What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, The New Celeb Wellness Trend?

It might be best known as a treatment for “ the bends ”, but recent years have seen hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) reclaimed by the rich and famous as something of a cure-all, used to tackle problems ranging from stress to autoimmune conditions.

But what actually is HBOT – and does it really do any of the things that celebs claim?

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

The air that we breathe under normal circumstances is about 21 percent oxygen. HBOT , on the other hand, involves breathing in air that’s 100 percent oxygen at a pressure 1.5 to 3 times higher than normal.

These conditions are used with the purpose of helping the lungs to gather more oxygen, which is then carried around the rest of the body.

HBOT takes place in what’s known as a hyperbaric chamber, designed to either hold one person, usually a big tube-shaped device that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, or multiple people, who receive pure oxygen through a mask or hood.

Sessions typically last anywhere from 45 minutes to 5 hours, with the time spent inside the chamber depending on what it’s being used to treat.

Does it actually do anything?

Unlike a lot of celebrity-endorsed approaches to health (*coughs* vaginal steaming ), HBOT has a number of disorders where there’s enough evidence that it’s as safe and effective as similar existing treatments that it’s been FDA cleared for marketing as a treatment for them.

This includes decompression sickness (best known for affecting scuba divers), severe skin and bone infections, non-healing wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, and severe burns. Comedian and TV host Jay Leno received HBOT for the latter back in 2022 .

There are also plenty of unfounded claims out there about what HBOT is capable of treating.

Actress Mayim Bialik recently hit headlines after announcing on Instagram that she’d installed a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in her house in the hopes that using it would “address inflammation and autoimmune issues.”

Singer Justin Bieber has previously used a chamber in an attempt to treat stress and anxiety. Others have claimed it can treat conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to cancer, and more recently, long COVID .

However, the robust level of scientific evidence that would be required in order for HBOT to be approved as a treatment or cure for any of these issues is simply not there – though research into the therapy’s potential applications continues .

Does it come with any risks?

Even in uses with the necessary supporting data, HBOT still carries risks. Some of the more mild side effects can include feeling like your ears are blocked, fatigue, and headaches, but there’s also the potential for ear injuries and temporary vision changes.

In rare cases, HBOT can also lead to lung collapse and, due to the purity of the oxygen, a condition known as oxygen toxicity , which can cause seizures.

There are also certain conditions and circumstances under which HBOT shouldn’t be used, such as if someone has a collapsed lung, one of a number of lung conditions, symptoms of a fever, or having recently sustained an injury to their ear.

As such, it’s important that people consult with their healthcare provider before undergoing HBOT. If the decision is made to go ahead, it's important to make sure that it takes place in an accredited facility – not just for medical purposes, but because pure oxygen also brings with it a risk of fire.

All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.