WHY HBOT IS EFFECTIVE

Oxygen, Inflammation and Hypoxia Inducible Factor Protein

It has been known for many years that breathing more oxygen causes blood vessels to constrict reducing blood flow. Oxygen controls blood flow by involving another gas which has been thought for many years to be just a poison - nitric oxide.   But there is even more than this to the oxygen story and it is of direct relevance to the disease underlying ‘MS’. Even those doctors who are convinced that the auto immune theory is correct admit that the affected areas of the brain and spinal cord in MS are inflamed.

 A review in a top scientific journal ‘Nature’ entitled ‘Oxygen and inflammation’ (Carl Nathan, Weill Medical College, Cornell University) gives the detailed information. Inflammation causes the level of oxygen in the tissues to fall and this, in turn, activates a protein system – the Hypoxia Inducible Factor proteins (HIF). One protein, HIF 1 alpha, not only controls the migration of white blood cells into the tissues to control infection, it is also responsible for the growth of new capillaries in wounds.  This master protein regulates over 300 genes. So giving a high level of oxygen even has genetic consequences and it is little wonder that one hour of oxygen in a chamber has effects that last.  

 All those of us who have used oxygen as a treatment for their MS for many years are shown to be correct and it is time for all neurologists, General Practitioners and  all the MS Societies to listen to their expert patients and members.

 Regards

Christopher

(Information source Emeritus Professor Philip James, University of Dundee.)