Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

HBOT has genuine medical foundations for specific conditions. Wellness marketing has taken that foundation and extended it into longevity claims the current evidence does not support.

What it is

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurised chamber (1.3–2.5 ATA). At elevated pressure, oxygen dissolves more readily into the blood, delivering more to tissues with reduced circulation.

Available in Phuket at BDMS Wellness Clinic (Bangkok Hospital Phuket) and Lyfe Medical Wellness (Rawai).

What the evidence actually says

✓ Proven — medical uses: The FDA has approved HBOT for 13 specific conditions: wound healing, carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, severe infections, and others — effectiveness in these indications is well-established.
⚠ Promising but very small — longevity: A 2021 Israeli study (35 healthy participants aged 64+, 60 sessions) found telomere lengthening and reduced senescent cells. The study is real — but 35 participants, one site, and not yet replicated.
✗ No evidence — general wellness claims: Harvard Health states plainly: “Claims of HBOT for treating some other conditions are unfounded.” When clinics describe HBOT as “proven to reverse ageing,” they go materially beyond the available evidence.
ℹ Safety: Side-effect rate at accredited facilities is approximately 0.4%, mostly ear or sinus discomfort. Serious adverse events are rare.

Sources: Harvard Health VERIFIED (article) · Frontiers in Aging 2024 PARTIAL (article)

Price in Phuket

BDMS Wellness Clinic (Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Floor 4) offers HBOT. Open 08:00–16:00 daily. Tel +66 7625 4425 ext 2027. We do not have confirmed HBOT-specific pricing for this location.

Lyfe Medical Wellness (Rawai) also offers HBOT but publishes no pricing — contact them directly. Global HBOT pricing runs $100–$400+/session; Thailand is generally lower than Western markets.

Who has evidence support · who should be cautious

Evidence-supported indications

— Non-healing wounds, especially in people with diabetes
— Recovery from decompression sickness
— Conditions within the 13 FDA-approved indications

Be cautious / consult a physician first

— Lung conditions (emphysema, untreated pneumothorax) — elevated pressure is dangerous
— Certain medications (some chemotherapy agents)
— Untreated fever or active infection
— People using HBOT for longevity as healthy adults — still experimental, not standard of care

What we do not yet know

— Long-term effects of HBOT in healthy adults — awaiting larger, replicated studies
— The optimal protocol (pressure, duration, number of sessions) for longevity — no clear answer
— Phuket pricing for most venues — we have no confirmed data
— Equipment and supervision quality standards at individual clinics — no public data

This information comes from the sources cited. It is not medical advice. HBOT should be performed under the supervision of a licensed physician in an accredited facility.

Last updated: June 2026 · ← All Wellness Guides