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Don't wait and see on Concussion

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:58:15 GMT

Why Mild Hyperbaric is a powerful way to support brain health

When someone has a concussion, we often think the best thing they can do is go home, rest, stay off screens, and wait for the brain to get better.

For many people, symptoms do improve fairly quickly. But for others, they do not.

Weeks or even months later, they may still be struggling with headaches, brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, trouble concentrating, poor sleep, emotional changes, or simply not feeling like themselves.

This is called persistent post-concussion symptoms.

What is important to understand is that a concussion is not just about hitting your head. A concussion causes changes in how the brain functions and can start a cascade of inflammation, oxidative stress, and changes in how the brain produces and uses energy. That means there are things we can do to support the body and brain while they are recovering.

Of course, the first thing to do after a concussion is to be appropriately evaluated to make sure there is not a more serious brain injury. But after that initial evaluation and approximately 24–48 hours of relative rest, "wait and see" should not be our only strategy.

In fact, current concussion recommendations have moved away from putting someone in a dark room and having them completely rest until all their symptoms disappear. After the first day or two, gradual activity is generally encouraged. If symptoms continue, it becomes even more important to look at what may be keeping the brain from moving forward.

What happens to the Brain after concussion?

Inflammation is part of the body’s normal healing response. If you sprain your ankle, your body sends inflammatory chemicals to the injured area. Something similar happens when the brain is injured.

The problem is that the brain is extremely energy hungry.

After a concussion, brain cells have to work hard to restore their normal balance at the same time that the brain's normal energy production is disrupted. Researchers sometimes call this the neurometabolic energy crisis of concussion .

At the same time, there can be increased inflammation and oxidative stress.

For most people, these changes gradually settle down. But sometimes symptoms persist. This raises an important question... what can we do to give the brain the best environment possible to recover?

Consider Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

One therapy that is particularly interesting for persistent concussion symptoms is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

Hyperbaric therapy allows a person to breathe concentrated oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure.

Why does this matter for the brain?

Oxygen is absolutely necessary for producing cellular energy. Under hyperbaric conditions, the amount of oxygen carried in the plasma portion of the blood can increase significantly, allowing more oxygen to be delivered throughout the body.

Researchers are studying the effects that HBOT can have on inflammation, circulation, cellular energy production, the formation of new blood vessels, and neuroplasticity.

What Does the Research Show?

There have now been several human studies looking at HBOT in people who continue to experience symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury.

A 2020 randomized controlled trial included 63 adults with persistent post-concussion symptoms. Participants receiving HBOT completed 40 sessions at 1.5 ATA, five days a week for eight weeks . Researchers reported improvements in post-concussion symptoms as well as measures of memory, cognitive function, sleep, anxiety, depression, and quality of life compared with the no-treatment period.

A 2022 randomized sham-controlled study in children looked at 25 children ages 8–15 who had persistent symptoms six months to 10 years after their injury. The treatment group received 60 HBOT sessions . Researchers reported improvements in overall cognitive function, memory, executive function, emotional symptoms, and some behavioral measures.

A 2022 systematic review looked at 11 studies including six randomized trials. Four studies using 40 sessions at 1.5 ATA reported significant improvements in symptoms and/or cognitive measures. The studies were small and results at other pressure and oxygen doses were mixed.

The research makes HBOT something worth paying attention to, particularly for people who continue to struggle with symptoms after a concussion. Practitioners that work with concussion recovery are using mild hyperbaric and seeing success with it.

How Many Sessions?

Something else stands out when you look at the research: consistency matters.

The positive studies are not talking about doing one or two hyperbaric sessions. Many have used a series of approximately 40 treatments .

Practitioners incorporating HBOT into concussion recovery programs may use protocols such as:

* More recent concussion: approximately 20 HBOT sessions over 4–6 weeks

* Persistent post-concussion symptoms: approximately 40 HBOT sessions over 12 weeks, often as one part of a broader concussion recovery plan

When we are talking about supporting a brain that is trying to recover, we need to think in terms of consistent support over time... not expecting one session to undo an injury.

Don’t Just Wait

The biggest thing to understand is this... if you or your child has a concussion, don't panic... but don't assume there is nothing you can do except wait either.

Get appropriately evaluated first.

After that initial period of relative rest, recovery doesn't necessarily have to mean simply waiting and hoping symptoms disappear.

If symptoms persist, it may be worth working with a qualified concussion provider to determine what is contributing to those symptoms and what therapies may be appropriate.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the therapies being researched for people with persistent symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury.

The brain has an incredible ability to adapt and change. There is not one treatment that works for everyone and recovery does not always happen overnight.

But there is a big difference between giving the brain time to recover and simply doing nothing.

Persistent concussion symptoms don't necessarily mean your only option is to wait.

This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose or treat a concussion. O2 Renew Studio provides non-medical wellness services which does not replace evaluation or treatment by a qualified healthcare provider. All suspected concussions should be appropriately evaluated. Seek immediate medical attention for a worsening severe headache, repeated vomiting, seizure, increasing confusion, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, or difficulty waking.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Alzheimer's Disease

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:33:53 GMT

What Does the Research Show

Understanding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The

increased pressure allows more oxygen to dissolve into the blood plasma, delivering oxygen more

efficiently throughout the body—including the brain.

Researchers have investigated HBOT for decades because of its ability to improve tissue

oxygenation, support healing, and reduce inflammation. More recently, scientists have begun

exploring whether these same effects may help support brain function in individuals with

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline.

