two amino acid formulations, which were; “Mental Clarity and KB 220Z”. Later he said what he and his colleagues found were that the Mental Clarity component improved rational functions while KB 220Z calmed strong cravings addicts have for drugs.
Finally as mentioned earlier in this article, HBOT has had a long history with addiction treatment. Most of that has been controversial. Please sign up for this year’s August integrative addiction conference to get up to date information about HBOT. Visit http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com. The link also contains information about how you may sign and participate in the August Integrative Addiction Conference plus a full list of the speakers lined up for the event.
How Oxygen Therapy (Hbot) Helps In Addiction Recovery
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