Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Advanced Regenerative & Longevity Medicine

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medically supervised treatment in which patients breathe 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber, typically at 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA). This controlled increase in oxygen pressure dramatically enhances oxygen delivery to tissues, triggering powerful regenerative, anti-inflammatory, neuroplastic, and stem-cell–mediated repair mechanisms throughout the body.

At Dr. Inman’s clinic, HBOT is used as a foundational regenerative therapy, integrated with advanced protocols such as PRF, orthomolecular medicine, hydrogen therapy, neuromodulation, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and metabolic optimization.

Stem Cell Mobilization & Regenerative Activation

HBOT Increases Circulating Stem Cells in Humans

One of the most important discoveries in regenerative medicine is that HBOT can mobilize endogenous stem and progenitor cells from the bone marrow into circulation.

A landmark human study demonstrated this effect:

Zhang et al., 2011 – American Journal of Physiology (Heart and Circulatory Physiology)
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy induces a cytokine-mediated proliferation of circulating stem/progenitor cells”

This study showed that HBOT significantly increases circulating CD34⁺ stem/progenitor cells, which play a central role in:

  • Tissue repair and regeneration
  • Angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)
  • Wound healing
  • Cardiovascular and organ recovery

Key Findings (Human Clinical Data)

  • HBOT activates nitric oxide–dependent signaling pathways, stimulating the bone marrow to release stem/progenitor cells.
  • Stem cell mobilization is dose-dependent, increasing progressively with repeated sessions.
  • Documented increases in circulating CD34⁺ stem cells include:
  • +200–300% after 1 session
  • +350–450% by session 5
  • +450–520% by session 7
  • +600–700% by session 20
  • ≈ +800% after 40 sessions

These values are measured biological effects—not theoretical projections.

Importantly, no other legal, non-invasive therapy has demonstrated this magnitude of endogenous stem cell mobilization in published human medical literature.

Clinical relevance: Increased availability of circulating stem cells enhances the body’s innate capacity for vascular repair, tissue healing, immune modulation, and systemic regeneration.

Reference:
Zhang, Jian, et al. American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2011. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00298.2011.

Brain Health, Neuroplasticity & Cognitive Recovery

Post-Stroke Neuroplasticity

Efrati et al., 2013 – PLOS ONE

  • Population: 74 patients, 6–36 months after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
  • Protocol: 40 sessions, 90 minutes, 100% O₂ at 2.0 ATA
  • Results:
  • Significant improvements in neurological scores, daily functioning, and quality of life
  • No improvement during the no-treatment control phase
  • SPECT imaging showed increased perfusion in previously “stunned but viable” brain tissue

Clinical meaning: HBOT can induce meaningful neuroplasticity and functional recovery even years after stroke.

Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Hadanny et al., 2018 – BMJ Open

  • Protocol: 60 sessions at ~2.0 ATA
  • Findings:
  • Significant improvements across all cognitive domains
  • Enhanced memory, attention, and executive function
  • Imaging-confirmed cerebral perfusion changes

Clinical implication: HBOT restores function rather than merely masking symptoms in chronic brain injury.

Alzheimer’s Disease & Mild Cognitive Impairment

BenAri et al., 2020 – Alzheimer’s & Dementia: TRCI

  • Protocol: 60 sessions at 2.0 ATA
  • Outcomes:
  • Improved global cognition and executive function
  • Reduced amyloid burden on PET imaging
  • Improved cerebral blood flow

Clinical message: HBOT demonstrates neuroprotective and potentially disease-modifying effects in early neurodegenerative disease.

Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia & Central Sensitization

Fibromyalgia & Neuroplastic Pain Modulation

Efrati et al., 2015 – PLOS ONE

  • Population: Women with fibromyalgia ≥2 years
  • Protocol: 40 sessions at 2.0 ATA
  • Results:
  • Significant improvement in pain scores and tender points
  • Normalization of abnormal pain-related brain activity on SPECT

HBOT vs Pharmacologic Treatment

Boussi-Gross et al., 2024 – Scientific Reports

  • Design: Prospective randomized trial
  • Findings:
  • HBOT produced greater improvements than medication alone
  • Better pain control, emotional health, and daily functioning

Clinical significance: HBOT can outperform standard drug therapy in complex chronic pain syndromes.

