Why I Climbed Into Hyperbaric Today…the healing power of oxygen

Written By Tamara Lyday

I Knew I Had to Get in the Chamber: Why Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Is a Lifesaver

By Dr. Tamara Lyday, TLC – The Lyday Center

Today I hit my head.

Not metaphorically. Not gently. I hit it hard—right in clinic, on concrete. That moment where your vision blurs, your gut sinks, and your nervous system screams “this isn’t good.”

It was familiar. Too familiar.

  • The car crash from years ago.

  • The horseback riding fall that gave me whiplash and weeks of fatigue.

  • The childhood trauma—falling face-first off a concrete wall.

  • And now this—another layer added to a brain that’s already had to work overtime to heal.

But here’s what I have now that I didn’t have before:

A Vitaeris 320 hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber—and the deep knowing that oxygen is medicine.

And so I climbed in.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a powerful, non-invasive treatment where you breathe 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.

Why does that matter?

Because under pressure, oxygen doesn't just travel on red blood cells—it dissolves directly into plasma, flooding tissues that are starved, inflamed, or injured. This makes HBOT one of the few therapies that can reach areas where healing is stuck—like in mold toxicity, chronic infections, or head trauma.

At The Lyday Center, we use the Vitaeris 320—a soft, comfortable, high-capacity chamber that gives patients the full benefits of HBOT in a safe, relaxing setting.

My Brain on HBOT: Why Timing Matters

Brain injuries cause more than just bruising. They trigger a healing cascade—or more accurately, an inflammatory cascade that can do lasting damage if left unchecked.

  • Swelling limits oxygen flow

  • Free radicals cause oxidative stress

  • Blood-brain barrier breakdown allows toxins into the CNS

  • Neuroinflammation persists long after the injury is “over”

HBOT interrupts that spiral. When I climb into the chamber after a head injury—even one that seems minor—I'm doing more than treating symptoms. I’m stopping the damage from spreading and giving my brain the oxygen it needs to repair.

And the sooner I do it, the better the outcome.

Who Can Benefit From Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

HBOT isn’t just for head trauma—it’s a core therapy in our functional medicine toolbox.

At TLC, we use it for:

  • Mold toxicity & biotoxin illness

  • Chronic Lyme disease

  • Concussion & post-concussion syndrome

  • Chronic fatigue and mitochondrial dysfunction

  • Long COVID and post-viral recovery

  • Autoimmune disorders with tissue inflammation

  • Neurological symptoms like brain fog, memory loss, or mood swings

  • Wound healing, post-surgery recovery, and physical trauma

  • Burnout, brain drain, and emotional overwhelm

How HBOT Supports the Healing Cascade

Let’s get nerdy (because healing IS science and soul).

Here’s what happens physiologically when you breathe pure oxygen under pressure:

  • 💨 Plasma becomes saturated with oxygen

  • 🧬 Stem cells are released to support regeneration

  • 🩸 Angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) increases perfusion

  • 🔥 Inflammatory cytokines are reduced

  • ⚡ ATP production rises, recharging your mitochondria

  • 🛡 Blood-brain barrier stabilizes, preventing further damage

  • 🧠 Neuroplasticity improves, supporting memory and cognition

Oxygen is the most essential nutrient we never talk about. HBOT just delivers it differently—and better.

How Often Should You Do It?

While a single session can help after an acute trauma (like mine today), healing is cumulative. We typically recommend:

  • 10–40 sessions for complex chronic illness

  • Immediately after a head injury

  • Regular sessions during detox or flare-ups

  • Pairing with IV therapy, lymph work, or laser for synergistic results

Like any healing modality, the more consistently you use HBOT, the more profound the impact.

Oxygen Is My Reset Button

Today, lying inside the chamber, I felt that familiar shift:
The pain didn’t vanish, but the panic faded.
The fog lifted.
The healing had begun.

I share this story not just as a doctor—but as a patient. A warrior. Someone who knows what it’s like to hurt and what it means to fight for repair. HBOT is part of my personal healing journey, and I’m grateful to offer it to yours.

If you're curious whether it could support your health—reach out. This may be the moment oxygen becomes your medicine too.

With resilience and breath,
Dr. Tamara Lyday
Founder, The Lyday Center

🌿 You were born to heal. We’re just here to support the process. 🌿

Tamara Lyday
Next

When Tired “Isn’t Just Tired…”