Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's

Research has shown that hyperbaric oxygen treatment lowered pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations and lowered biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress associated with ulcerative colitis. Patients with Crohn’s involving the perianal region, research evidence exists for the healing of infiltration as early as after one course of treatment (20 sessions).

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Ulcerative colitis is classified as an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the colon and rectum. Currently, there is no known cause of ulcerative colitis and it can be triggered by eating certain foods. Naturopathic medicine offers many approaches to helping patients with inflammatory bowel disease. While foods may trigger an acute attack of ulcerative colitis, they are not the cause. Patients who are treated using the hyperbaric oxygen therapy can experience decreased inflammation and less swelling in addition to the beneficial antibacterial effects of pressurized oxygen. The hyperbaric oxygen treatments have improved the condition.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disorder resulting in the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It most commonly affects the small intestine. It is believed that in people with Crohn’s, the immune system launches an attack on itself causing inflammation and ultimately ulcerations within the gastrointestinal tract.

Based on recent research, inflammatory bowel diseases responded very well to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (31 studies), The following mechanism and findings explains the role of HBOT in treating such cases:

• HBOT decreased markers of inflammation or immune dysregulation, including TNF-alpha, IL 1beta, neopterin, and myeloperoxidase
• HBOT decreased oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde and plasma carbonyl content
• Decreased edema or colonic tissue weight
• Microscopic improvements on histopathological examination

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