What hyperbaric oxygen therapy is
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, usually shortened to HBOT, means breathing concentrated oxygen while the air pressure around you is raised above normal. Under pressure, your blood carries more oxygen than it can at sea level, which is why HBOT has been used in medicine for decades.
At Vineyard Longevity Center we offer HBOT as part of a whole-person wellness plan: on its own, alongside IV nutrient therapy, or as one of the daily therapies on a detox retreat.
What the research supports, and what it does not
We would rather you hear this from us than find it later. In hospitals, HBOT is an approved treatment for a short list of serious conditions, such as decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning and some slow-healing wounds. Those emergencies belong in a hospital hyperbaric unit, and we do not treat them.
The wellness uses people ask us about, such as recovery, energy and general wellbeing, have a smaller and still-growing body of research. Many of our clients value how they feel after a series of sessions, and we are honest that results vary from person to person. HBOT works best as one part of a plan that also looks at nutrition, rest and movement.
Who it suits, and who should wait
HBOT may suit you if you are looking for gentle, non-invasive support during recovery, a detox program or a period of heavy stress. Before your first session we go through your health history, because HBOT is not right for everyone. Let us know if you:
- have a cold, sinus congestion or a recent ear infection or ear surgery
- have had a collapsed lung or have a lung condition
- are pregnant or think you might be
- take medication regularly, or feel anxious in small spaces
If anything in your history needs a second opinion, we will ask you to check with your own physician first.
What a session feels like
You lie or sit comfortably in the chamber, wearing loose cotton clothing. As the pressure rises over the first few minutes you will feel your ears fill, the way they do on a descending flight. Swallowing clears them. Once you reach pressure you simply rest, breathe normally, nap or listen to something calm. At the end the pressure is lowered slowly and you can go straight back to your day.
How many sessions people book
There is no single right number. Some clients start with one session to see how it feels. Most wellness plans use a series spread over a few weeks, and retreat guests often have sessions on consecutive days. At your first visit we suggest a starting plan, then review it with you as you go.
Coming from off-island
Our center is in Vineyard Haven, a short drive from the ferry terminal where boats from Woods Hole arrive year-round. Clients come from Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah, and from Falmouth and the rest of Cape Cod. If you are travelling over for a series, ask us about combining sessions with a wellness retreat.