Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Fast-Track Your Recovery?

The body has an innate ability to heal itself, and some addiction treatment modalities work by supporting this process. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is increasingly being explored as a complementary therapy in addiction recovery. The idea behind hyperbaric oxygen therapy for addiction recovery is that increasing oxygen delivery to the body may support natural healing processes and help address some physical symptoms that can occur during recovery.

While HBOT has long been used to treat decompression sickness,  it’s now being used in some addiction and behavioral health settings. Some rehabs are introducing this therapy as a way to address symptoms associated with substance use and physical or emotional trauma and support clients’ treatment progress. Beyond just treating addiction, HBOT is also used by high-performance athletes and others who simply wish to optimize their health.

But is this therapy as effective as treatment centers claim? We’ll take a look at the following:

• What Is HBOT?
• HBOT for Addiction Recovery
• Is It Effective?
• Risks and Side Effects

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was first employed in the early 1900s by the U.S. Navy, who used it to treat deep-sea divers who resurfaced too quickly. It’s since become a well-established treatment for decompression sickness among scuba divers, and since the 1960s, it’s also been used to reverse the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. Today, HBOT is used to speed recovery from a variety of health problems, including infections, burns, injuries, tissue death, traumatic brain injury, and anemia.

How HBOT Boosts the Healing Process

During HBOT, patients sit in a specially designed chamber and breathe pure oxygen. While the air we normally breathe contains only 21% oxygen, the oxygen level inside the HBOT chamber is 100%. The chamber is also pressurized, which increases the amount of oxygen the blood can carry and deliver to tissues. This can support the body’s natural healing processes:

• Blocking the effects of certain harmful bacteria
• Supporting new blood vessel growth
• Supporting immune function
• Helping damaged tissue heal

After repeated sessions, increased blood oxygen levels are said to be sustained even after receiving HBOT.¹

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Addiction Recovery

Long-term substance use can affect multiple organs and body systems and may contribute to physical symptoms during recovery. Some treatment providers use HBOT for addiction recovery as a complementary therapy intended to support physical wellness and address certain symptoms during treatment.

One study on HBOT’s role in brain damage recovery found that it may also reduce symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome, a condition caused by severe vitamin B1 deficiency that can occur with long-term alcohol misuse.²

Some rehabs incorporate HBOT alongside other addiction treatment services or holistic treatment approaches. However, HBOT should be viewed as a complementary or emerging therapy rather than a replacement for evidence-based addiction treatment.

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works

HBOT is delivered in chambers designed either for individual use or for multiple people to use at a time. For individual treatment, patients lie on a table that slides into a clear tube, similar to an MRI machine. For group sessions, patients sit in a pressurized room and breathe oxygen through masks. In either case, an HBOT technician or trained medical professional is present throughout the session, which typically lasts for 1 to 2 hours.

Once patients are inside, oxygen is pumped into the chamber and the pressure gradually increases. When this happens, it’s common to feel your ears “pop” like they do during an elevation change. During the session, clients can relax with a TV show or a book, or simply rest. Once the time is up, air pressure is slowly lowered to normal levels. If necessary, your clinical team will assess several points including your blood pressure, pulse, and blood glucose for those who have diabetes. Most people find HBOT easy and painless.

How Many HBOT Sessions Do I Need?

How many sessions you need depends on your condition, but you’ll likely need more than 1 to see results. Your treatment team can help you decide how many to attend. Check with your treatment facility to see how many sessions their program includes. This may vary according to your individual treatment plan.

Let’s take a look at how HBOT works at a few rehabs:

All Points North Lodge, Colorado, USA

All Points North Lodge partners with a local hyperbaric physical therapy clinic, who provides a technician to oversee each session. Their website describes their HBOT process.³

HBOT at All Points North Lodge is available as an optional add-on to their treatment program, or as a standalone therapy for people who wish to come to the Lodge solely for this purpose. Their admissions team offers assessments to interested clients to help them determine whether or not they’re a good candidate.

Castle Craig, Edinburgh, Scotland

HBOT at Castle Craig takes place in a 12-person hyperbaric chamber, located onsite and overseen by a local non-profit provider. According to their treatment team, HBOT helps Castle Craig’s clients:⁴

• dramatically reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms
• better regulate their emotions
• improve sleep quality
• increase stem cell production by 800%
• repair damage to organs including the pancreas, liver, and brain

During the session, clients sit on cushioned seats inside the chamber and watch TV, rest, or read. This service is optional and comes with an additional cost.

