Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy On Patients With Herpes Zoster: What Research Says
In this article, I am exploring the potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for patients with herpes zoster, also commonly known as shingles.
I’ve gone through the current research on the use of HBOT for treating herpes zoster and I will be discussing the mechanisms of action, and also evaluate the advantages and limitations of this therapy.
Herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
This virus is the same one that causes chickenpox, and after someone has recovered from chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the nervous system for years before reactivating and causing shingles.
Shingles typically causes a painful rash on one side of the body, along with flu-like symptoms.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.
This therapy has been proven to treat a variety of conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, depression, dementia, brain injuries and non-healing wounds.
The high-pressure oxygen inside a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber improves blood flow and promotes the growth of new blood vessels and tissues. For a more detailed article on what Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, how it works and it’s benefits, check this article.
Now, there has been some research into the potential benefits of HBOT for patients with herpes zoster which is what I am going to explore in this article today.
As it seems from my research, there’s only one Chinese study thata suggest that HBOT can help to reduce inflammation, speed up healing, and reduce pain associated with herpes zoster.
Although more research is needed to add HBOT as an “official” treatment, this research is evidence that HBOT may be a useful treatment option for those suffering from herpes zoster.
Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Herpes Zoster
In this section I am summarizing the research I found on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy On Patients With Herpes Zoster.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Herpes Zoster.
A Chinese study published in the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine : Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, looked at how hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy affects patients with herpes zoster, also known as shingles.
The researchers divided 68 patients into two groups: one group received drugs only, and the other group received both drugs and HBO2 therapy.
The researchers found that the HBOT group had better results, with faster blister healing, less scarring, and less pain.
The patients also had a lower chance of developing post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and were less depressed after treatment.
Overall, the study suggests that HBO2 therapy can be helpful in treating herpes zoster. [1]
Ozone Autohemotherapy for Postherpetic Neuralgia Treatment.
Another Chinese study published on the Journal of Pain Research used medication and ozone autohemotherapy – which involves adding ozone to a patient’s blood to increase oxygen levels – something similar to what Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy does.
The researchers tested this treatment combined with medication in 98 patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a type of pain that can occur after shingles.
The patients were split into two groups: one received only medication, and the other received medication and ozone autohemotherapy.
The researchers used several questionnaires to evaluate the patients’ pain levels and quality of life before and after treatment.
Both groups showed improvements, but the group that received ozone autohemotherapy had better scores in all measures and more patients experienced significant pain reduction. [2]
What can you do to prevent Herpes Zoster?
As they say, prevention is the best medicine. Having said that, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting Herpes Zoster or shingles, such as:
- Getting vaccinated with the shingles vaccine,
- Maintaining a healthy immune system through regular exercise and healthy diet,
- Managing stress levels, and
- Avoiding close contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles.
While vaccines and other medical interventions may be useful in preventing Herpes Zoster, we should not force individuals to receive them. People should be free to make their own choices about their health care and should not be compelled by anyone to take any medical treatment or vaccine against their will.
Instead, we should focus on education and encouraging healthy behaviors to prevent the spread of the disease. This includes maintaining good hygiene practices, such as washing hands frequently, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.
Bottom Line
Unfortunately, despite the positive results of the small-scale studies on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for shingles, more research is needed to draw a definitive conclusion about its effectiveness as a treatment.
While the initial findings suggest that HBOT may alleviate the symptoms of shingles and shorten the duration of the disease, larger, well-designed studies are required to confirm these results and determine the optimal dosage and duration of treatment.
Until then, it is premature to consider HBOT as a standard treatment for shingles, and patients should discuss all available treatment options with their healthcare providers.
Read Also
- Can hyperbaric oxygen therapy cause seizures?
- How to Choose the Best Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber
- 7 Best Hyperbaric chambers for home use
- 14 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Benefits (HBOT) Based On Science
- Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe? 9 potential side effects
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