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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veterans

Dr. Paul Harch's work on TBI and PTSD

Dr. Paul Harch, MD is arguably North America's leading hyperbaric physician. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the field, he has been instrumental in the acceptance of new and investigational indications by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and is published both in the literary and scholarly arena. The new edition of his book 'Oxygen Revolution' has been updated with information on TBI and PTSD and can be purchased at our facility for $20, taxes included.


Dr. Paul Harch is the champion of HBOT for PTSD and TBI in vets. His study is published online for all to see: 
  • Phase 1 TBI and PTSD study by Dr. Paul Harch, MD

While the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for the treatment of TBI and PTSD in war veterans is gaining much attention of late, the use of HBOT in TBI is not a new idea. Dr. Paul Harch explains the chrological American history of the use of HBOT for TBI. The experience outside the USA is also considerable. 

2010 HDNet World Report Part 1/2

2010 HDNet World Report Part 2/2


Recognition of HBOT for PTSD/TBI  by other MD's

Celebrity doctors like Dr. Phil McGraw and even Canada's Dr. Goldman, (of CBC's White Coat Black Art) are starting to spread the word about HBOT for TBI and PTSD in vets. Clinics around the world are reproducing the results found in Dr. Harch's study.
  • Dr. Phil McGraw on The View
  • Dr. Brian Goldman on CBC's White Coat Black Art
  • Dr. Brian Goldman as House Doctor on CBC's Airplay

HBOT for TBI in Canada

In Canada, the experience treating TBI with HBOT is predominantly clinical and anecdotal at private facilities. TBI is treated outside the medical system and there is no research funding allocated to it. This has allowed the treatments to be relatively affordable and has attracted clients to Canadian hyperbaric facilities from the USA and around the world.

Prior to the invasion of Iraq and Afganistan, TBI treated with HBOT in Canada was predominantly as a result of serious car accidents. One remarkable story of recovery from TBI using HBOT is the story of Michael Coss. Michael has written a book to tell his story.
  • Vancouver Sun newspaper article on Michael Coss
  • The Province Newspaper article on award winner
  • Courage to Come Back by Michael Coss


Ineffective Pressure Ranges for Post-Concussion  

Since the research by Dr. Harch, MD. there have been two US Veteran Affairs funded studies that have revealed more information on the proper application of HBOT in TBI or post-concussion syndrome. The first study, by Wolf, revealed that a series of HBOT at 2.4 ATA  was no better than a series of pressurized air sessions at 1.3 ATA (equivalent to a bag chamber with no oxygen.)  This poorly designed study utilized pressures that are not appropriate for brain injury recovery. Furthermore, the "sham" treatment purported to be a placebo control, has physiological effects and is not suitable as a control. Dr. Paul Harch addresses these concerns in his article titled, "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Post-Concussion Syndrome: Contradictory Conclusions from a Study Mischaracterized as Sham-Controlled." Dr. Scott Sherr also explains the controversy in his blog post "Concusion Treatment - HBOT's Efficacy Under Pressure." Dr. Kenneth Stoller poignantly explains some of the historical bias against HBOT in this context in his article titled, "All the right moves: the need for the timely use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treating TBI/CTE/PTSD."

More Video Testimonials

Scientific Resources

  • 2018 - Hyperbaric oxygen therapy restored traumatic stress-induced dysregulation of fear memory and related neurochemical abnormalities
  • 2016 - Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder associated with traumatic brain injury.
  • 2016 - Hyperbaric Oxygen Alleviates Secondary Brain Injury After Trauma Through Inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.
  • 2015 - All the right moves: the need for the timely use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treating TBI/CTE/PTSD.
  • 2014 - Therapeutic options to enhance coma arousal after traumatic brain injury: state of the art of current treatments to improve coma recovery.
  • 2012 - Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the adjunctive treatment of traumatic brain injury.
  • 2010 - Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and cognitive impairments via upregulation of thioredoxin reductases in stressed rats
  • 2010 - Hyperbaric oxygen ameliorates worsening signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
Related Topics
  • Oceanside Hyperbaric Traumatic Brain Injury page
  • Oceanside Hyperbaric Post-Concussion Syndrome page
  • Oceanside Hyperbaric Headache page
  • Oceanside Hyperbaric Stroke page
  • Oceanside Hyperbaric Epilepsy page
Experimental Conditions

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#10-1009 Allsbrook Rd
Parksville, BC, Canada
V9P2A9

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250-954-0335 

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UHMS Approved Conditions

Air or Gas Embolism
CO, Cyanide Poisoning
Gas Gangrene

Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome etc.
Decompression Sickness
Problem Wounds, CRAO
Severe Anemia
Intracranial Abscess
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
Refractory Osteomyelitis
Delayed Radiation Injury
Compromized Grafts and Flaps
Acute Thermal Burn
ISS Hearing Loss  (ISSHL)

Investigational Conditions

Lyme Disease
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Shingles / Herpes Zoster
Headache
Calciphylaxis

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Livedoid Vasculopathy
Venous Stasis Ulcer
Pressure Ulcer
Scleroderma, Raynauds
Multiple Sclerosis
Type 1 Diabetes
Psoriasis
Arthritis
Pyoderma Gangenosum
Stroke
TBI and PTSD in Vets
Epilepsy

Post Concussion Syndrome
Alzheimer's Disease
Autism

Crohn's, Colitis
Peripheral Artery Disease
Erythromelalgia
CRPS, RSD
Peripheral Neuropathy

Degenerative Disc Disease

Fibromyalgia
Cancer
 (General)
Fractures

Glaucoma
Macular Degeneration
Macular Edema
Periodontal Disease
Dental Implants
BRONJ
Type 2 Diabetes


...more conditions soon