Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

1. What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a simple, non-invasive way to deliver more oxygen where your body needs it most.
It takes place inside a sealed chamber that gently increases air pressure — usually to between 1.3 and 2.0 ATA (atmospheres absolute). While the pressure builds, you breathe oxygen through a soft mask supplied by an oxygen concentrator, which provides up to 93% pure oxygen continuously.

The combination of pressure and enriched oxygen allows your bloodstream to absorb far more oxygen than breathing normal air at sea level. That extra oxygen dissolves directly into your plasma and tissues, reaching areas with limited circulation — muscles, joints, organs, even the brain.

Inside the chamber, the experience is quiet and relaxing. You can read, listen to music, or rest while your body uses the increased oxygen to repair, restore, and rebalance itself naturally.

2. What HBOT Does for the Body

Every cell in your body relies on oxygen to create energy. When oxygen levels drop — because of injury, inflammation, illness, or stress — those cells struggle to function and repair.
HBOT changes that by supercharging your body’s oxygen supply.

Under gentle pressure, oxygen molecules become small enough to dissolve directly into your plasma and reach even the most oxygen-starved tissues. This supports your body in several key ways:

• Energises cells: boosts mitochondrial activity (your cells’ “power plants”) to increase energy production (ATP).
  

• Reduces inflammation: calms swelling and irritation in tissues and joints.
  

• Promotes healing: stimulates collagen production and new blood-vessel growth.
  

• Supports the brain: improves oxygen flow to help concentration, focus, and recovery after fatigue or stress.
  

• Enhances immunity: strengthens white blood cell activity to help fight infection and repair tissue damage.
  

In essence, HBOT helps your body do what it already knows how to do — only faster, and more efficiently.

3. Safety of HBOT

HBOT is considered one of the safest wellness and recovery therapies available today. The pressures used in personal and wellness settings (typically 1.3–2.0 ATA) are mild and well within internationally recognised safety limits.

All Oxydise chambers are UKCA and CE certified, pressure-tested above their operating levels, and equipped with multiple safety valves and fail-safes. Each unit is installed and serviced by trained technicians, and every client receives full user training before their first session.

Because our systems use oxygen concentrators rather than oxygen tanks, they are also perfectly safe for home use — quiet, efficient, and designed to run from a standard household power supply.

We prioritise education and safety at every stage. Before installation, our team confirms that HBOT is suitable for your space and personal needs, and provides all operating and maintenance guidance.

For detailed safety information, visit our Safety at Oxydise page.

4. What Is ATA — and Why Pressure Matters

HBOT works because of pressure — but what exactly does that mean?

ATA (Atmospheres Absolute) is a unit that measures air pressure relative to normal sea level. At rest, we all live at 1 ATA, which is the standard atmospheric pressure around us. Inside a hyperbaric chamber, the pressure is gently increased — typically to 1.3–2.0 ATA.

This extra pressure allows your lungs to absorb much more oxygen with every breath. Oxygen isn’t just carried by red blood cells — under pressure, it dissolves directly into plasma, lymph, and other body fluids. That’s what enables oxygen to reach areas that are normally difficult to supply, such as inflamed tissue or low-circulation zones.

Think of it like pouring more oxygen into your system without straining your heart or lungs. The pressure simply helps your body load up with what it already needs to repair itself.

5. 1.3 ATA vs 2.0 ATA — Finding the Right Balance

Many people assume that more pressure means better results, but that’s not always true.
Different pressures create different physiological effects, and the ideal level depends on your goals, comfort, and experience.

• 1.3–1.5 ATA (Soft-Shell Chambers):
  Ideal for home and wellness use. These pressures are gentle, safe, and effective for improving energy, recovery, inflammation, and general wellbeing.
  

• 1.7–2.0 ATA (Hard-Shell Chambers):
   Used in clinical or advanced recovery settings where deeper tissue oxygenation is needed — such as post-surgical healing or neurological recovery.
  

At Oxydise, we rent 1.5 ATA soft-shell chambers for home use and supply 2.0 ATA hard-shell systems for professional environments. Both are fully pressure-tested and UKCA/CE certified.

Higher pressure isn’t necessarily better — it’s about balance. Most of the therapeutic effects of HBOT occur within the 1.3–1.7 ATA range, where the body gets all the benefits of oxygen saturation without additional strain.

6. Oxygen Concentrators vs Oxygen Tanks

A key difference between modern HBOT systems and older medical setups is how oxygen is delivered.

At Oxydise, every chamber uses an oxygen concentrator, not a compressed gas tank. A concentrator continuously pulls air from the room, filters out nitrogen, and delivers 93% pure oxygen through your breathing mask or hood.

This method offers several major advantages:

• Safety: No heavy, pressurised cylinders to store or refill.
  

• Simplicity: Just plug in and use — the concentrator runs quietly and efficiently.
  

