Europeans have done more research than Americans have on hyperbaric oxygen therapy--HBOT--and Europe has more and better facilities for it than the U.S. has. Italy, Belgium, and Russia are the HBOT pioneers; meanwhile, in the U.S., most doctors did not learn about HBOT in medical school, there is a shortage of proper (often costly) facilities, and more research is needed. Neubauer and Walker seek to foster public awareness of HBOT, so that patients will ask their doctors about it and thereby spur increased U.S. medical awareness. HBOT works primarily by forcing oxygen into blood plasma rather than blood cells. Neubauer and Walker describe several conditions for which HBOT has proven useful and safe, including healing serious wounds, preventing gas gangrene and related amputations, and treating brain and spinal cord injuries. They strain a bit, though, when they say HBOT can treat AIDS; what it really does is help heal Kaposi's sarcoma. Most of their references are, creditably enough, to articles in top-drawer medical journals.
William Beatty
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
An easy to understand, very knowledgeable book focusing on the uses of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in the medical field. The book includes an overview of HBO, the theory behind it, what kinds of problems can be treated, and the outcomes of those treatments. The authors have included case studies and many references to back up their findings. It is refreshing to find a book that has been written for the layperson. It is filled with facts and explanations. A person who reads it will grasp a good knowledge of HBO and will be able to decide whether to persue the therapy. The book includes chapters on Strokes, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, Aids, treating difficult wounds, burns, bone disorders, Lyme disease, circulatory problems, and problems associated with radiation treatments. Overall the book is a good first look at HBO therapy as well as a good quick reference book for those of us in the field!
