Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is one of the most requested — and most misunderstood — treatments among international patients coming to China. Here is a plain-language guide.
What it actually is
HBOT means breathing pure or high-concentration oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The pressure allows far more oxygen to dissolve into the blood plasma than normal breathing can achieve, delivering oxygen to tissue that is starved of it — including areas around injured brain tissue or slow-healing wounds.
Conditions it is used for
- Acute carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injury
- Diabetic infectious ulcers and other delayed-healing wounds
- Central retinal artery occlusion
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
- Altitude de-acclimatization syndrome
In a rehabilitation setting, HBOT is usually one component of a program — combined with physical therapy, occupational therapy and other disciplines rather than used on its own.
What our chamber is like
Our partner hospital operates a large, multi-place air-pressurized hyperbaric chamber cluster — a modern two-chamber, four-door flat-bottom design accommodating up to 20 people. It is equipped with an emergency oxygen supply, negative pressure suction and fully computerized automatic pressure control. Multi-place chambers allow medical staff to accompany patients inside, which improves safety.
What a session feels like
You sit or lie comfortably inside the chamber while the pressure rises gradually over several minutes — the sensation is similar to the pressure change in an airplane cabin, and you may need to equalize your ears. The oxygen-breathing phase lasts roughly an hour, followed by a gradual depressurization. Most patients read or rest during the session and return to their rehabilitation schedule immediately afterwards.
Safety and candidacy
HBOT is a medical treatment and is not suitable for everyone — certain lung and ear conditions, and some medications, require individual review. Every candidate is screened by a physician before the first session, and the number of sessions is prescribed as part of your overall plan.