IBD - Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of long-term conditions, including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Common symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, and weight loss.
OxyGeneration provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for the treatment of IBD. During HBOT at OxyGeneration, clients spend ≥60 minutes breathing >94% oxygen in a special pressurised chamber. The increased pressure helps the body absorb more oxygen, which helps repair tissues damaged by IBD, reduces inflammation, and supports healing.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe and simple procedure with few side effects. For clients with IBD, HBOT is a safe, simple and effective treatment that relieves symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and promotes healing. HBOT can improve the quality of life of patients with frequent IBD flare-ups by helping the body’s natural healing processes.
How HBOT Works for IBD
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy for IBD at OxyGeneration, clients breathe >94% pure oxygen in a chamber in which the pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure for ≥1 hours for multiple sessions. HBOT for IBD may help in several ways.
1. Improved Tissue Oxygenation:
Because of inflammation and disruption of the blood vessels, the intestines in people with IBD often don’t have enough oxygen, which prevents healing. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen in the affected tissues of the intestines and activates repair pathways.
2. Blood Vessel Growth:
Growing new blood vessels is essential for healing, and HBOT stimulates blood vessel growth and improves the blood supply in the intestines, speeding up the healing process.
3. Reduced Inflammation:
In IBD, an overactive immune system causes inflammation. By increasing oxygen levels in the body, HBOT helps calm the immune response and reduces inflammation and IBD symptoms.
4. Reduced Swelling:
The increase in oxygen during HBOT may reduce oedema (swelling of tissues), which is one cause of discomfort for people with IBD.
Benefits of HBOT for Patients with IBD
Symptom relief:
HBOT can ease many of the symptoms of IBD and reduce the number of flare-ups by reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
Reduced medication:
Standard treatments for IBD often have long-term side effects. By decreasing the number of flare-ups and speeding up healing, HBOT may mean that IBD patients can take less medication and reduce the side effects. Any change of medication should always be done under the close supervision of the treating physician.
Accelerated healing:
Symptoms of IBD can be slow to heal after treatment or surgery, and HBOT can help speed up healing and tissue repair.
Enhanced response:
Some people with IBD don’t respond to conventional therapies, leading to frequent flare-ups and complications. HBOT may help these unresponsive cases and improve the invidual’s response to treatment
Clinical Evidence and Practical Considerations
Research on HBOT for IBD is still in its early stages, but evidence from clinical studies and patient reports suggests it may be a helpful addition to standard treatment, especially for people with severe symptoms and for difficult-to-treat cases. Many studies show that HBOT is safe and effective and leads to symptom relief and remission, and IBD patients treated with HBOT have fewer flare-ups and need less medicine. For ulcerative colitis, HBOT is particularly helpful for patients with severe symptoms who don’t respond to standard treatments. In Crohn’s disease, HBOT can treat ulcers and may even lead to complete healing. Overall, clinical trials indicate that HBOT is a promising complementary treatment for IBD.
Client Selection:
HBOT is typically recommended for conditions that do not respond to standard treatments, however, increasingly it is being introduced earlier in treatment plans. HBOT is safe and generally well tolerated. However, not everyone is suitable for HBOT. Clients need to fully disclose any conditions that might make the treatment risky, such as certain lung problems. Where required, an evaluation by a doctor before treatment ensures safety and helps determine if HBOT is the right choice for each client. Please note that OxyGeneration does not provide diagnostic services and is a treatment provide only. We strongly encourage all clients to consult with their medical team if required. Clients should at all times consult with their treating physician in relation to any changes in their medication
Treatment Protocols:
Treatments usually last 60 to 90 minutes per session and are conducted daily over several weeks. Every individual is different and we recommend consulting with your medical team. To help determine how many sessions each individual will require, new clients can speak with OxyGeneration staff prior to commencing HBOT.
Monitoring Progress:
Regular assessments are crucial to track healing progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.
Client with Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
“I came in with an open mind because I wasn’t sure how well it would work because I was very unwell. I wasn’t sure if I needed to go to hospital, but luckily from the sessions, I have avoided the hospital. I was surprised how quickly the sessions had helped me. Even if you are sceptical, give it a try and do as many sessions as you can.”
Conclusion
Treating IBD with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a safe, simple and effective treatment that relieves symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and promotes healing. HBOT can improve the quality of life of patients with frequent IBD flare-ups by helping the body’s natural healing processes.
For more information about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and its benefits, visit our website and consult with your healthcare professionals.
For further information on the use of HBOT for irritable bowel disease,
please visit our resources page by clicking the link below.