HBOT around since 17th Century?

HBOT has been around since the mid-17th century? At first I thought this must be wrong, but it's true . "In 1662, British Physician and Clergyman Henshaw first used compressed air in an attempt to treat pulmonary disease. His first chamber was called the “Domicilium” Chamber pressure was either raised or lowered with organ bellows."

RALEIGH, NC – As part of his continuing health series, John C. Pittman, MD, of the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine (CCIM), will present “Autism Spectrum Disorder: Treating Pervasive Developmental Disorders” on Tuesday, October 21 from 7:00-8:00PM. This free presentation is sponsored by Triangle Compounding Pharmacy and will be held at CCIM’s office located at 4505 Fair Meadow Lane, Suite 111 in Raleigh. Dr. Pittman will discuss how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and other DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Protocol modalities are being used to help children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Historically, HBOT was used in the treatment of decompression sickness resulting from nitrogen gas bubbles forming in the blood when divers surfaced too quickly. Today, HBOT has been shown to be beneficial in treating such conditions as Down’s Syndrome, Autism, Crohn’s Disease, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been around since the middle of the 17th century, yet people still view this as a ‘futuristic’ treatment,” explains the Carolina Center founder, Dr. John Pittman. “You’ll hear Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as ‘a therapy in search of disease’. The medical community is really in the early stages of realizing the potential effects that this therapy has on many chronic ailments. It’s an exciting time.”


When used in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, HBOT has been shown to increase verbalization, promote calmness and a feeling of well being, increase oxygen to areas of the brain that are ischemic, improve sleep patterns disturbed by oxygen deficiency, and promote new blood vessel growth into areas of poor blood flow in the brain.

From The Carolina Center Discusses Autism Spectrum Disorder on October 21