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What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? The Complete Patient Guide

June 2026 · RxAir360 Editorial Team

Fewer than 1,400 hyperbaric facilities serve more than 500,000 physician practices across the United States. That gap — between a clinically validated treatment and the patients who need it — is exactly what RxAir360 was built to close. But before we get there, let's answer the foundational question: what exactly is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and why is it generating so much attention in 2026?

This guide covers everything a patient or family member needs to know — how HBOT works, what conditions it treats, what a session feels like, and how to access it.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment in which a patient breathes pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The increased pressure — typically two to three times normal atmospheric pressure — allows the lungs to absorb significantly more oxygen than they could under normal conditions.

That oxygen-rich blood then circulates throughout the body, reaching tissues and organs that may have been deprived of adequate oxygen due to injury, disease, or poor circulation. The result is accelerated healing, reduced inflammation, and enhanced immune function.

HBOT is not a new therapy. It has been used clinically for over 60 years, supported by thousands of peer-reviewed studies, and is FDA-cleared for 14 specific medical conditions. Medicare, Medicaid, and most major private insurers cover it for those cleared indications.

How Does HBOT Work? The Science in Plain Language

To understand HBOT, start with a simple principle: your body needs oxygen to heal. Every cell, tissue, and organ depends on a continuous supply of oxygen to function and repair itself. When that supply is disrupted — by injury, infection, disease, or compromised blood flow — healing slows or stops entirely.

Under normal conditions, oxygen is carried through the body almost entirely by red blood cells. There is a ceiling to how much they can carry. HBOT breaks through that ceiling.

Inside a pressurized hyperbaric chamber, oxygen dissolves directly into the blood plasma — the liquid component of your blood — not just into red blood cells. This dramatically increases the total amount of oxygen your body receives at a cellular level. Think of it like the difference between watering a plant with a thin stream versus a full flood.

That flood of oxygen triggers several biological responses:

  • • Angiogenesis — the growth of new blood vessels into oxygen-deprived tissue
  • • Neuroplasticity — the formation of new neural connections in the brain
  • • Reduced inflammation — lowering swelling and oxidative stress in damaged tissue
  • • Enhanced immune function — boosting white blood cell activity to fight infection
  • • Stem cell mobilization — releasing stem cells from bone marrow to support tissue repair

These mechanisms are why HBOT is used across such a wide range of conditions — from diabetic wounds at the foot to traumatic brain injury at the top.

What Conditions Does HBOT Treat?

HBOT is FDA-cleared for 14 medical conditions, meaning it has passed rigorous safety and efficacy standards for those specific uses. These include:

  • •Diabetic foot ulcers and chronic non-healing wounds
  • •Radiation injury — tissue damage caused by cancer radiation treatment
  • •Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • •Decompression sickness — the condition divers call "the bends"
  • •Air or gas embolism — gas bubbles blocking blood flow
  • •Crush injuries and acute traumatic ischemia
  • •Severe anemia — when blood transfusion is not an option
  • •Intracranial abscess — brain infections
  • •Necrotizing soft tissue infections — rapidly spreading bacterial infections
  • •Osteomyelitis — bone infections that resist standard treatment
  • •Delayed radiation injury to soft tissue and bone
  • •Compromised skin grafts and flaps
  • •Thermal burns
  • •Sudden hearing loss

Beyond the 14 FDA-cleared indications, HBOT is being actively studied in more than 95 additional clinical areas — including traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD in veterans, stroke recovery, long COVID, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorder, and cerebral palsy. The research is ongoing and expanding rapidly.

Important notice

RxAir360 does not make medical claims about HBOT beyond its FDA-cleared indications. All information in this post is for educational purposes only. Talk to your physician about whether HBOT is appropriate for your specific condition.

What Happens During a Session — What to Expect

If you have never experienced HBOT, the process is simpler and more comfortable than most people expect.

