HBOT & Autoimmune Conditions — What the Research Shows · Oceanside, CA
AUTOIMMUNE &
THE IMMUNE
SYSTEM'S FIRE.
When the immune system turns on itself, the damage is real — and often relentless. Researchers are now investigating what happens when tissues are flooded with high-concentration oxygen under pressure, and whether that might influence the immune dysregulation driving autoimmune conditions. This page explores what the science currently shows.
This page is educational and informational. It does not claim that HBOT treats, cures, or prevents autoimmune conditions or any other condition. HBOT is not an FDA-approved treatment for autoimmune disease. If you are experiencing symptoms, please speak with a qualified healthcare provider.
What the Research Shows
800%
Increase in circulating stem cells observed over a course of HBOT treatments1
10x
More oxygen delivered to tissues under hyperbaric pressure vs. normal breathing2
#1
Rated PT Clinic — North County 2025
Understanding Autoimmune Conditions
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ATTACKING THE WRONG TARGET.
Autoimmune conditions affect an estimated 50 million Americans — making them one of the most prevalent categories of chronic illness in the country. They include over 80 recognized diseases, ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Crohn's disease, and psoriasis.
In each case, the underlying mechanism is similar: the immune system misidentifies the body's own healthy tissue as a threat and mounts an inflammatory response against it. Over time, this produces tissue damage, organ dysfunction, and a cycle of flares and remissions that can be difficult to predict or control.
Researchers have found that chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are central to autoimmune pathology — not just symptoms of it. This distinction matters, because it points toward potential interventions that work at the level of cellular environment rather than simply suppressing the immune response.
"HBOT represents the safest known method of stem cell mobilization — far safer than any pharmaceutical options currently available."
— Dr. Stephen Thom, University of Pennsylvania, American Journal of Physiology, 2006
The Limitations of Current Approaches
MOST AUTOIMMUNE TREATMENTS SUPPRESS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM — NOT REGULATE IT.
Standard treatment for autoimmune conditions typically involves immunosuppressant medications — drugs that broadly reduce immune activity to limit the inflammatory damage. While these can be effective at managing symptoms and slowing progression, they come with significant trade-offs, including increased susceptibility to infection and long-term side effects.
This has led researchers to explore whether interventions that modulate — rather than simply suppress — immune function might offer a different approach. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been investigated for its potential effects on inflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, and stem cell mobilization, all of which play roles in autoimmune pathology.
It's worth noting that autoimmune-specific HBOT clinical trial data is still in relatively early stages compared to areas like PTSD or concussion. The most robust evidence relates to HBOT's underlying biological mechanisms — which researchers believe may be relevant across multiple inflammatory conditions.
Chronic inflammation — persistent immune activation damages tissues over time
Oxidative stress — excess reactive oxygen species contribute to tissue injury
Immune dysregulation — imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signals
Tissue hypoxia — inflamed tissue often has impaired oxygen delivery
Cellular repair deficits — ongoing damage may outpace the body's ability to heal
The Research Angle
WHAT HBOT DOES
THAT RESEARCHERS
ARE INVESTIGATING
THAT RESEARCHERS
ARE INVESTIGATING
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure — saturating tissues with oxygen and triggering a cascade of biological responses. Here are six mechanisms researchers are currently exploring in the context of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
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Anti-Inflammatory Signaling
HBOT has been shown to reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines — the signaling molecules that drive the immune response in autoimmune conditions. Researchers are investigating whether this effect can help shift the inflammatory balance in affected tissues without broadly suppressing immune function.
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Stem Cell Mobilization
Research at the University of Pennsylvania found that a course of HBOT increased circulating stem cells by 800% — described as the safest known method of stem cell mobilization. Stem cells play a role in tissue repair and immune regulation, and researchers are exploring whether this mobilization effect may be relevant to autoimmune tissue damage.
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Oxidative Stress Reduction
While high oxygen concentrations might seem counterintuitive, controlled hyperbaric oxygen exposure has been shown to upregulate the body's own antioxidant defense systems — reducing oxidative stress over time. Oxidative stress is a key driver of tissue damage in many autoimmune conditions.
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Tissue Oxygenation
Inflamed tissues often have impaired blood flow and reduced oxygen delivery — a state called tissue hypoxia that can perpetuate the inflammatory cycle. HBOT bypasses this by dissolving oxygen directly into plasma, potentially reaching tissues that hemoglobin-based circulation cannot adequately supply.
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Immune Cell Modulation
Studies have found that HBOT influences the behavior of multiple immune cell types — including T-regulatory cells, which play a critical role in preventing the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues. Researchers are exploring whether HBOT can help restore immune tolerance in autoimmune conditions.
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Senescent Cell Clearance
A Tel Aviv University study found that a protocol of HBOT sessions reduced senescent immune cells — sometimes called "zombie cells" — by 37%. Senescent cells contribute to chronic inflammation and may play a role in perpetuating autoimmune activity. Researchers are investigating whether reducing this burden has downstream effects on immune regulation.
