Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy make stem cells grow?

Question

Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy make stem cells grow?

Answer 1

Considering that at an equivelant depth/pressure to 20 feet of water 100% O2 becomes toxic to the human body,  I doubt it.  I'm a SCUBA diver and we have to be VERY careful of depth when using enriched air.  When using  EANX 32% (or air with 32% Oxygen instead of the normal 21%) we have a maximum depth of 132 feet.  50% O2 gives a max depth of 72 feet.  Below that and you run a risk of Oxtox, or convulsions and blackout.  The same thing applies to a chamber except the risk of drowning is removed.  Damage to the lungs is still a risk though.  That is why they typically give air breaks during such chamber treatments.

Answer 2

I had never heard of this as any sort of a therapy or even as a medical treatment.

HBOT is a process wherein a person is placed in a chamber and subjected to air pressure exceeding normal atmospheric pressure.

I know little to nothing about this.  I do know it can be used to treat wounds of the skin and conditions like anemia and the bends.  However, I do not know if efficacy has been determined in any other areas.

I have searched online to see what sort of claims are being made regarding HBOT.  There are more than a few sites selling chambers and services.  These sites are making claims that HBOT can be used to treat things like autism and cerebral palsy.

Without more information I can't say conclusively what HBOT is all about, but the sites I've seen offering HBOT as a treatment to disease have all of the characteristics of pseudo-scientific alternative medicine.

But you asked about stem cells.  I honestly do not know.  I don't see how increased pressure would cause any harm, but I'm not sure if it would have any benefit either.  Perhaps someone in the medical section would care to offer an answer.

Answer 3

I don't know...but I bet pd knows!!!!