Before your session:

Your physician prescribes a course of HBOT treatment tailored to your condition. Before entering the chamber, you will change into 100% cotton clothing — synthetic fabrics are not permitted in oxygen-rich environments. You will remove jewelry, electronics, and any petroleum-based products.

Inside the chamber:

A typical HBOT session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. During pressurization you may notice a sensation of fullness in your ears — similar to what you feel on an airplane — which you can relieve by swallowing or yawning. Most patients read, watch content, or simply rest during treatment.

After your session:

You can resume normal activities immediately after treatment. There is no recovery time. Most treatment courses involve 20 to 40 sessions, depending on the condition being treated. Your physician will define the protocol.

Monoplace vs. Multiplace Chambers — What Is the Difference?

Hyperbaric chambers come in two main configurations, and understanding the difference matters when evaluating treatment options.

Multiplace chambers are large pressurized rooms that can accommodate multiple patients simultaneously — often found in hospital-based hyperbaric centers. Patients breathe oxygen through masks or hoods rather than the chamber atmosphere itself.

Monoplace chambers are single-occupancy pressurized enclosures designed for one patient at a time. The entire chamber fills with pure oxygen, so no mask or hood is required. Monoplace chambers are more compact, making them better suited for outpatient settings.

The RxAir360 chamber is a monoplace system — designed specifically for the physician office environment. Its vertical, seated orientation gives it a compact footprint that fits a standard exam room without renovation, making HBOT accessible in settings where it has never been available before.

Is HBOT Safe?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a strong safety record when administered by trained professionals following established protocols. It is non-invasive, requires no surgery, and carries no radiation.

The most common side effects are mild and temporary:

  • •Ear or sinus discomfort during pressurization — managed by swallowing or yawning
  • •Temporary vision changes — some patients notice slightly blurred near vision during a treatment course, which typically resolves after treatment ends
  • •Claustrophobia — less common with vertical monoplace chambers due to the upright seated position

Serious complications from HBOT are rare. Oxygen toxicity — the main theoretical risk — is extremely unlikely when treatment protocols are followed correctly. All commercial hyperbaric systems are designed and operated within established safety limits.

The RxAir360 chamber is designed in compliance with ASME PVHO-1, IEC 60601-1, and NFPA 99 — the gold standard safety frameworks for hyperbaric medical equipment. It is currently pending FDA 510(k) clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session take?

A typical session lasts 60 to 90 minutes. The pressurization and depressurization phases take a few minutes each on either end. You can read, watch content, or rest during the treatment.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions depends on your condition. Most treatment courses range from 20 to 40 sessions. Your physician will prescribe a protocol based on your specific diagnosis and response to treatment.

Does insurance cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Yes — for FDA-cleared indications. Medicare, Medicaid, and most major private insurers cover HBOT for conditions such as diabetic wound care, radiation injury, and carbon monoxide poisoning when treatment is provided in a qualified clinical setting. Coverage for off-label indications varies.

Can I get HBOT at my doctor's office?

Traditionally, HBOT has been limited to hospital-based centers or standalone hyperbaric facilities. RxAir360 is changing that. Our monoplace chamber is designed to integrate into standard physician offices — bringing HBOT directly to where patients already receive care.

Do I need a prescription for HBOT?

Yes. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that requires a physician's prescription. If you believe HBOT may benefit your condition, talk to your doctor. They can evaluate whether it is appropriate and refer you to a qualified provider.

Learn more about how RxAir360 is expanding HBOT access

RxAir360 has developed the first patented vertical monoplace hyperbaric chamber designed specifically for physician offices — no hospital, no referral chain, no renovation required.

Explore HBOT Benefits

About RxAir360

RxAir360 Inc. is a Bellaire, Texas medical device company developing the first patented vertical monoplace hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber designed for physician offices. Manufactured by Electroimpact — precision engineering partners for Boeing and Airbus — the RxAir360 chamber is built to the highest aerospace and medical device standards. FDA 510(k) clearance is currently in process.

rxair360inc.com 5555 W Loop South, Suite 150, Bellaire TX 77401 (240) 640-4560