Crohn’s and HBOT: How Hyperbaric Oxygen Helps as an Add-On Therapy

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract that can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, weight changes, fatigue, and complications like fistulas or slow-healing ulcers. Most people manage Crohn’s with medications (anti-inflammatories, immunomodulators, biologics), dietary strategies, and sometimes surgery. Those approaches remain the backbone of care — but some patients and clinicians are looking at additional therapies to help with inflammation or to support healing. One of the approaches getting attention is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

Below is a reader-friendly look at Crohn’s and HBOT: what HBOT does in the body, why it might be relevant to inflammatory bowel disease, what the evidence says, and practical considerations if you’re thinking about exploring this option.

What is HBOT — in plain terms?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy means breathing 100% oxygen while sitting or lying inside a pressurized chamber. By increasing pressure (for many mild systems up to 2.0 ATA), HBOT increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood and raises tissue oxygen levels. That extra oxygen can help tissues that are inflamed, poorly perfused, or struggling to heal.

HBOT is an established treatment for certain conditions (for example, some non-healing wounds and radiation injuries). For Crohn’s, it’s considered adjunctive — something used in addition to standard medical care, not instead of it.

How HBOT might help Crohn’s (the biologic logic)

Researchers point to several ways HBOT could be relevant to inflammatory bowel disease:

• Reduce inflammation: HBOT has been shown to lower certain inflammatory markers in some settings. Since Crohn’s involves chronic intestinal inflammation, that anti-inflammatory effect is one reason investigators are interested.

• Improve oxygen delivery to damaged tissue: Inflamed or ulcerated areas in the gut can be relatively hypoxic (low oxygen). HBOT increases tissue oxygenation, which supports cellular repair processes.

• Promote healing and angiogenesis: Repeated HBOT sessions can stimulate small blood vessel growth and tissue repair—useful where ulcers or fistula tracks need to close.

• Modulate immune response: HBOT appears to affect immune cells in ways that may be helpful in certain inflammatory conditions.

• Support microbial and barrier recovery (theory): Better oxygenation and reduced inflammation could help restore healthier mucosal conditions, though this is an area of active research.

These mechanisms are plausible, but they don’t guarantee clinical benefit for every patient. That’s why careful studies and clinician oversight are essential.

What the evidence says — cautious summary

The research on Crohn’s and HBOT includes preclinical studies, case reports, and small clinical series. Some clinical reports and small trials suggest HBOT may improve healing of intestinal ulcers, reduce symptoms, or help close fistulas when used along with standard care. However:

• Most studies are small or preliminary. Larger, well-controlled trials are limited.

• Protocols vary. Studies differ in pressure used, session length, and number of sessions, so it’s hard to say exactly which protocol is best.

• Not a replacement for medical therapy. HBOT is studied as an adjunct — used in combination with medications and surgical care when needed.

• Individual responses vary. Some patients report meaningful improvement; others see modest or no change.

Because the evidence is evolving, many gastroenterologists consider HBOT experimental for Crohn’s and recommend discussing it only as a complementary measure within a coordinated care plan.

Practical considerations if you’re thinking about HBOT

If you’re exploring Crohn’s and HBOT, here are practical steps to take:

1. Talk to your GI specialist first. Share why you’re interested, any clinic protocols you’ve seen, and discuss how HBOT would fit with your medications and disease status.

2. Get the protocol in writing. Know the recommended pressure (e.g., up to 2.0 ATA for mild systems), session length, and total number of treatments. Clinics commonly run multiple sessions per week over several weeks for inflammatory conditions.

3. Ask about outcomes and records. A reputable clinic will track objective measures (symptom scores, endoscopy, imaging) and be candid about what they can and can’t promise.

4. Check safety & contraindications. HBOT is generally safe when supervised, but it has contraindications (certain lung issues, untreated pneumothorax, some ear/sinus problems); clinics screen patients carefully.

5. Consider logistics. Regular sessions mean travel and time; discuss how that fits your life and insurance/financing expectations.

A real-world snapshot (anonymized)

In clinic practice, some patients with inflammatory bowel issues have reported less abdominal pain and improved healing of ulcers or reduced drainage from fistula tracts after combined medical care plus HBOT sessions. Responses aren’t guaranteed, and some patients need ongoing or repeat courses. These observations highlight two things: HBOT can show benefits in select cases, and consistency of treatment appears important.

How Hyperbaric Health supports safe, supervised access

Hyperbaric Health designs OxyEdge chambers up to 2.0 ATA for clinics and qualified home users. We provide site planning, installation, warranty coverage, and clinician training so facilities can offer HBOT responsibly. If a GI clinic or wellness center is considering HBOT for Crohn’s, having staff trained in intake, safety, and documentation is critical — and that’s part of what we deliver.

Bottom line

HBOT offers biologically plausible benefits that make it worth exploring as an adjunctive therapy for some people with Crohn’s disease—particularly those with non-healing ulcers or fistulas who are already under specialist care. The evidence is encouraging in places but not yet definitive, so HBOT should be considered with your gastroenterologist as part of a coordinated plan.

If you’d like more technical info or details about OxyEdge chambers and training, contact Hyperbaric Health for a consultation.

(This article is informational and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting new therapies.)