Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing elevated concentrations of oxygen — typically 24% to 40%, compared to the 21% in normal air — inside a pressurized chamber set to 1.3 to 1.5 ATA (atmospheres absolute). That's roughly the equivalent pressure of being 10 to 16 feet underwater.
The keyword here is mild. Traditional clinical HBOT, used in hospitals for conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning and non-healing wounds, operates at much higher pressures (2.0 to 3.0 ATA) with 100% oxygen. mHBOT delivers a gentler, more accessible experience designed for wellness, recovery, and performance optimization rather than acute medical treatment.
Key Terminology
ATA (Atmospheres Absolute): A unit of pressure. Normal sea-level air pressure is 1.0 ATA. mHBOT chambers typically operate at 1.3–1.5 ATA, meaning the air pressure inside is 30–50% higher than outside.
The concept isn't new. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used medically since the 1600s, and the U.S. Navy adopted it in the 1930s to treat decompression sickness in divers. What's changed is accessibility: advances in chamber design have made it possible to experience the benefits of pressurized oxygen therapy at home, without a clinical setting.