Hyperbaric Oxygen: What it is & What it Can Do For You
Reading Time: 14 minutes
Have you ever heard the term HBOT or hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
If you are a diver or pilot, you’re probably aware of this therapy and may have even experienced it yourself.
But did you know that introducing oxygen into your body can help reduce inflammation and stimulate your body’s natural healing processes?
This week I had the great pleasure to sit down with colleague and friend Ken Cassidy to discuss all things oxygen! Ken and I both work at Radiant Life Naturopathic Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia, where he recently brought in a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber. It is the first of its kind in British Columbia’s interior region.
If you’re wondering what that is, what it can be used for, and how it may be able to help you, keep reading!
My interview with Ken Cassidy from Kamloops Hyperbaric
Me: Welcome! Please introduce yourself - tell me a little about yourself and your family.
Ken: I’ve been married to my wife Becky for about 15 years. We’ve been together for 18 years and have four amazing kids. My two brothers live in Kamloops, and I’ve lived here for about 18 years. Both my brothers have growing families, and well - so we have lots of cousins. There are eight grandchildren for my mom, who also moved here recently from Cache Creek. So it’s nice - it’s a close family here in Kamloops.
Me: What did you do before you decided to get into this field?
Ken: I was a welder at Highland Valley Copper. I started there when I was 22. I’m 39 now. My training there had elements of what I’m doing now, including working with oxygen, pressure gauges, confined spaces, compressors, masks and respirators, hazard identification, and safety training.
It gave me enough of a handle on thinking I could learn about Hyperbaric.
Me: Why did you decide to bring HBOT to Kamloops?
Ken: It was a little bit of a crisis of conscience or an early mid-life crisis. I needed to do something positive with my life, but to give up a great-paying job with great benefits was a huge leap, though. So I needed a change I felt tremendously strongly about. As I learned more about it, hyperbaric medicine became that passion for me. The potential upside to help people is so large, so it became a goal worth going for.
The mental and physical environment at a big mine can be very toxic for some people, and it was for me. I needed something clean and health-minded. I got into health and fitness while I was at the mine and started a ketogenic diet. Learning more about metabolic processes and the things I learned about Hyperbaric blended into that really well.
We are the only business offering HBOT to the public in the interior of BC, outside of the lower mainland and Vancouver General Hospital. That’s a vast area.
Me: Can you maybe back up a moment and tell us what HBOT stands for and maybe a little more about what it is?
Ken: Yeah. It stands for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT. Some people just call it H.B.O. - Hyperbaric Oxygen. You basically breathe 100% oxygen while in a chamber. There are soft chambers that have oxygen concentrators, but they are only allowed for use in the US. They are not allowed for use in Canada.
How it works is you breathe the oxygen while under pressure. Gas laws and physics dictate that the extra oxygen bypasses the red blood cells and dissolves into the blood plasma. An average adult has around 5 litres of blood, and just over half of that is plasma. Under pressure, this fluid can carry up to 1200% more oxygen than it would at normal pressure.
Plasma is about 90% water with some salts and proteins. It carries the blood cells around. It can also diffuse all of that extra oxygen to places in the body where the blood can’t get to or get through - such as in the case of damaged or restricted blood vessels from injuries or surgeries.
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Me: Oh wow. That sounds very high-tech and very interesting. But where did this technology originate? Where did this come from?
Ken: It goes back as far as the 1600’s when the first people realized it had an effect on the body, and they started to experiment with it. A British physician named Henshaw did experiments with sealed rooms and having someone on the outside doing something with bellows to increase the pressure while someone was in the room. He documented any physical changes.
It started to gain more traction in the late 1800s when the French and Dutch started building large pressurized operating theatres to do surgeries to improve their mortality rates. They noticed less infections, better results in the case of heavy blood loss, and better outcomes overall.
Then in the 1950s and 60s, it started to get more use in North America. And by 1979, it had 12 approved indications in North America by the FDA and Canadian Health guidelines.
The approved list is now up to 14 as of 2021.
Me: Amazing. So how does it work? What is the main mechanism behind oxygen therapy?
Ken: There are basically three main functions. It can boost cellular energy, increase growth factors, and lower inflammation.
