Hyperbaric Oxygen Investigated Conditions

Stroke, MS, Lyme & TBI 

A wealth of data exists with regards to Hyperbaric Oxygen and a range of health conditions. In particular, Stroke, MS, TBI and Lyme Disease are areas that our Naturopathic doctors take interest in. Each area discussed has its own, larger section. Each condition also has substantial data regarding Naturopathic approaches to treatment.

Stroke 

An ischemic stroke occurs when there is a block to an artery to the brain and consequently the transport of oxygen and glucose causes subsequent neurological dysfunction that lasts longer than 24 hours. 

Select Hyperbaric Studies in Stroke: 

The reported cases using Hyperbaric Oxygen in stroke is well over 1000 with an encouraging rate of improvement between 40–100 %. This degree of improvement which is higher than the expected natural rate of recovery (Jain 2017). 

The "Klausenbach Study" was carried out by Jain in the late 80's, looked at fifty chronic stroke patients (up to 5 years post incident).

Daily Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was given for 45 min at 1.5 ATA for 6 weeks with simultaneous physical therapy. 

All 50 patients in the "Klausenbach Study" showed positive improvement. 

Our general Naturopathic IV approach would be to provide nourishment to the brain both orally and intravenously. IV Phospholipids, IV Glutathione and IV B-Vitamins with Glutathione support nutrients (Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin C) would be key treatments to be done 1-3 times weekly pre or post hyperbaric treatment. Orally our Naturopaths adore Citicholine: In a one year study 199 patients took Citicholine and cognitive functions improved 6 and 12 months after stroke. 

For more information on Hyperbaric treatment of Stroke click here.

MS

Hyperbaric Medicine in the treatment of MS has promise not only to alter the course of the disease but to help repair damaged areas. Initially, HBO therapy was shown to ameliorate symptoms in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE) the animal model of multiple sclerosis. Stem Cells release from Hyperbaric treatment is one mechanism that can contribute to the repair of areas of damage. 

With regards to the course of disease Pallota (1986) followed 22 MS patients after they had an initial course of 20 HBO treatments, and 11 patients had continued treatment every 3 weeks. These patients were followed over 8 years.

The frequency of relapses decreased dramatically in the long term treatment group whereas they increased in the group which received the initial treatment. 

UK MS Data

In the United Kingdom a charity called "The MS National Therapy Centres" installed Hyperbaric facilities across the UK and has treated over 25,000 MS patients

The cases of 703 MS patients who were followed in detail has been published. 

Five daily treatments of 1 hour were given at 1.25 or 1.5 ATA. and if two or more symptoms improved, a course of 20 treatments in 4 weeks was completed at the "best" pressure. Otherwise, the pressure was raised in weekly increments of 0.25 ATA until a response was obtained or five treatments at 2.0 ATA had no effect

After twenty treatments, 70 % of patients obtained relief of two or more symptoms.

An analysis suggested that one treatment every 2 weeks was required to retard the progression of relapsing/remitting state where as once weekly was even more effective looking at data of patients after 14 years. 

Improvement 20 treatments

Naturopathic IV Treatment can be helpful for our Edmonton MS patients with regards to energy, mood, spasticity, acute inflammation and in some cases walking. IV Glutathione is our best option for acute inflammation.

NAD+ IV is a newer promising option for energy in MS but is thought to be helpful for preventing neurodegeneration in chronic MS. 

Low Dose Lithium is an interesting Naturopathic oral treatment option as it is one avenue to activate myelin producing oligodendrocytes (stimulate differentiation of Oligodendrocyte precursor cells) as well as inhibit inflammatory microglia. 

For more information on Hyperbaric treatment of MS click here.

TBI

Up to 90% of the Traumatic Brain Injuries are classified as mild TBI (mTBI) or concussion. 

Post concussion syndrome (PCS) is a set of symptoms in most mTBI patients which includes headache, dizziness, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms may continue for weeks or months, and last for over six months in 25%. 

Increased tissue oxygenation, Reduced inflammation, Decreased apoptosis and increased blood vessel formation are all suggested mechanisms by which Hyperbaric Oxygen can help in TBI.

In a study by Harch in 2012, Hyperbaric Oxygen was used in 16 war veterans with blast-induced TBI received 40 HBO sessions (1.5 ATA for 1 hour) in 30 days

Twelve of 15 subjects (80%) reported improvement in a majority of their symptoms on their prioritized symptom list after HBOT.

Boussi-Gross et al. 2013 conducted trial of HBOT on 56 mTBI patients up to 5 years after injury with 40 60 minute 1.5 ATA sessions.

A significant improvement was observed in the treated group after HBOT in all cognitive measures: Information Processing Speed, Attention, Memory, and Executive Functions. 

SPECT scans showed HBOT led to reactivation of neuronal activity

Boussi-Gross 2013

Hyperbaric & mTBI

Our TBI IV Therapy will be a rendition of the following: 

Anderson Standard HBOT + IV Head Trauma Protocol:

IV three-part formula:
• Vitamin-Mineral Amino Acid Formula
• 1 to 3 grams Glutathione
• Lipoic Acid Mineral Complex IV
• +/-IV Phospholipids (in those with chronic injuries / psychiatric overlay)

Our Naturopathic doctors have had a reasonable amount of success in mTBI  using the first two suggestions - namely the Vitamin, Mineral Amino acids IV Formula prior to 2-4 grams of Glutathione. We believe in general there is probably a slight preference to try and administer an IV prior to Hyperbaric Treatment however tissue oxygenation persists for hours after Hyperbaric Intervention so IV treatments given after can benefit from this as well.

For more information on Hyperbaric treatment of TBI click here.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi from infected ticks.  Borrelia species can infect any tissue or organ system but most commonly we see neurological issues, cardiac and joint problems. 

Hyperbaric oxygen is thought to have the dual role of being inhibitory towards bacteria but at the same time restorative to damaged body systems especially the nervous system. 

Chronic Lyme Symptoms: 

The famous "Texas A&M University" program in the early 1990s treated Chronic Lyme Disease patients with up to 40, 60 minute 2.36 ATA HBO sessions. 

Improvement or resolution of Chronic Lyme symptoms was seen in 37/38 patients within 3 weeks of completing treatment and these effects were sustained in approximately 70% of those patients for up to 6 years. 

Naturopaths at TruMed work with IV Therapy for our Edmonton Lyme patients: IV Alpha Lipoic Acid, IV Glutathione and IV Phospholipids based largely off treatment suggestions from Dr. Richard Horowitz M.D. These three IVs are often "stacked," that is, given back to back.  

IV therapy with Alpha Lipoic Acid and IV Glutathione can deal with inflammation induced damage of cell membranes, mitochondria, and nerves. 

IV Therapy with Phospholipids, can be helpful for mitochondrial restoration and neuronal restoration.

Our Naturopaths work with alkaline, anti-inflammatory diets and to a lesser extent we work with Cowden, Zhang, Buhner, Byron White anti-Lyme protocols or can refer for anti-biotic protocols. 

For more information on Hyperbaric treatment of Lyme Disease click here.