Would you brave an oxygen capsule to banish wrinkles?
What would you prefer — a breathing tube or face mask?’ asks the young man who resembles a modern, ponytailed Viking.
thinking the tube will be less claustrophobic, I opt for that.
Wrong decision. Somehow, the rush of cool oxygen feels more like someone is tickling the lining of my nostrils with a feather.
I ask to switch to the mask, which does feel more natural. I can actually breathe normally. at least, I think I can . . .
Welcome to the world of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (hBOt) — the latest cuttingedge anti-ageing treatment.
hailed as the luxury tonic of sports stars and Silicon Valley types, it is also supposed to be a pick-me up for midlife types like me — especially as the winter nights draw in.
the claims on the website of the clinic I’m visiting, the hyperbaric Oxygen therapy Centre, are impressive. the treatment aims to help you heal faster, boost collagen production, increase energy and even improve neurological function.
‘as you get older, your thinking suffers,’ says Robert Pender, a physiotherapist and medical director at the clinic. ‘So it’s great for menopausal women.’
he also claims hyperbaric oxygen therapy can speed up cell growth. Dr Pender says a hBOt course increases the number of stem cells (crucial to tissue and injury repair) circulating in the body by up to eight times, promoting faster repair of damaged skin cells and reducing wrinkles’ appearance.
as a frazzled 51- year- old mother of teenagers, I could do with a bit of that. Which is why I’ve agreed to the daunting prospect of being locked in a pressurised cabin to breathe in concentrated oxygen via a clear face mask.
I can keep my clothes on — in fact, the only things I remove are my shoes (hurrah), so no flapping around in towelling robes.
hBOt, in a nutshell, is concentrated oxygen — 97.5 per cent oxygen, as opposed to the 21 per cent in ordinary air — delivered under increased atmospheric pressure.
this means that up to 15 times as much oxygen can be taken into the lungs and, in turn, absorbed into the blood.
Inhaling the oxygen boosts white blood cell energy by increasing levels of adenosine triphosphate (atP), the body’s energy molecule, speeding up healing. It’s used to treat post-surgical trauma, chronic fatigue and multiple sclerosis, among many other conditions.
the whole process is, admittedly, a little unnerving. Before I can start, I am presented with a checklist of conditions, including allergies and heart problems, with a disclaimer to sign.
The pressure in the cabin is equivalent to being 33ft under water. I tell myself that I am very good at clearing my sinuses, as I can scuba dive.
hBOt basically transforms your body into a boosted version of normal. Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur Dave asprey coined the phrase ‘biohacking’ to describe enhancing your system (for example, with caffeine) to optimise your body’s natural functions.
Inhaling oxygen is similarly good for boosting neurological function and, according to Dr Pender, has helped clients improve post- chemotherapy motor skills, as well as aiding mental clarity.
today, the operator of the cabin is Ryan. I ask breezily if he has any medical qualifications. he tells me he is studying nutrition. hmm.
the cabin, one of two pod-like units that measure just over 7 ft by 4 ft by 5 ft, is in a treatment room that looks professional, but I am not relaxed as I climb in. Once the mask is placed over my mouth and nose, it’s an unwelcome reminder of being in an operating theatre. I try to do relaxed yoga breathing, as well as wiggling my jaw as instructed in order to counter the increased pressure. No ear pain at all.
to my relief, as the unit windows clamp shut, I see they really are windows — I can wave to Ryan for help, if needed.
there is also a button I can press if I want to stop and, if I get too hot, an air con button.
It takes around five minutes to go from room pressure to the high-pressure environment in which I will lie for the next hour. the sensation is identical to being on a plane — slightly sinusy, but not uncomfortable.
It’s a bit like lying in a closed sunbed and it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. after a few minutes, rather surprisingly, I start to enjoy myself.
I read a magazine cover to cover (when did I last do that?), check my emails uninterrupted and then, just when I think I might get a bit of shut eye, it’s all over. the sensation of being returned to normal pressure is like coming in to land in a plane, with a tiny bit of ear-popping.
the whole experience reminds me slightly of the 1985 sci-fi film Cocoon, where a gang of listless geriatrics are transformed into high- energy maniacs after a dip in a pool contaminated by aliens. Maybe I’ll get the same zip as those OaPs.
I emerge from the capsule feeling triumphant for not needing to bail out half way through and without the grogginess you might feel after a long facial or massage. I thank Ryan and go about the rest of my day.
But has anything changed? Well, that’s where the surprises start. I walk for five minutes to a work meeting and find myself feeling cheery and upbeat. I talk a lot, but that isn’t exactly new.
What is different is that, at the end of the meeting, I don’t feel in the slightest bit tired. In fact, I feel invigorated.
then I catch sight of myself in a mirror. Not bad! Certainly not as exhausted as I usually am by the mid-afternoon slump.
On I go. and on. I see a friend and gabble away. I go to a book launch and realise I’m much sharper than usual at that time of day (6.30pm). I recognise people instantly, rather than needing that three second delay to make the connection, as most of us do after the age of 50.
Normally, by 10pm, I am struggling to keep my eyes open. But not tonight. I am full of beans at 12.30am! eventually, at 12.45am, my husband begs me to stop talking and I fall into a wonderful, restorative sleep.
I spring out of bed at 7.30am the next day and don’t have any puffiness or the usual telltale signs of a late night. that really is unusual. I positively powerwalk my way to work at 9am.
the energy uplift lasts 24 hours. My complexion glows as if I had done a good round of yoga, followed by an hour’s walk in crisp air.
While I have no idea whether the treatment has increased my collagen production by a mili-measurement, it has been genuinely youth-enhancing.
according to Dr Pender, the best anti-ageing results can be seen from three sessions — but I am impressed after just one.
Would I do it again? Yes, please. and would I recommend it? For sure.