Longevity, Telomeres & Immune Rejuvenation

Telomere Lengthening & Reduced Immunosenescence

Hachmo et al., 2020 – Aging (Albany NY)

  • Population: Adults ≥64 years
  • Protocol: 60 sessions at 2.0 ATA
  • Outcomes:
  • Telomere length increased >20% in immune cells
  • Senescent T-helper cells decreased ~37%
  • Senescent cytotoxic T cells decreased ~11%

Clinical relevance: HBOT is one of the few interventions shown to reverse two fundamental hallmarks of aging—telomere shortening and immune senescence.

Autoimmune & Inflammatory Conditions

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Chen et al., 2024 – Precision Clinical Medicine (Review)

HBOT (≈2.0–2.5 ATA) has been shown to:

  • Downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α)
  • Reduce oxidative stress
  • Increase antioxidant enzymes (SOD, glutathione peroxidase)

Clinical series report high response and remission rates when HBOT is added to standard therapy in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s Disease – Strong Modern Clinical Data

Krstulović et al., 2025 – Healthcare (Basel)

  • Population: 61 patients with complicated Crohn’s disease
  • Protocol: 2.2 ATA, 15–25 consecutive sessions
  • Results:
  • Dramatic reduction in disease activity indices
  • 94.1% remission rate in conservatively treated patients

Sports Performance, Mitochondria & Recovery

Athletic Performance & Mitochondrial Function

Hadanny et al., 2022 – Sports Medicine – Open

  • Design: Randomized controlled trial
  • Protocol: 40 sessions at 2.0 ATA
  • Findings:
  • Increased VO₂max and power output
  • Improved mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial mass

Muscle Injury & Post-Surgical Recovery

  • Chen et al., 2019 – BioMed Research International: Faster recovery from exercise-induced muscle injury
  • Zhang et al., 2025 – Scientific Reports: Reduced inflammation and faster functional recovery after knee arthroplasty

Surgery, Plastic Surgery & Wound Healing

Compromised Grafts & Flaps

Francis & Baynosa, 2017 – Advances in Wound Care

HBOT improves:

  • Skin flap survival
  • Graft take
  • Angiogenesis and fibroblast function
  • Ischemia-reperfusion injury mitigation

Facial Plastic Surgery

Neel et al., 2023 – ASJ Open Forum

  • Outcome:
  • Wound healing time reduced from 36.9 days to 13.3 days with HBOT (P < 0.001)

How HBOT Is Used at Dr. Inman’s Clinic

HBOT is applied as part of a personalized, medically supervised regenerative protocol, often combined with:

  • PRF and regenerative injections
  • Orthomolecular and mitochondrial therapies
  • Hydrogen molecular therapy
  • Neuromodulation and LLLT
  • Hormonal and metabolic optimization

Treatment protocols are individualized based on clinical history, goals, and diagnostic evaluation.

Medical Disclaimer

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a medical treatment that must be prescribed and supervised by a qualified physician. Not all conditions are FDA-approved indications. Results vary by individual, and therapy is not intended to replace standard medical care but may be used as an adjunct when clinically appropriate.

Scientific References

  1. Zhang, Jian, et al. American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2011. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00298.2011.
  2. Efrati, Shai, et al. PLOS ONE, 2013. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053716.
  3. Hadanny, Amir, et al. BMJ Open, 2018. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023387.
  4. Efrati, Shai, et al. PLOS ONE, 2015. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127012.
  5. Boussi-Gross, R., et al. Scientific Reports, 2024. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62161-5.
  6. Hachmo, Yafit, et al. Aging, 2020. DOI: 10.18632/aging.202188.
  7. BenAri, Omer, et al. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: TRCI, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12008.
  8. Chen, Leilei, et al. Precision Clinical Medicine, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/pcmedi/pbae001.
  9. Krstulović, Jure, et al. Healthcare, 2025. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13020128.
  10. Hadanny, Amir, et al. Sports Medicine – Open, 2022. DOI: 10.1186/s40798-021-00403-w.
  11. Chen, Chia-Yen, et al. BioMed Research International, 2019. DOI: 10.1155/2019/6289380.
  12. Zhang, Rui, et al. Scientific Reports, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-06223-2.
  13. Francis, Ashish, & Baynosa, Richard. Advances in Wound Care, 2017. DOI: 10.1089/wound.2016.0707.
  14. Neel, Omar F., et al. ASJ Open Forum, 2023. DOI: 10.1093/asjof/ojad065.