So the cellular energy, the mitochondria, produce ATP - our energy molecule. Primarily they want to produce glucose, but they can use lipids and ketones, as well. Whichever nutrient is used, oxygen is needed as the last electron donator on the chain. So bursts of extra oxygen can increase cellular energy.
For growth factors, you’ve got VEGF and HIGF, which are Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Hypoxia-Induced Growth Factor. Both increase with Hyperbaric protocols.
These are your capillary regrowth signals, getting fine circulation back into damaged or deficient areas.
Lowering Inflammation can reduce edema, improve lymph function, and lower blood markers of inflammation like C-reactive protein and Interleukin-6. These are tied to a lot of chronic conditions. If we can add Hyperbaric to lower inflammation systemically, it’s possible to see symptom reduction.
These are your body’s natural healing processes. By adding Hyperbaric to your treatments or diet protocols to lower inflammation systemically, it’s possible to see some symptom reduction.
Me: Wow - that’s amazing. Let’s talk about some of those conditions. What are some of the conditions that this has been shown to help?
Ken: The government-approved list so far in Canada includes:
carbon monoxide poisoning
gangrene
the bends from diving
enhanced healing of wounds like diabetic foot ulcers and other non-healing wounds
anemia or traumatic blood loss
flesh-eating disease (necrotizing fasciitis)
radiation damage from cancer therapy
intracranial assess
Osteomyelitis - which is a bone infection
skin grafts and flaps that are non-healing
thermal burns, and
sudden deafness
It’s quite a big list, but at the same time, all those conditions have sub-categories, so that it can also be used for some sub-categories of those primary conditions.
Me: That is a pretty long list, but I’m sure it can help other people, as well. Suppose somebody doesn’t necessarily fit into one of those categories. What other conditions has it been proven to help or show the promise of helping?
Ken: Other countries actually have quite longer lists of insurance-approved and reimbursed conditions. I think Russia has over 50. Turkey, Germany, and Japan all have over 40. England has above 20 and Great Britain, too. South America is one of the places where it is most widely adopted, and their lists are quite long, as well.
Some of the ones that aren’t on our list but are on theirs include sickle cell anemia, ocular stroke, TBI, PTSD, Parkinson’s, drug and alcohol abuse, and addiction. It’s almost too long to list their entire lists.
There is some overlap, and there are also groups of conditions that are on some country’s lists but not on others. But they all have a similar weight of evidence behind them. It’s just based on how much lobbying can be done by the Hyperbaric industry to the health industry to get their list expanded.
Me: So it’s likely some of those additional conditions you listed as being covered in other countries may likely be covered here eventually - hopefully!
Ken: Yeah. It probably is just a matter of time and education. All the health industries are kind of preoccupied right now by the global pandemic. But we have the underlying pandemics of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Those are basically the top four diseases you are mainly to die from. So hyperbaric can influence some people in a healthy direction and hopefully keep people away from those diseases by increasing their healthy baseline.
And if we can combine it with nutritional strategies and naturopathic strategies that we have here at Radiant Life - that’s super exciting for me! I feel really blessed to be working here with you guys!
Me: That’s awesome. And lots of you know that TBI, one of the things Ken just mentioned, is something of personal interest to me because of my husband’s brain injury that he sustained many years ago. The high-intensity oxygen therapy combined with nutritional improvements both can reduce inflammation and improve oxygen flow. Combined, they are very complementary modalities that can be used, not only for TBI, but for diabetics or Parkinson’s - basically any condition that requires inflammation reduction. The other thing Ken mentioned is that he works here at Radiant Life Naturopathic Centre, which is also where I see patients. So if you are in the Kamloops area, definitely check us out here at Radiant Life. And by the way, Ken, I’m assuming that the monstrosity behind you is the actual oxygen chamber. Is that right?
Ken: Yeah - you bet.
Me: Ok, so what can a person who climbs into that chamber expect while they are going through oxygen therapy?
Ken: It’s interesting. It’s a lot like an international flight. Usually, treatment is only an hour, but you can do two hours in it. It’s a place where you can relax and disconnect. You can’t bring your phone in, so you have to read a book or meditate or have a nap.