• Sustainability: It produces a constant, renewable oxygen supply from the air around you.
  

• Home-friendly: Compact, low noise, and designed for 24/7 operation in domestic settings.
  

Oxygen tanks, by contrast, store oxygen at high pressure and require specialist handling, transport, and regular refilling.
That’s why concentrators are now the standard for modern HBOT — safer, cleaner, and better suited to everyday recovery and wellness environments.

7. Who Can Use HBOT

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is suitable for most healthy adults and can be safely integrated into a broad range of wellness, recovery, or performance routines.

It’s especially popular among:

• Athletes and active individuals recovering from training, competition, or injury.
  

• People rebuilding after surgery, where improved oxygen delivery supports faster healing and reduced swelling.
  

• Those managing chronic fatigue, long-COVID, or inflammation, who find steady oxygen exposure helps restore energy balance.
  

• Anyone focused on longevity and healthy ageing, as oxygen plays a key role in tissue renewal and mitochondrial function.
  

Because the pressures used in wellness HBOT are mild (typically 1.3–1.5 ATA), sessions are gentle on the body and easy to tolerate. Each rental includes a safety assessment, operator training, and ongoing support — so whether you’re new to HBOT or an experienced user, you’ll be confident from your very first session.

8. What Benefits You Can Expect From HBOT

HBOT works cumulatively — the benefits build with every session. Each round of exposure helps your body store a little more oxygen, rebalance inflammation, and reinforce repair systems.

Early results (1–10 sessions)
Clients often notice better sleep, reduced soreness, and an overall lift in energy and mental clarity.

Mid-phase (10–20 sessions)
Circulation improves, recovery times shorten, and inflammation settles. Many describe a calm but lasting sense of vitality.

Established routine (20–30 sessions)
Deeper tissue and joint repair become evident; skin tone brightens and energy levels stay consistent throughout the day.

Long-term use (30+ sessions)
Sustained oxygen exposure supports cellular regeneration, healthy ageing markers, and long-term resilience.

Consistency is key. Just as with exercise, the body adapts to the new oxygen environment, strengthening recovery pathways over time.

9. A Typical Session — What to Expect

Your session begins by entering the chamber and settling into a comfortable position — most people choose to lie back with a pillow or light blanket. Once inside, the door is sealed and the compressor slowly increases the internal pressure.

As pressure rises, you’ll feel a gentle fullness in your ears — similar to flying or diving. Swallowing or yawning usually balances it within seconds. You’ll then put on your soft oxygen mask and relax as the concentrator delivers 93% oxygen directly to your lungs.

The chamber stays quiet throughout; some people read, meditate, or nap. Every twenty minutes or so, a short air break allows your body to reset its oxygen levels before continuing.

A full session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, after which the chamber slowly returns to normal pressure. Most clients step out feeling clear, relaxed, and lightly energised — ready to return to daily activity straight away.

10. Fascinating Facts About HBOT

HBOT isn’t new — but modern technology has made it safer, quieter, and more accessible than ever. Here are a few interesting details that bring the science to life:

• Decades of research: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used in medicine for more than 80 years and continues to be studied for its role in tissue repair, inflammation control, and neurological recovery.
  

• NASA influence: Controlled hyper-oxygen environments are part of astronaut training and recovery — the same principles apply to your body inside an HBOT chamber.
  

• Natural stimulation: The mild oxidative stress caused by HBOT actually teaches your body to produce more of its own antioxidants, strengthening cellular defences over time.
  

• Stem-cell release: Studies show that repeated HBOT sessions can increase the number of circulating stem cells by up to eightfold, enhancing natural regeneration.
  

• Quiet power: Modern soft-shell systems use oxygen concentrators, not heavy tanks, meaning no stored gas and almost silent operation — perfect for home environments.
  

• Pressure precision: All Oxydise chambers are tested well above their rated 1.5 ATA operating pressure and include multiple relief valves for built-in safety redundancy.
  

• Fast oxygen diffusion: At 1.5 ATA, plasma oxygen concentration can rise by up to 10–15 times compared with normal breathing.
  

• Total comfort: The experience is warm, calm, and restorative — many people use their HBOT time for reading, mindfulness, or a quick nap.
  

• Synergy with other therapies: HBOT combines naturally with red-light therapy, cryotherapy, and IV nutrient support, amplifying recovery effects.
  

• A therapy for the future: As awareness grows, HBOT is becoming a cornerstone of modern longevity and performance medicine — bridging clinical science and everyday wellness.
  

In Summary

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is one of the simplest, safest, and most effective ways to help your body recover, renew, and perform at its best. By increasing oxygen delivery under gentle pressure, it supports every cell — improving energy, healing, and resilience from the inside out.

At Oxydise, our mission is to make these benefits accessible for everyone in the UK. Whether you’re an athlete, recovering from surgery, or simply investing in long-term wellness, our home rental programme brings professional-grade HBOT directly to you.