06/05/2026
Some bad advice I see around the internet about HBOT is the "more is better" mentality.
Very often people think if something is good then more must be better.
However, when it comes to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), that is certainly not true.
This isn't about how much can I get and how do I get the highest exposures possible... It's about what are my goals and how do I make sure that the pressure that I'm receiving is a good match and will help me reach those goals?
In some cases (depending on whatever we're trying to solve) higher pressures can be more dangerous.
At higher pressures, you're more prone to oxygen toxicity, and you’ll likely experience higher amounts oxidative stress.
You may end up missing out on some of the benefits that you could have had at lower pressures (depending on your goals).
Additionally, on this "more is better" topic, let’s talk about frequency and duration.
From a duration standpoint, it's very common to have protocols of 5, 6, or even 7 days a week for some period of time, depending on what we're trying to help somebody with.
However, just like every other therapy that we utilize, we should have some type of pulse method. Meaning that we should push the therapy for a period of time and then back off for a period of time. Then repeat as needed.
One of the things I see is that people tend to get into it and then stay at the same level of intensity without ever really giving it the breaks that they need to allow their body to just catch up, recover, heal, and then get pushed again.
So, not only is more NOT better from a pressure standpoint, more is NOT better from a duration standpoint either.
Taking breaks is important!