Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has become a popular alternative treatment option for several neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Although not approved by FDA as a treatment for autism and other issues, several parents have reported that HBOT has proved to be effective and beneficial for their children with autism. Even renowned celebrities have tried HBOT and have said that it has helped them significantly.
To understand how HBOT helps in brain disorders, we need to get an idea of how the therapy works.
What is HBOT and how it works?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment in which the patient breathes 100% oxygen inside a total body chamber, where the atmospheric pressure is higher than normal and controlled.
Under normal conditions, oxygen is carried to the entire body by red blood cells. HBOT helps oxygen to dissolve in all fluids of the body, fluids of the central nervous system, the lymph, the plasma and the bone. When HBOT is employed, oxygen is transported even to those areas where circulation is reduced or blocked. So, with HBOT, extra oxygen is transported to all damaged tissues, letting the body support its process of healing. The increased oxygen enhances the capability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, diminishes swelling and helps new blood vessels to grow rapidly in the affected regions. HBOT is a painless, simple and non-invasive treatment.
When HBOT is used for a person with autism or any other developmental disorder, the additional oxygen causes healing effects on his/her brain. This improves various skills of the autistic individual.
Celebrities who have benefited from HBOT:
HBOT has helped many people with developmental disorders, including some well-known celebrities. RJ Mitte, the American actor who played the role of Walter White Jr, in the show Breaking Bad, is one of those celebrities. Like his role in the show, RJ Mitte has a mild cerebral palsy. The actor has been undergoing hyperbaric treatment (Ref-1) and has found the therapy really helpful. HBOT has helped him a lot to overcome the challenges posed by cerebral palsy.
Josh Koscheck, a mixed martial arts fighter of America, uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy to boost his health. Have a look at his instagram post (Ref-2), where he is undergoing the therapy in a hyperbaric chamber.
HBOT is used by many parents for their children with ASD and other neuro-developmental issues, and several of them have found the treatment very helpful. Look at the Twitter post (Ref-3) of Jacqueline Laurita, one of such parents, who says in the post that the therapy has been effective in improving the focus and concentration of her child.
It should be noted that an individual should undergo HBOT sessions only under the supervision of an authorized medical professional. HBOT needs to be studied further by researchers to find whether it can truly reduce the impairments associated with autism and related conditions. If it is scientifically proved that HBOT can help in autism, it can become an effective treatment option for ASD and many other developmental disorders.
References:
(Ref-1) https://www.facebook.com/Oxyhealth/photos/a.224374160924782.68871.152444724784393/1050228478339342/
(Ref-2) https://instagram.com/p/zTXjn5pTHJ/
(Ref-3) https://twitter.com/JacLaurita/status/579805764723834880
