For the body
that's fighting itself.
One in ten people lives with an autoimmune condition. Most have no cure. HBOT is not a cure either — but it is one of the few non-pharmaceutical interventions with published evidence for reducing the systemic inflammation that drives flares, fatigue, and tissue damage. This page explains what the literature actually shows, alongside your existing care.
How HBOT addresses the inflammatory engine of autoimmunity.
Anti-inflammatory cytokine shift
HBOT downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6) and upregulates anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10). This shift is the central mechanism behind reported symptom improvements across autoimmune conditions.
C-reactive protein reduction
Multiple studies document meaningful drops in CRP — a liver-produced inflammation marker — after HBOT courses. CRP is the clinical proxy most autoimmune patients can track with their existing labs.
Regulatory T-cell modulation
HBOT increases regulatory T-cell (Treg) populations and reduces effector T-cell activity. Tregs are the cells whose dysfunction sits at the heart of autoimmune pathology.
Tissue perfusion & barrier repair
Autoimmune flares damage gut lining, joint cartilage, nerve sheaths, and skin. HBOT supports angiogenesis and tissue repair in damaged areas — particularly well documented in inflammatory bowel disease fistulae and rheumatoid joint involvement.
Where the published evidence is strongest — and where it isn't.
There are 80+ autoimmune conditions. We list the ones with the most relevant HBOT literature, ordered roughly by evidence strength.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Strongest evidence. Crohn's fistulae, refractory ulcerative colitis flares.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Reduced morning stiffness, CRP, and joint swelling reported across trials.
Multiple sclerosis
Fatigue and bladder symptom improvement most consistently reported.
Psoriasis & psoriatic arthritis
Skin and joint symptom reduction; works alongside biologics.
Lupus (SLE)
Smaller case-series evidence; used cautiously alongside rheumatology care.
Hashimoto's & autoimmune thyroiditis
Anecdotal and small-series evidence on fatigue and inflammation markers.
Sjögren's syndrome
Limited published evidence; reported relief in dry-eye and fatigue symptoms.
Scleroderma
Used for digital ulcers and Raynaud's; small but encouraging case series.
How we run an autoimmune course responsibly.
physician review before booking
Every autoimmune case is reviewed by a consulting physician (via the IHA Physician Advisory Board) before the first session — current medications, recent labs, disease activity, and treatment goals.
Coordination with your treating physician
We send (with your consent) a brief protocol summary to your rheumatologist, gastroenterologist, or neurologist so HBOT is integrated with your care, not parallel to it.
20-session evaluation block
We do not sell a full 40-session course up front. You commit to 20 sessions, we re-measure CRP and symptom scales, and decide together whether to continue. Unused balance is refunded.
No medication changes
We do not advise stopping biologics, DMARDs, steroids, or immunosuppressants. Any medication decisions stay between you and your prescribing physician.
Hope Fund pathway for financial hardship
If cost is the barrier and your case is appropriate, we can route the application through IHA's Hope Fund or our own scholarship pathway. Healing should not be paywalled.
IHA indication framework alignment
Our clinical framing follows the International Hyperbarics Association autoimmune indication guidance — the same framework taught through IBUM certification.
What to expect.
Will HBOT replace my medications?
No, and we will not advise stopping or reducing any immunosuppressive, biologic, or DMARD therapy. HBOT is an adjunct. Any medication changes are between you and your rheumatologist, gastroenterologist, or neurologist.
Are there interactions with my current treatment?
Most autoimmune medications are compatible with HBOT. Specific chemotherapy agents (notably doxorubicin, bleomycin, cisplatin) and disulfiram are contraindicated. We screen every client through the o2providers.com clinical pathway before the first session.
How will I know if it's working?
We recommend tracking CRP (and condition-specific markers like ESR, calprotectin, or MRI activity) with your existing physician at baseline, 20 sessions, and 40 sessions. We also use validated symptom scales appropriate to your condition. If no meaningful change is observed at 20 sessions, we stop and refund the unused balance.
What does this cost and is it covered?
HBOT for autoimmune conditions is off-label and almost never covered by commercial insurance or Medicaid. We publish protocol pricing transparently on our protocols page. We will not encourage anyone to take on debt for an off-label trial — if cost is a barrier, ask about our Hope Fund pathway and IHA member-clinic referrals.
Can I do this if I'm on a biologic?
Generally yes. Most biologics (Humira, Remicade, Stelara, Rituxan, Ocrevus, and others) are compatible with HBOT. We will confirm with your prescribing physician before starting.
Selected peer-reviewed studies.
Other conditions studied with HBOT.
Anti-aging & cellular renewal
Read the mechanism, the published protocol, and linked PubMed citations.
Alzheimer's & dementia
Read the mechanism, the published protocol, and linked PubMed citations.
Addiction & recovery
Read the mechanism, the published protocol, and linked PubMed citations.
Begin with a physician consult.
No chamber sessions are booked before clinician review and coordination with your treating physician. Begin with a 30-minute case-file consultation.