Quick answer: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive treatment in which you breathe pure, medical-grade oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The higher pressure dissolves far more oxygen into your blood and tissues than normal breathing allows, which accelerates the body's natural repair processes.
If you've heard about hyperbaric oxygen therapy but aren't sure what actually happens inside the chamber, or whether it could help you, this guide walks through the essentials: how it works, what it treats, and what to expect.
How does HBOT work?
Under normal conditions, most of the oxygen you breathe is carried by red blood cells. Inside a hyperbaric chamber, the air pressure is raised well above sea level. This increased pressure lets oxygen dissolve directly into your blood plasma, lymph, and other body fluids — reaching tissues that struggling circulation can't easily supply.
More oxygen in the tissues gives the body more of the raw material it needs to heal. This is why HBOT is used across such a wide range of conditions: nearly every repair process in the body — fighting infection, rebuilding tissue, forming new blood vessels — depends on oxygen.
What are the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Delivering oxygen under pressure has several well-documented effects in the body:
Improved circulation and oxygen delivery to poorly supplied tissue
Faster tissue repair and wound healing
Reduced swelling and inflammation
Stimulation of new blood-vessel growth (angiogenesis)
Mobilization of the body's own stem cells
Stronger defense against certain infections and anaerobic bacteria
What conditions does HBOT treat?
In Ontario, Health Canada recognizes approximately 14 conditions for which HBOT is an established treatment — including non-healing and diabetic wounds, radiation tissue damage, carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, and certain serious infections. For these approved indications, treatment may be covered by OHIP. A referral is not required; contact us and we can confirm whether your condition qualifies.
HBOT is also used privately for conditions where the research is promising but still developing, such as concussion and traumatic brain injury, sports recovery, and general wellness and longevity. These uses are private-pay. As an independent clinic, Peak Human can offer HBOT for cases our physicians believe may benefit — including many that hospital-based centres don't accommodate.
What happens during a session?
A typical visit starts with a consultation to confirm HBOT is right for you and to build your treatment plan — how many sessions, how long sessions should be, and at what pressure. During treatment, you simply relax inside the chamber; most people watch something, listen to music or podcasts, or nap. Sessions usually last around 60–90 minutes, and a course of treatment involves multiple sessions for the best results.
Is HBOT safe?
For most people, HBOT is very safe when supervised by trained staff. The most common side effect is temporary ear pressure, similar to what you feel on an airplane, which is easily managed. Every treatment plan starts with a medical screening so we can rule out the small number of situations where HBOT isn't appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
How many HBOT sessions will I need?
It depends on your condition and goals. Wound and recovery protocols often run 20–40 sessions, while wellness plans can be shorter. Your plan is set during your consultation and adjusted as you progress.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy hurt?
No. The only sensation most people notice is mild ear pressure as the chamber pressurizes, which clears the same way it does on a flight — by swallowing or yawning.
How is HBOT different from an oxygen concentrator or oxygen bar?
Ordinary oxygen delivery raises the oxygen you breathe, but only pressure allows oxygen to dissolve deeply into your plasma and tissues. That pressurized environment is what makes hyperbaric therapy distinct.
Can I try HBOT if my condition isn't on the OHIP list?
Often, yes. As an independent clinic we offer treatment for many off-label conditions on a private-pay basis when our physicians believe you may benefit from HBOT.
Curious whether HBOT is right for you? Book a consultation with the Peak Human team and we'll build a plan around your goals.
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? A Complete Guide to HBOT
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