Warrior Blog

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Bell's palsy

In a study titled “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Bell’s Palsy” (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22336830?dopt=Abstract), the authors claim that “Very low quality evidence from one trial suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be an effective treatment for moderate to server Bell’s palsy”.

In the study they reference two groups: One group of 42 people that received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (2.8 atmospheres for 60 minutes twice daily, five days per week; maximum of 30 ‘dives’) and placebo tablets. A second group of 37 people received “placebo hyperbaric oxygen therapy” and prednisone (40 mg twice daily, reducing over eight days).

My question is, What are we studying? Why were the patients receiving prednisone or a placebo tablet in addition to hyperbaric or “placebo hyperbaric”. Were they trying to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy or to compare it to the effects of prednisone therapy?

The authors go on to sate that “Facial function recovered in more participants treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy than with prednisone”. In fact, the numbers are 40 out of 42 patients improved with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and placebo prednisone (a 95% success rate) while 28 out of 37 patients improved with placebo hyperbaric oxygen therapy and 40 mg twice daily of prednisone. I wonder what the numbers would have been if they would have excluded prednisone all together and just done hyperbaric oxygen therapy vs. placebo hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Fact is, 95% of the patients improved with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a placebo pill. If I were a physician and I were treating a patient with Bell’s Palsy, I would think that this study would be STRONG evidence to treat patients with 2.8 ata hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a placebo pill. But alas, I am not a physician… as my critics so often point out. My response to them, I am also not the President nor am I of the Cloth; yet I have just as much right to discuss religion and politics as I do medicine.

Closing Thoughts

The authors also report, “There were no reported major complications and all participants completed the trial”. Based on this statement, one might believe that such a therapy may indeed not only be effective but also potentially free of risks. But then again, I may just be a glass is half full kinda guy!

Greg Harris - Hyperbaric Warrior

Attacks On Yours Truly

Follow me on Twitter as I expose the lies from Twitter usernames HyperbaricScam and RobertMDenver. They have misrepresented myself and my companies for two long and I am done turning the other cheek. If you are unfamiliar with the ongoing dialogue, don’t worry; I will bring you up to speed. My twitter username is HBOTWarrior. You can see the conversation through the link below. I created link by doing an advanced search (search for anything and then click on “refine search”) and then entering the names HBOTWarrior HyperbaricScam and RobertMDenver in the subsection “mentioning these accounts” under the section “People”. It only goes back so far, so you will have to check back often. My recommendation is to simply follow my account as expose the lies. Look for YouTube videos on this very topic in the near future.

https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%40HyperbaricScam%20OR%20%40HBOTWarrior%20OR%20%40RobertMDenver

Perfect Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Protocol

If I had a dime for every time somebody asked me what the perfect or best hyperbaric protocol is… I would probably have a few dollars by now. First of all, it does not exist; which we will discuss in more detail shortly. Second, I am not your physician and therefore it is not my responsibility to recommend treatment. However, does this mean that I am not open to discuss what has been done successfully in research and case studies, or to voice my opinion on the parameters of treatment and what I believe to be most important? Absolutely not! It simply means that I am not going to come out and say that X sessions, for X minutes, X times per week, X times per day, for X days, with a break of X days would be ideal for you.

So why doesn’t the perfect protocol exist? For the same reasons that the perfect diet, perfect dietary supplement, or perfect exercise routines don’t exist. Because we are all individuals. Protocols are designed to fit within norms. So although a particular protocol might actually be perfect for one individual, it is either too much or too little for the rest of us. This is not too say that we can’t still benefit from these generic protocols, it is simply to say that they are not necessarily ideal for the individual. One might ask, would it be possible through experimentation to design a near perfect hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol for individuals? Sure, I don’t see why not… other than the limitations of the hyperbaric chambers! When it comes to the supplement industry, we can practically put any nutrient at any dosage together in a supplement. In fact, there are companies that develop supplements based on your genetic profile. Unfortunately, neither does the hyperbaric industry have this capability, nor do I believe they are attempting to be this exact or individualized in their approach. Although we can manipulate the frequency of treatment, the duration of treatment, and the percentage of oxygen, most hyperbaric chambers boast very little in the ability to fine tune pressure at small increments. Why do you think so much research is done at specific pressures? Partly because of the limitations of the equipment. Most hyperbaric chambers work in 1/4 atmosphere increments; for example, 1.5 ata, 1.75 ata, 2.0 ata, etc. So, the decision to treat at 1.5 ata or any other pressure, is less based on the symptoms and health history of the patient, rather more so based on the limitations of the equipment. Otherwise, one would expect to see pressures such as 1.65 ata, or 1.4 ata, or maybe 1.55 ata; but we don’t. Of course, we do have a lot of control in managing oxygen percentages and we have complete control over treatment duration. Yet again, we put everybody in for either 60 or 90 minutes… isn’t that just convenient? About as convenient as a facility treating 5 days per week; being that the clinic is closed on the weekend. In summary, we are limited by the available hyperbaric oxygen therapy equipment to develop so called “perfect protocols”. Further, the variables we have complete control over, (duration, frequency, oxygen percentage) are not being utilized to any individualized extent.

