Disease States

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Multiple Sclerosis

Over the past two decades, extensive international medical research has demonstrated that HBOT can play an extremely important role in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). In many European countries, HBOT is now considered an integral part of the MS treatment program—in England alone, over 10,000 MS patients are currently receiving hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

In a recent publication in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine entitled, "Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, a Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double-blind Study," researchers demonstrated significant objective improvements in a variety of MS symptoms in 70% of patients treated. One year into treatment, deterioration was noted in 55% of MS patients not treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as compared to only 12% of patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Barnes and co-workers publishing in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, demonstrated a remarkable slowing of cerebellar function (coordination) deterioration in their report of 120 MS patients one year following hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Other studies have shown an improvement in bladder function in HBOT treated MS patients.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a potent therapeutic modality for the successful treatment of multiple sclerosis without the potential side effects associated with many currently used medications.