You go through a similar pressure change as an international flight where you need to equalize your ears. But it’s comfortable and is a comfortable temperature. And hopefully, you’ll have a little energy boost at the end from the oxygen.
Me: Are people allowed to lie down inside, or are there seats? What would people encounter?
Ken: So there are a couple of bench seats inside right now, and you can lie down on them. We’re limited to 2 people in at a time with Covid protocols. But you can take someone in that you do want to have a conversation with and do that in there, as well.
Me: Alright. So when you’re inside, you’re able to talk and communicate freely with other people?
Ken: Yeah. For sure. We have an intercom system so you can communicate with people on the outside, as well. So if you feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable, it’s not like you are locked in. We can get you out at any time.
Me: Good to know. So if you were to bottom-line it for us, why, in your opinion, should someone consider trying hyperbaric oxygen?
Ken: I would probably say the inflammation reduction might be the biggest part in terms of the overall population.
Even if you think you are eating a healthy diet, maybe you are gluten sensitive or have a gut issue like an unhealthy gut biome. Or you may possibly have a slight autoimmune condition. You might not even know you have excess inflammation. And if you don’t know, you can’t start strategies. But if you try hyperbaric for one thing and it helps with another thing, that’s a good indication that you have inflammation.
By lowering the inflammation, it’s not like it’s healing you, but it’s allowing your body’s natural healing processes to take effect, where they had some kind of roadblock before, like say, a nutrient deficiency or too many carbohydrates or a thyroid issue. It’s not a miracle cure. It’s sometimes a miracle we can survive for so long with depleted natural healing capacity!
So inflammation really is that sneaky pervasive pandemic that’s influencing all the other health issues we go through in life.
The tag line on the hyperbaric website is “Increasing health span for a better life span.” So that’s my base philosophy, and that’s what I want to do for the community - really improve your quality of life for acute illness right now and for the future.
Me: That’s really interesting. Thanks for sharing that, and it’s good to know it’s not a cure. It helps improve your overall systems and how they operate. You mentioned other side benefits. So if someone is in there for diabetes, say to help improve oxygen flow, reduce inflammation and so on, they might discover other side benefits as a result of having this treatment. One of the biggest ones is probably that increase in energy, is it not?
Ken: Yeah. Improving circulation if at all possible, improving liver and kidney function, especially for a person with diabetes who has reduced capacity in one or two of those organs. And your lymph capacity is a big one. All your body’s buffer systems are depleted when you have diabetes because your body is fighting to keep your insulin at the right level, and that’s taking resources from your other health functions or from maintaining homeostasis. So anything that can give you another weapon to fight your chronic issue should be another tool in your toolbox.
Me: To expand on that a little, who can benefit from this kind of therapy?
Ken: Anyone undergoing radiation therapy or who has a chronic issue related to the approved indications list - provided they are able to equalize pressure in the inner ear, similar to a plane or elevation change. Many people with inflammatory conditions can see some improvement with repeated sessions, as well.
We want to improve quality of life while promoting healing. That is our goal.
Me: Amazing. Where can people go to find more information? I know we just barely scratched the surface about what this technology is, but where can people go to find more information about Kamloops Hyperbaric?
Ken: Probably the best spot is Instagram at KamloopsHyperbaric. That’s where I have the most current studies and stories I pull from other hyperbaric companies. They are great for sharing information, and there are quite a few testimonials from other countries. I don’t have any testimonials yet because I just started seeing patients. But Instagram is probably the best.
Plus, we have KamloopsHyperbaric.com and are on Facebook at KamloopsHyperbaric, as well.
Me: If someone wanted to contact you directly, do you have an email address, or would they be better off contacting you through Radiant Life?
Ken: Either is good. My email is KamloopsHyperbaric@gmail.com and the clinic, Radiant Life’s number is 236-425-2205.
Me: Excellent. And everything is up and operational, correct?
Ken: Yes - you bet!
Me: So someone could call in or contact you any time. What’s that process? Can you walk us through the process… what do you when someone contacts you inquiring about whether or not oxygen therapy might benefit them?