Unfortunately, this short article will not revolutionize the hyperbaric industry; in fact, it will likely alienate certain parties within it. However, those of us who understand this can spend less time listening to those who speak in absolutes (claiming we have to follow their generic protocol or we won’t get benefits) and more time searching for truth.

To learn more about treatment protocols with a historical perspective of common protocols of today, please check out the article entitled “Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy” under education.

Greg Harris – Hyperbaric Warrior

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy FAQ - Benefits of Pressure over Oxygen

A customer had emailed me the following statement regarding hyperbaric treatment and obtaining similar partial pressures of oxygen through different methods…

“I’ve been researching & trying to determine if there would be any difference between two different methods to obtain the same partial pressure.

Method 1: 1.0 bar partial pressure from 100% O2 at 1ata

Method 2: 1.0 bar partial pressure from 50% O2 at 2ata

I know hyperbaric can enable you to break the 1.0 bar ceiling (partial pressure), but is there any unique benefit from higher absolute pressure (hyperbaric) at the same partial pressure?”

Theoretically the math is the same in regards to the partial pressure of oxygen and the concentration gradient it will move along. Another simple example would be the comparison of hyperbaric treatment at 3.0 ata with 50% oxygen and hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 1.5 ata with 100% oxygen, both giving a partial pressure of oxygen, ppO2 = 1.5 ata. I have explained this countless times in the past and thought that the answer might best be addressed in the blog for others to view. (Note: I called the second example Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for you purest out there)

This is one of the problems I have with the classical definition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) stating 100% oxygen is necessary to achieve this. I have on many occasions heard so called “educated” persons tell me that hyperbaric chambers providing less than 100% oxygen to the patient aren’t providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Either they haven’t thought about what they are saying or they don’t realize that any increase in oxygen from either pressure or oxygen concentration increases the partial pressure and therefore the force of diffusion. Personally, I believe that these parties like to use there definitions to sell their potential customers on using a chamber with 100% oxygen over a competitor who uses a mask, hood system, or even air environment. Funny thing is that these same locations would probably be charging patients for 60 or 90 minutes of “hyperbaric oxygen therapy”; however, since it is common practice at pressures above 2.0 ata with 100% oxygen to take an air break in which the patient is switched to a breathing mixture of 21% air for 5 minutes to prevent oxygen toxicity, it would appear that they have only provided the patient 55 minutes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and all of their patients should demand refunds for incomplete services. Maybe that seems a little harsh, but then again, I am not the one flaunting definitions with no purpose other than to secure a sale.

On a completely separate note, although the partial pressures of oxygen would be equal in the examples above, we would not be taking into account the physiological effects that pressure has on the body. Don’t get me wrong, this is not an attempt to make claims in regards to pressure on the physical body, rather a statement declaring we have more than one variable being applied to the body. Question.. What is one of the primary methods for controlling swelling with acute injuries? Answer… Pressure! Have you ever heard of the RICE Method? It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Compression is pressure, in this case being used to help control edema and inflammation. Have you ever known anyone to complain about subtle drops in barometric pressure? I think most of us have! These small changes in pressure have demonstrated physiological effects; I know, I am one of those human barometers. Personally, I believe that the current “dogma” concerning hyperbaric therapy will not remain for another 50 years. If research with high pressure air environments in contrast with low pressure oxygen environments were conducted, I am sure we would see slightly different results out of the study populations. In short, the partial pressure of oxygen may be the same, but if the pressure exerted on the body is different, then you have a different treatment protocol combining separate treatment parameters. I will be interested to see what advances science brings over the next 100 years and how much of the medical dogma of today is overturned. People used to think the world was flat. We also used to believe that we could get disease out of people from bleeding it out. Therefore, I try not to get too hung up on what the “experts” have to say about medicine and science.

