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Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy

When it comes to healing from an injury---whether incurred while playing sports or in a car crash---many types of physical therapies exist to help push the process along. One lesser-known therapy is hyperbaric chamber therapy. Hyperbaric chamber therapy isn't just used to help heal injuries, either---it can help combat autism, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease and cerebral palsy. This particular brand of therapy uses one element in particular to get the job done: oxygen.

  1. Oxygen

    • There are few things the human body needs more than oxygen. This element is essential when it comes to the proper function of cells. When the body is delivered the optimal amount of oxygen, its cells are able to carry out their various functions more efficiently---and faster. This is especially important when it comes to injuries, since the faster and more efficient the cells carry out their functions, the faster the injury heals. Similarly, when an individual is faced with a condition like cancer, MS or Lyme disease, for example, a healthy dose of extra oxygen may go a long way in helping the body fight for its health.

    The Process

    • The patient enters a hyperbaric chamber, typically an inflatable "room" just large enough for a person to lie down or sit up in. The room is filled with 100 percent oxygen---while the pressure in the chamber is increased to between two and three times normal air pressure. Oxygen is dissolved into the spinal fluid, the cerebral fluid and plasma by means of this pressurized ambient air. This subsequently sends ambient oxygen to the body's tissues and organs, thereby allowing them to perform their vital tasks as efficiently and quickly as possible---and, hopefully, push along the healing process.

    Warnings

    • Hyperbaric chamber therapy should not be applied on an individual with ear canal issues---including an infection, regularly clogged ears or ear wax problems. Those with a cold---or the flu---should not enter a hyberbaric chamber. The therapy should not be tried on an individual who is intoxicated with alcohol.

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