healingways
Photo: Stephanie Waring, hyperbaric
technician, with patient at The Perlmut-
ter Hyperbaric Center, which utilizes
four state-of-the-art Sechrist Model 3200
monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
Authors Dr. Richard A. Neubauer
and Dr. Morton Walker report in their
book, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
“For years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy
(HBOT) was used only in the treatment
of decompression sickness. However, it
is becoming more common in general
practice as doctors become acquainted
with its application….” Approved by
the Food and Drug Administration and
the American Medical Association,
HBOT physically dissolves extra oxy-
gen into the blood plasma to enhance
tissue levels of the life-giving element.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
According to Dr. David Perlmut-
ter, a board-certified neurologist, this
oxygenation produces several impor-
Healing Under Pressure
tant long-term therapeutic benefits:

enhanced growth of new blood vessels;
by lee walker
increased ability of white blood cells
to destroy bacteria and remove toxins;
S
everal times each week, Doreen DeStefano, owner of Integrated Skin Care
increased growth of fibroblasts (cells
in Fort Myers, Florida, spends the lunch hour in her hyperbaric oxygen
involved in wound healing); and en-
chamber. Purchased four months ago for clients, the chamber allows
hanced metabolic activity of previously
an individual to experience the benefits of pure oxygen delivered at increased
marginally functioning cells, including
atmospheric pressure. “There is no other anti-aging therapy for the body and the
brain neurons.
skin that is so effortless, and yet so effective, as hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” says
Perlmutter is an internationally
DeStefano, a licensed esthetician and naturopathic doctor.
recognized leader in the use of hyper-
Even before Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen—the naturally occurring ac-
baric treatment of neurological disor-
tive element in the atmosphere—in the late 1700s, physicians and scientists were
ders, such as autism, cerebral palsy and
intrigued by the possibility of using increased atmospheric pressure as a medical
multiple sclerosis, as well as stroke. He
therapy. As early as 1662, Nathaniel Henshaw, a British clergyman, had built the
has used HBOT for 20 years at the Perl-
first sealed chamber to treat ailments such as inflammation, scurvy and arthritis.
mutter Hyperbaric Center in Naples,
Later, the Pneumatic Institution for Gas Therapy, established by British physician
Florida, which has four Sechrist Model
Thomas Beddoes (1760-1808), spawned the creation of institutes for compression
3200 hyperbaric chambers.
therapy throughout Europe; by 1860, pneumatic spas had reached North America.
“These are the most technologi-
Supplemental use of oxygen increased with its availability. By the 1930s,
cally advanced monoplace, or single-
hyperbaric medicine was used for diving and decompression sickness. During the
person, chambers available,” advises
1960s, medical journals reported the benefits of pressurized hyperoxygenation
Perlmutter. “Treatments typically last
(hyperbaric oxygen, or HBO) for carbon monoxide poisoning. This sparked an
one to two hours, and patients can re-
interest within the medical community that led to the building of hyperbaric units
lax, watch television or even nap while
at such prestigious medical institutions as Duke University School of Medicine,
they are monitored by trained techni-
Mount Sinai Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston (Harvard Medical School’s pedi-
cians, with whom they can communi-
atric teaching hospital) and others.
cate through an intercom system.”
Subsequently, benefits were observed when HBO was applied to skin graft
Hyperbaric oxygenation’s healing
acceptance, acute thermal burns, radiation ulcers and foot wounds from diabetes.
ways continue to impress practitioners
In 1989, the American Board of Medical Specialists approved a related certifica-
who utilize its benefits. “HBOT is a
tion of added competency in Undersea Medicine, and in 1991 the National Board
fantastic adjunct therapy for any sort of
of Hyperbaric Medicine Technology issued its first certification to hyperbaric
cosmetic surgery,” reports DeStefano.
technicians.
“I have seen it reduce the post-healing
 Collier / Lee Counties
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