Similar to this post and worth a read if you found this interesting is…
PREDICTION VS. UNDERSTANDING, SCIENCE VS. TRENDS, HYPERBARIC, GRAVITY, AND THE GEOCENTRIC THEORY

and

WHAT IS A PARTIAL PRESSURE AND WHY DO I CARE IN REGARDS TO HYPERBARIC?

Greg Harris - Hyperbaric Warrior

O2 Concentrator - Importance of Purity Alarm/Sensor/Monitor

First and foremost, I shouldn’t need to say much more than… Oxygen is both oudorless and colorless!” Simply put, without specialized equipment; you will not be able to tell whether an oxygen concentrator is functioning properly or not.

It is very possible to have air flow, but no more oxygen than room air. I have personally tested an oxygen concentration machine without a purity monitor that had perfect air flow yet produced oxygen levels no greater than ambient air… The diagnosis, a cracked internal gasket likely from improper shipping. In fact, a circulated statistic is that 2% of these machines are damaged in shipping. Question? If you have no way of testing the equipment, how do you know if what arrives is functioning properly.

Oxygen testing equipment isn’t exactly affordable, the least expensive Oxygen Testers start at about $400! So why not purchase a machine that already has this technology built in, especially if it only raises the cost of the machine $50-$100. Again, why not go with the machine that already has this technology?

If this is seeming redundant, believe me when I say there is a reason! I have spent countless hours on the phone expressing this exact point to individuals who are being led to believe that a machine without a purity monitor is a superior piece of equipment. My response… “On what grounds?”

If you are paying for oxygen…
You should know that you are getting it!

What really bothers me though, is that after educating these consumers of the role a purity alarm or oxygen analyzer plays… when these consumers go back and confront the other reseller about the lack of purity alarm on their equipment, they recommend they purchase an external oxygen analyzer/indicator to test the machine to ensure its accuracy. But wait, until the facts were introduced they were more than happy to sell a piece of equipment with absolutely zero quality control.

Here’s an interesting idea. How often do you think consumers purchasing machines without purity alarms are calling to have their machine serviced or trouble shot? Close to never! Unless it doesn’t power up, it is smoking, or it is making drastically different sounds from when it was new. On the other hand, we receive occasional calls from our customers regarding concerns about their machine and the alarm going off. Typically, simple trouble shooting will alleviate the problem… But about 2% of the time the unit has needed to go back to the manufacturer to have components replaced. Two things: the 2% here is actually our statistics of how often machines have required factory service. On the other hand, about 10% of customers call with some an issue that is resolved via trouble shooting.

Of course, the best answer is to couple a built in purity alarm with an external oxygen analyzer/indicator. Why? Simple, external testing devices are designed to be used under normal atmospheric conditions (not from inside a hyperbaric chamber) and directly from the machine (not from a 10-20′ hose attached to the machine). Now, let’s take a scenario in which the machine works properly according to the external testing device, yet when you connect it to the chamber the purity alarm sounds to notify poor performance. It could be as simple as a closed valve, kinked hose, etc. Of importance however is that if the built-in purity alarm was not included in the machine… we would have assumed all is well. As we all know, assumptions are our worst enemy.

learn more at… O2 Concentrator – How to Test and Why?

Greg Harris – Hyperbaric Warrior

Moving is never easy

If you have been following the blog, congratulations on finding its new home here at www.hyperbaricoptions.com. I must say, consolidating our sites has been quite the undertaking and I formally apologize if you have had any trouble locating any of the content from the previous sites. In the end, trust me… it will have been worth the few weeks of confusion.

Regarding the move, if you see anything that just doesn’t look right regarding the new site or blog… please, let us know so that we can address it immediately. Despite our best efforts to comb the site for errors; it is always the user that finds them!

Looking forward to spending less time transferring data and designing a site, and more time digging into the hyperbaric industry.

O2 concentrators Illegal w/ portable hyperbaric chambers?

I had recently had a gentleman in Denmark ask me what I thought about… “The use of oxygen concentrators with mild hyperbaric devices, has not yet been cleared by FDA (as I understand) and that selling this solution is considered illegal in most U.S states (as I understand). Europe and US not to be compared.”