Why Is HBOT Being Studied for Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a complex condition involving more than just memory loss. Research

suggests it is associated with several changes in the brain, including:

• Reduced blood flow to brain tissue

• Chronic inflammation

• Mitochondrial dysfunction (reduced cellular energy production)

• Oxidative stress

• Loss of connections between nerve cells

• Accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles

Because HBOT influences many of these biological processes, researchers are investigating

whether it may help support brain function or slow aspects of disease progression.

Human Clinical Studies

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed 11 randomized controlled trials

involving 847 people with Alzheimer's disease .

Across these studies, HBOT was associated with improvements in cognitive performance (MMSE

and ADAS-Cog), activities of daily living, markers of inflammation, and markers of oxidative stress.

The researchers concluded that HBOT appears to be a safe and potentially beneficial adjunctive

therapy , while emphasizing that larger, higher-quality clinical trials are still needed before it can be

recommended as a standard treatment.

What May Be Happening in the Brain?

HBOT may help by:

• Increasing oxygen delivery to brain tissue

• Improving cerebral blood flow

• Supporting mitochondrial energy production

• Reducing chronic inflammation

• Decreasing oxidative stress

• Encouraging neuroplasticity

• Stimulating the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis)Animal studies have also suggested HBOT may reduce amyloid-beta accumulation and tau-related

changes, although these findings have not yet been confirmed in large human studies.

Mild Hyperbaric vs. Medical HBOT

Most Alzheimer's research has been performed in hospital or medical settings using HBOT at

approximately 2.0 ATA with 100% oxygen.

At O2 Renew Studio, we use mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 1.4 ATA , which provides a

gentler increase in pressure and has fewer contraindications, making it suitable for many individuals

seeking wellness support.

Although relatively few Alzheimer's-specific studies have evaluated mild HBOT at 1.4 ATA,

research has demonstrated that mild HBOT produces meaningful physiological effects and has

shown benefits in other neurological conditions, including concussion and mild traumatic brain

injury.

Because most Alzheimer's studies have used higher-pressure medical HBOT, we cannot assume

that mild HBOT will produce the same outcomes. However, researchers believe many of the same

biological mechanisms may still occur, although the response and optimal treatment protocol may

differ.

How Many Treatments Have Been Studied?

Most Alzheimer's studies have used protocols of approximately:

• 40–60 HBOT sessions

• Five sessions per week

• 60–90 minutes per session

• Approximately 2.0 ATA

There are currently no established treatment guidelines for mild HBOT (1.4 ATA) in Alzheimer's

disease. However, many practitioners using mild HBOT recommend repeated sessions over

several weeks, followed by periodic maintenance treatments based on an individual's response.

Current Limitations

While the research is encouraging, HBOT is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease , nor is it currently

considered a standard medical treatment.

The existing evidence suggests HBOT may help support brain function and quality of life for some

individuals, but larger, well-designed clinical trials are still needed to determine which patients are

most likely to benefit, the optimal treatment pressure, the ideal number of sessions, and how long

improvements may last.

HBOT should be viewed as a supportive therapy that may complement—not replace—appropriate

medical care.

Key Takeaways

✓ Improve cerebral blood flow

✓ Support healthy brain metabolism

✓ Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

✓ Promote neuroplasticity

✓ Improve cognitive testing scores in some studies

✓ Support daily function in some individuals with Alzheimer's diseaseWhile additional research is still needed, HBOT represents one of the more promising emerging

areas of investigation for supporting individuals with Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive

decline.

References

1. Chen, Y., et al. (2024). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic

Review and Meta-Analysis.

2. Hadanny, A., & Efrati, S. (2020). The Hyperoxic-Hypoxic Paradox. Biomolecules, 10(6), 958.

3. Hadanny, A., et al. (2022). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Brain Aging: From Mechanisms to

Therapeutics. Aging.

4. Boussi-Gross, R., et al. (2013). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Improve Post-Concussion

Syndrome Years After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. PLoS ONE, 8(11), e79995.

5. Efrati, S., & Ben-Jacob, E. (2014). Reflections on the Hyperbaric Oxygen Paradox. Medical

Hypotheses, 83(4), 355–358.

6. Harch, P. G. (2015). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Global Brain Injury. Neurology Research

International.

7. Boussi-Gross, R., et al. (2020). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Increases Cerebral Blood Flow and

Improves Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults.

What is HOCATT Wellness Therapy

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:25:08 GMT

When you’re struggling with fatigue, brain fog, chronic inflammation, or simply don’t feel like yourself, it’s easy to feel stuck.

The HOCATT combines multiple wellness technologies into one relaxing 30-minute session to support your body’s natural healing process.

It supports circulation, oxygen delivery, cellular energy, detoxification pathways, and recovery all at the same time.

What’s included in a session?

The term HOCATT stands for H yperthermic O zone and C arbonic A cid T ransdermal T echnology. Every session combines advanced wellness technologies including the following:

transdermal ozone for detoxifying the body and boosting the immune system
steam sauna to open pores for removing toxins
PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) for energy optimization
concentrated oxygen helps the body safely absorb the ozone and heat
photon light and color to decrease swelling and pain
CO2 carbonic acid to enhance ozone absorption and boost circulation
far infrared (FIR) to increase vitality
microcurrents targeted to specific frequencies for cellular support
essential oil aromatherapy to help the body relax
ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for eliminating pathogens in the skin

HOCATT creates an environment that helps your body restore and recharge.

What does a session look like?

Your session lasts 30 minutes .

You sit comfortably inside the HOCATT with your head outside the chamber as your body enjoys the gentle warmth and wellness technologies.

Everything feels relaxing... similar to sitting in a warm sauna.

We’ll guide you through the entire process, answer your questions, and make sure you’re comfortable from start to finish.

After your session, we'll provide you with an electrolyte drink and recommend listening to how your body is doing throughout the day.