HBOT For Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantianigra. Nerve cells in this part of the brain are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time. Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms. Occasionally, your doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms.

Extensive animal research has demonstrated a non‐specific chronic inflammatory condition in the substantianigra of the brain. Many approaches to treating Parkinson’s involve using medications, such as Levodopa, to raise levels of dopamine in the brain. For many, these medications can cause unwanted side effects, prove to be of little help, and only work for a few years anyway. And while various therapies can be useful, they cannot address the root cause of underlying brain imbalances. Hyperbaric oxygen is able to effectively oxidize and remove harmful toxins, heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses, which are all often present with Parkinson’s. The bacteria that are associated with Parkinson’s thrive in low oxygen. But these bacteria are poisoned and killed by high levels of pressurized oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen has the ability to massively create stem cells in your body. In fact, studies show that your body produces 800% more stem cells after 40 treatments of hyperbaric oxygen. Your body uses these stem cells as extra resources to heal and recover, since stem cells are able to grow up into any kind of cell the body needs. In the case of Parkinson’s, there can be body tissues which need to be repaired even after toxins and pathogens have been removed from the body. The stem cells produced by hyperbaric oxygen are able to repair this damage. Hyperbaric oxygen also kick-starts the body’s natural immune system. Hyperbaric oxygen grows brand new white blood cells, modulates immune reactions, and causes new collagen to grow in the gut where 90% of the immune system is located. Better gut function translates to better digestion, absorption of nutrients, and better probiotic bacteria that keep our immune systems healthy. A healthy immune system is essential for recovery from Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is marked by chronic inflammation and constant oxidative stress. Hyperbaric oxygen dramatically lowers inflammation and decreases oxidative stress as it grows new blood vessels throughout the body, providing a new infrastructure of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to reach inflamed tissue. Hyperbaric oxygen creates a new and ongoing positive chain of events in the body that helps lead to recovery from Parkinson’s disease.

This physician’s 86 year old mother with a 15-year history of PD and tremors at rest, bradykinesia, sleep disturbance, and depression taking 5 medications for PD under went a course of 10 HBOT at 1.5 ATA. She reported an improvement in well-being and was observed to have a decrease in tremors. She underwent an additional 3 HBOT at 1.5 atA. The beneficial effects of the treatment appeared to be sustained over the course of the next 4 months.

This 75 year old former corperate vice president with a 6 year history of PD taking dopaminergic drugs with resting tremors, difficulty with balance, and insomnia underwent 20 HBOT at 1.5 ATA and 3 treatments at 1.75 ATA. There was a significant improvement in tremors, balance, and insomnia, which has been maintained for 5 months. The tremors began to return, and the patient underwent 5 additional HBOT treatments with an improvement in symptoms.

This 63 year old former fire fighter with a 6 year history of PD like symptoms diagnosed with PD 4 years ago had discontinued his dopaminergic agents, but continued taking amantadine for his tremors without effect. He underwent 30 HBOT at 2.0 ATA and had a complete resolution of his right hand tremor, which has been maintained for the last 5 months.

This 69 year old practicing physician with a 3 year history of PD on dopaminergic medication had discontinued driving and reported difficulty in writing, episodes of rigidity, and always feeling “washed out”. Afetr one HBOT treatment at 1.5 ATA, he reported feeling like “his own self again”, and after 7 treatments resumed driving. The treatment benefit appeared to last for 24 to 48 hours- the end point of the benefit strongly related to stress experienced at work. The patient underwent 13 additional HBOT treatments at 2.0 ATA (20 treatments total), and he reported a complete resolution of symptoms for 1 month. The “washed out” feeling returned and after undergoing and additional 2 HBOT treatments, he again felt “well”. HBOT is a safe, easily administered, and relatively inexpensive treatment. K.H. Holbach reported that HBOT treatment at 1.5 ATA resulted in a balanced cerebral glucose metabolism, which indicated an improved oxygenation and energy production of the injured brain. In this preliminary study to determine if HBOT could play a role in treatment of PD, patients were treated, depending on the severity of their symptoms, from 1.5-2.0 ATA. The treatment ATA and the number of treatments were determined by the patient symptoms in relation to their subjective perceived benefit of treatment and the observations of the patient’s spouses or care givers. The positive preliminary results reported in this small group of patients may be due to a placebo effect. A prospective study using a constant ATA and objective assessment of effectiveness should now be performed to further evaluate the role of HBOT in the treatment of PD.