My response went something like this… “Definitely Europe and US should not to be compared as the FDA has no ruling or jurisdiction outside of the United States. Now, when considering the United States and the legality of using an oxygen concentrator with a portable hyperbaric chamber, I think we should also consider the source of this question… Likely it was either an argument against portable chambers from someone attempting to secure their position with a hard chamber, or they are a manufacturer who can not sell o2 concentrators and they are in competition with resellers who do. The problem lies in that actual manufacturers of equipment can’t sell anything except what is FDA approved and ass the FDA has not approved the chamber with an o2 concentrator, they would be selling a modification to their FDA approval. Further, I would imagine that even if an o2 concentrator were approved, each different unit would require an additional FDA certificate as it would greatly change the design and specs of the overall medical device. Of course, portable hyperbaric chambers all have auxiliary ports designed for attaching oxygen equipment such as o2 concentrators; one would think that if connecting an o2 concentrator was such a big deal, the FDA would put the Kabash on such attachments at the design and approval level.

Now, since a licenced physician can prescribe off-label (outside of FDA approval) and a licensed physician is prescribing a portable hyperbaric chamber with an oxygen concentrator; where is the legality issue with selling those two devices to an end user? Personally, I don’t see it… and either do thousands of other end-users, physicians, and clinics where such practice takes place within the USA. I would think that if it really was an issue, then the FDA could come down hard on a lot of people as nobody is trying to hid e the practice of using an o2 concentrator with a hyperbaric chamber.

In conclusion, I believe there is no conflict in this activity as long a licensed physician is prescribing it. Further, I believe that anyone who attempts to use such an argument to dissuade an end user from such a device should focus on other issues such as research. If you are a manufacturer making such statements… grow up and realize that you are in manufacturing, not sales… quit trying to compete and just make stuff already!

Greg Harris - Hyperbaric Warrior

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is Old News

It seems that the term hyperbaric is “buzzing” more than ever… but the truth is that hyperbarics is really old news. Not only has hyperbaric been around for centuries… but even in the modern era, doctors have been speaking about its benefits in treating neurological conditions and it role in anti-aging for decades. Yet, today in America it appears as if these concepts are just being developed. Check out a little insight into the past at…

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3udHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Hv8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=833%2C5459103&dq=hyperbaric&hl=en

New Online Training For Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Emedsimulations has teamed up with webcme and the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine (ACHM) to bring some amazing new informational and instructional online training to the industry. I haven’t as of yet undergone the training package, however I have watched the nine videos at the emedsimulations youtube channel. Not only do they offer a training course in hyperbaric, they also offer interactive training on some of the equipment commonly used and a patient educational program. Of course the videos are not interactive; however they do show how the online program is interactive and how they have incorporated simulations in to the education program. I don’t know of anything else even remotely similar within this industry, and I can say that I am excited to see where they go from here. You can check out all of their products and learn more at http://www.emedsim.com

Currently the online demo videos include:

Interactive Hyperbaric Training Demo
Interactive Multiplace Hyperbaric Chamber Orientations Demo
Patient Education Simulation For Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hood Orientation Simulation
Interactive Monoplace Chamber Orientation Demo
Tension Pneumothorax Simulation Demo
Short Transcutaneous Oxygen Measurement Demo
TCOM Demo

Interview w/ Dr. Jolie

This amazing interview with Dr. Jolie just popped up on YouTube… It is only audio; however, it is definitely worth a listen. I have provided links to the 6 segments of the video below. The video begins by introducing Dr. Jolie, his experience and a brief, simplified discussion of the science of hyperbaric. The videos go on to discuss ozone vs. hyperbaric, treatment protocols, amazing work going on in Russia w/ complications during pregnancy, the cost of therapy, its use in sports therapy and the use in Equine sports performance, treating the effects of cancer, as a wellness modality, ways to naturally increase o2 without hyperbaric oxygen therapy, conditions that have been treated successfully, and a few political points we all need to here.

Enjoy, I certainly did!

1 of 6 – http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperbaricwarrior#p/f/1/iL2lKswLL60

2 of 6 – http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperbaricwarrior#p/f/0/oBxOwP2u2Ug

3 of 6 – http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperbaricwarrior#p/f/5/4E7y8XiVBMU

4 0f 6 – http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperbaricwarrior#p/f/4/72y5TGQN5H0

5 of 6 – http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperbaricwarrior#p/f/3/qV12LFgn9ek

6 of 6 – http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperbaricwarrior#p/f/2/5zUwrod4Dqo