Paracelsus Recovery, Zurich, Switzerland

Paracelsus Recovery offers HBOT as one option in the wide array of specialized therapies that make up its bespoke program. According to their team, “Prolonged use of drugs and alcohol can alter the brain’s chemical makeup and ultimately lead to loss of brain function and cell death. Although the body is incredibly self-healing, it may reach a point that it is unable to counteract the effects without help. HBOT treatments can restore life to dormant cells and awaken dormant cells and generate new, healthy cells.”

They also use HBOT to aid the detox process: “[Hyperbaric oxygen] treatments are also beneficial during detoxification, helping the body to more efficiently rid itself of toxic substances.”⁵

These statements describe the treatment provider’s claims about HBOT and should not be interpreted as established evidence that HBOT detoxifies the body or reverses the effects of addiction.

Paracelsus offers both single- and multi-person options, and sessions last about 1 hour.

Goodsky Mental Health Retreat, Queensland, Australia

Goodsky Mental Health Retreat utilizes the tissue- and muscle-repairing benefits of HBOT to help pain management clients.⁶ This service is part of their personalized program for issues such as chronic pain, trauma-related pain, traumatic brain injury, and mental health disorders.

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Effective for Treating Addiction?

HBOT is not a new therapy, but its application in addiction and mental health treatment has only recently become more common, and more research needs to be done on its effectiveness in this area. However, some studies demonstrate its promise as an effective treatment for those in recovery:

One study on hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction found that patients who received hyperbaric oxygenation experienced improvements in some neurological, psychological, and physical symptoms.⁷ Because this is older research, its findings should be considered alongside newer evidence.

Another study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that HBOT improved overall cognitive functioning in veterans with blast-induced traumatic brain injury and PTSD.⁸ This study did not evaluate HBOT specifically as an addiction treatment.

And a study in the neuroscience journal Brain Research investigating HBOT for opioid withdrawal found that hyperbaric oxygen treatment suppressed withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice.⁹ Because this was an animal study, the findings do not establish that HBOT has the same effect in people.

More recent human research has also explored HBOT for symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal. A small 2022 pilot randomized controlled trial studied adults receiving daily methadone for opioid use disorder and found greater average improvements in measures of pain, drug cravings, and some withdrawal-related symptoms among participants receiving HBOT compared with a sham condition.¹³ Because the study included only eight participants, the researchers concluded that larger trials are needed to determine HBOT’s effectiveness as an adjunctive treatment.¹³

Is HBOT Officially Approved?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges that HBOT is effective for treating health problems beyond just decompression sickness.¹⁰ But it also warns about false claims that HBOT is a cure-all.

HBOT is not FDA-approved specifically as a treatment for addiction or substance use disorders.

The FDA recommends that those considering this therapy first consult their primary care provider. You can also check with the regulatory agency that governs HBOT: “If your health care provider recommends HBOT, the FDA advises that you go to a hospital or facility that has been inspected and is properly accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.”¹¹

Some rehabs use HBOT as an off-label or complementary therapy for addiction-related symptoms. Centers that use HBOT may report positive results among their clients, but these reports are not the same as evidence from large, well-designed clinical trials.

According to Paracelsus, “Many people report improved memory, heightened alertness, increased energy, and an overall increase in health and wellbeing after as few as 10 treatments, although more treatments may be required.”

Risks and Side Effects of HBOT

The side effects of HBOT are generally minimal, and usually affect the eyes, ears, or sinuses due to increased pressure. When they do occur, these effects may include the following:

• Temporary vision changes resulting from effects on the eye lens
• Ear issues due to changes in air pressure
• Low blood sugar in people who have diabetes treated with insulin
• Lung collapse (rare)

Most side effects of HBOT are short-lived, but there is a small risk of a serious condition called oxygen toxicity, which results from too much oxygen in the central nervous system. In rare, severe cases, oxygen toxicity can cause seizures or other serious complications.¹²

The decision to use hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be made after discussing the possible risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.

HBOT may not be appropriate for everyone, including some people with ear, sinus, respiratory, or other medical conditions. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether HBOT is appropriate for you.

Making HBOT a Part of Your Recovery

HBOT isn’t for everyone, but if it is right for you, it could potentially complement your recovery process and support your physical wellness during addiction treatment.

HBOT should not replace established medical, behavioral, or evidence-based treatment for a substance use disorder. If you’re considering HBOT, talk with your healthcare provider or treatment team about how it may fit into your overall treatment plan.

If you’re still exploring your options, learn more about how rehab works and the different types of addiction treatment.

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