Ken: Yeah - usually we do a little digging to find out what their underlying condition is. Or if they know it already, then I can send files or articles about that particular condition and hyperbaric, or I can walk through the screening process. They can also see Dr. Tracy Levins. If they are already one of her patients, then they can come for hyperbaric.
There is a screening intake process to make sure you don’t have any contraindications. There are a couple of medications that if you are on, you shouldn’t go in the chamber with and things like that. Or if you have uncontrolled asthma, really bad congestive heart failure, a partially collapsed lung, or a history of ear infections, then you shouldn’t go in.
Some potential side effects are linked to those contraindications. So we do need to make sure you don’t have any of those red flags. Then we do some short vitals when you get here - pulse-ox symmetry, blood pressure check, and make sure you are safe to go in.
Me: Good to know. So not just anybody off the street can walk in. There’s a screening protocol to make sure that they are good to go and unlikely to have any sort of reaction.
Ken: Exactly.
Me: What else would you like others to know about HBOT?
Ken: I guess the main mechanism - I did forget to mention that - it’s called the diffusion gradient. So that’s when it’s triggering the hypoxia-induced growth factors, the vascular growth factors, and stem cell production. The body sees it has damaged areas. The HIGF tells it where to send the soldiers, the stem cells, for repair.
In terms of the diffusion gradient, you have your super high percentage of oxygen coming in and your low or baseline oxygen percentage in your cells. That difference is what actually triggers the growth factors and sends it to the areas that need the healing. So it doesn’t just flood the body with stem cells - the stem cells actually go to the places where they are needed. That’s one of the things that really drew me to thinking that this is something that people really need.
Me: Wow. That’s amazing. Thanks for that - I didn’t realize it did that either, so that’s really great to know. Is there anything else you’d like to add before we wrap up today?
Ken: No. I don’t think so. I’m excited to see what we can do with your neuroprotective supplement guide. I know I listened to one of your podcasts about that, and it seems like there is so much overlap of dove-tailing therapies that we can do here, and I’m very excited about that.
Me: That’s fantastic. So once again, Ken, your email address for people who might want to get in touch with you personally?
Ken: Yeah - that’s KamloopsHyperbaric@gmail.com.
Me: Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to join us today. And it’s awesome to see that hyperbaric chamber in the background. It’s also really great for others to see this, too, and understand it’s not a very confined space or box. So for someone who tends to be claustrophobic, you can see it’s a very large tank that you can walk right in. There’s lots of room to sit or move around or lie down and relax. And to be able to have that communication with you through your intercom system is great. You don’t just put them in and walk away. I’m certain that you stand there, are with them, and are watching the system the whole time.
Ken: Yeah, you bet. There’s constant monitoring, a logging system, and oxygen monitoring of the chamber air. The chamber air is safe to breathe at any time, so if you feel uncomfortable with the mask, you can still get part of the benefit just from being in the chamber itself without the extra oxygen.
And I do have a couple of pictures on Instagram of myself lying down in the chamber, and I’m 6’1”, so you can see how much room there is in there. It’s about 9 1/2 feet long and about 4 1/2 feet wide.
Me: Thank you again so much for being here, Ken. I really appreciate it!
So there you have it! My interview with Ken Cassidy of Kamloops Hyperbaric. If you’ve never heard of this therapy before or didn’t know what oxygen therapy may be able to do for you, I hope that this interview provided you with all the information you need!
If you are in the Kamloops area and think hyperbaric oxygen may benefit you, please reach out to Ken or contact Radiant Life Naturopathic Centre to learn more.
If you’re not in the interior of British Columbia, then see if this treatment may be available in your area.
It’s exciting to see how oxygen therapy can be combined with the naturopathic medicine offered by the doctors and the neuro-nutritional support that I offer in order to really make a difference in your health and longevity.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and value your feedback. Let me know what you think by dropping me a line or commenting below.
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[Medical Disclaimer]
All information contained in this document is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent health problems. For all serious health issues, please contact a medical or nutrition practitioner. The information provided is based on the best knowledge of the author at the time of writing, and we do not assume liability for the information, be it direct or indirect, consequential, special exemplary, or other damages. In all circumstances, it is always wise to consult your physician before changing your diet, taking supplements, or starting any exercise or health program.