Important Context
The mechanisms described above represent areas of active scientific investigation — not established treatments for autoimmune disease. Autoimmune-specific HBOT clinical trial data is more limited than in some other areas, and most of what is known comes from mechanistic research and early-stage studies. HBOT is not an approved treatment for any autoimmune condition. If you are managing an autoimmune diagnosis, please work closely with your rheumatologist or specialist about all available treatment options.
The Clinical Evidence
WHAT THE STUDIES
HAVE FOUND
HAVE FOUND
Autoimmune-specific HBOT research is still emerging. The studies below represent the most relevant findings — including foundational mechanistic work that researchers believe may apply across inflammatory conditions.
Mechanistic Research · American Journal of Physiology 2006
800% INCREASE IN CIRCULATING STEM CELLS — THE SAFEST KNOWN MOBILIZATION METHOD
A landmark study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania by Dr. Stephen Thom and colleagues examined what happens to stem cell populations in the bloodstream following a course of HBOT treatments. The study found that circulating CD34+ stem cells increased by 800% compared to baseline — a magnitude of mobilization not seen with any other non-pharmaceutical intervention.
The lead researcher described HBOT as "the safest known method of stem cell mobilization — far safer than any pharmaceutical options." Stem cells serve as the body's repair system and play roles in immune regulation — making this finding potentially significant for conditions involving chronic tissue damage and immune dysregulation.
Source: Thom et al., American Journal of Physiology — Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2006. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00306.2006
Aging Study · Aging (Albany NY) 2020
37% REDUCTION IN SENESCENT IMMUNE CELLS AFTER HBOT PROTOCOL
A clinical trial at Tel Aviv University's Sagol Center enrolled healthy aging adults in a structured HBOT protocol and measured changes in cellular aging markers. Among the findings: senescent T-helper cells decreased by 37% and senescent cytotoxic T-cells decreased by 11% following the HBOT course.
Senescent immune cells — sometimes called "zombie cells" — are cells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active, secreting pro-inflammatory signals that drive chronic inflammation. Their accumulation is associated with autoimmune activity and systemic inflammation. Researchers noted this was among the first demonstrations of HBOT's ability to clear these cells in a controlled human trial.
Source: Hachmo et al., Aging (Albany NY), 2020. DOI: 10.18632/aging.202188
Review · Frontiers in Immunology 2019
HBOT MODULATES MULTIPLE IMMUNE PATHWAYS RELEVANT TO AUTOIMMUNITY
A comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Immunology examined the available evidence on HBOT's effects on immune function — synthesizing data from preclinical models and human studies. The review identified multiple immune pathways influenced by HBOT, including reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulation of T-regulatory cell activity, and effects on neutrophil and macrophage behavior.
The authors concluded that HBOT's immunomodulatory effects were broad, consistent across multiple study types, and potentially relevant to conditions characterized by immune dysregulation. They called for larger randomized controlled trials in specific autoimmune populations to better characterize the clinical applications of these findings.
Source: Thom, Frontiers in Immunology, 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01461
An Honest Note on the Evidence
We want to be straightforward: the research on HBOT and autoimmune conditions specifically is less developed than in some other areas — like PTSD, concussion, or post-surgical recovery. Much of what is known comes from mechanistic research and animal models, with fewer large-scale human trials focused specifically on autoimmune disease. The biological rationale is compelling, but the clinical evidence base is still being built.
At Land and Sea PT, we offer HBOT as a wellness service — not as a treatment for autoimmune disease. We think it's important to share what the research does and doesn't show, and to let you make an informed decision about whether it's worth exploring alongside your existing care. If you're managing an autoimmune condition, please work closely with your specialist. We're happy to have a candid conversation about what HBOT is and what it isn't.
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OTHER CONDITIONS
PEOPLE ARE EXPLORING WITH HBOT
PEOPLE ARE EXPLORING WITH HBOT
HBOT is being studied across a wide range of conditions. Explore what the research shows for other areas at Land and Sea PT in Oceanside.
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Immune dysregulation, inflammation
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Chronic Fatigue
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Systemic inflammatory response
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Persistent pain, neuropathy, fibromyalgia
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Wound healing, diabetic tissue health
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Neuropathy
Nerve pain, tingling, numbness
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Post-Surgical Recovery
Healing, swelling, tissue repair
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Curious About HBOT?
LET'S HAVE A
CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION.
We're happy to talk through what HBOT is, how it works, and whether it might be worth exploring alongside your current care. We won't oversell it — but we're glad to share what the research shows and let you decide.
This page is educational only. HBOT is not an approved treatment for autoimmune conditions or any other disease. Results vary between individuals. If you are managing an autoimmune diagnosis, please work closely with your specialist. HBOT at Land and Sea PT is offered as a wellness service.
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Serving Carlsbad · Vista · San Marcos · North County San Diego
References
- Thom et al. "Stem cell mobilization by hyperbaric oxygen." American Journal of Physiology — Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2006. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00306.2006
- Mechanism stat — oxygen dissolved in plasma under 2–3 ATA hyperbaric pressure vs. normal atmospheric breathing.
- Hachmo et al. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells." Aging (Albany NY), 2020. DOI: 10.18632/aging.202188
- Thom. "Hyperbaric oxygen: its mechanisms and efficacy." Frontiers in Immunology, 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01461