Oxygen Therapy

[Soulwy]

I was suggested oxygen treatment awhile ago.

It would be my first time, so instead of buying an oxygen bottle (I have no idea where to buy this in CM btw) I want a professional to assist me. I just found out that Tao-garden has a 30 min. treatment and I am about to make an appointment.

But I have no idea what to expect and what to look for. Is there a difference in quality? What are the side-effects? Is 30 min too short/long?

If you have experience and/ or recommendatiions, please let me know.

[antony77]

You can buy an oxygen bottle and regulator next to the old Chiangmai Ram 2 hospital. It is very useful if you have severe respiratory problems.

It is also very helpful if you have a bad hangover. 30 minutes the next morning does help a lot.

30 minutes oxygen therapy is just a gimmick like a lot of things health spas offer. It is far too short a period to have any significant effect.

[Ulysses G.]

30 minutes oxygen therapy is just a gimmick like a lot of things health spas offer. It is far too short a period to have any significant effect.

That sounds very likely to me.

[jayjay0]

Kind of a wide open field.

I myself use oxygen at night when I sleep. A sleep test showed that I did not get enough at night. My eyes were itching and after three nights with oxygen they felt better. I knew that I needed the extra oxygen at night but had done nothing with it when I moved here five years ago. Then one day my doctor with out testing me told me I needed it. I asked her how she knew and she said she could tell from my eyes.

They were itching so I got the machine and have had no problem sense.

I have a machine to take it out of the air. Not sure if this helps but it is the experience I have had with it.

[elektrified]

I don't know but I went to a bar in L.A. a few times called The Oxygen Bar (of course) and drank martinis and was given blasts of 'flavored' oxygen periodically. It really boosted the effects from the alcohol. Great gimmick. I don't know if it's still there...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_bar

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

yeah football players and mountain climbers use it because it's a placebo. Real likely.

Have visited an oxygen bar in SF and it's very energizing. They also have them in airports to reduce jet lag.

[Soulwy]

What for??

What ailment are you suffering from?

I don't drink, so not to fight hangovers

Since I live in Asia (warm, sometimes humid climate), I feel like I don't get enough "air". I do extra breathing techniques (pranayama) which make me feel a little better but not enough.

The other reason is ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Btw, when I am in the moutains (Doi Suthep e.g.) I feel a lot better.

[elektrified]

What for??

What ailment are you suffering from?

I don't drink, so not to fight hangovers

Since I live in Asia (warm, sometimes humid climate), I feel like I don't get enough "air". I do extra breathing techniques (pranayama) which make me feel a little better but not enough.

The other reason is ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Btw, when I am in the moutains (Doi Suthep e.g.) I feel a lot better.

I don't know about Doi Suthep becuase I don't think its all that much higher but I sure noticed a considerable difference (and felt a lot better) when I visited Doi Inthanon.

[SwaziBird]

You can buy an oxygen bottle and regulator next to the old Chiangmai Ram 2 hospital. It is very useful if you have severe respiratory problems.

It is also very helpful if you have a bad hangover. 30 minutes the next morning does help a lot.

30 minutes oxygen therapy is just a gimmick like a lot of things health spas offer. It is far too short a period to have any significant effect.

I think you will be well-advised to speak with a doctor before investing your time, energy and money in that direction. Some respiratory problems demand that you DO NOT exacerbate the condition with extra oxygen.

How many litres flow p.m. is important in the effective administration of oxygen.

The small oxygen-saturation measuring device that most of the local hospitals thrust onto your finger-tip the minute you show your face, will very quickly tell you whether your oxygen level is normal or not. Even if reading a little low, a few quick and deep-breaths will restore you to "normal".

I somehow imagine that this device would be a lot cheaper to purchase than the oxy-bottle with it's valves and regulators etc.

I agree that so-called "oxygen therapy bars" are a gimmick.

[Soulwy]

...

I think you will be well-advised to speak with a doctor before investing your time, energy and money in that direction. Some respiratory problems demand that you DO NOT exacerbate the condition with extra oxygen.

How many litres flow p.m. is important in the effective administration of oxygen.

The small oxygen-saturation measuring device that most of the local hospitals thrust onto your finger-tip the minute you show your face, will very quickly tell you whether your oxygen level is normal or not. Even if reading a little low, a few quick and deep-breaths will restore you to "normal".

...

Any doctor you can recommend me?Or can I just go to a hospital and ask for the test to measure the oxygen saturation?

I don't have my hopes on this, I just want to find out the possible effects. I noticed when I'm in Austria how different the air is comparing to Holland and for sure to CM. And it only sounds logical what 'good air' can do to your cells and energylevel.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Probably better to start with other techniques like

Increasing respiration thru exercise and breathing techniques

Avoiding sources of carbon monoxide which bond to hemoglobin sites on red blood cells and prevent oxygen transport. Not an easy task in some parts of CM.

Lose weight which decreases the bodies need for oxygen

Decrease digestive strain. Digestion requires a tremendous amount and blood and hence oxygen. Eating lighter or liquid meals greatly reduces the load.

Improve sleep

Buy house plants which increase the O2 level in a given living space.

Supplemental Oxygen is definitely a performance enhancing aid which banned in most competitive sports. Dealing with the cost and hassle of oxygen bottles is definitely a downside. Also there is some fire risk with bottled oxygen.

On several occasions I did the Mount Evans hillclimb bicycle race in Colorado. The finish line for the race is 14,300 feet. A sponsor had brought oxygen one year and I took breathed it for about 5 mins and it was amazing. My brain sharpened and my vision improved and my muscles relaxed. It was really amazing.

[msg362]

What for??

What ailment are you suffering from?

I don't drink, so not to fight hangovers

Since I live in Asia (warm, sometimes humid climate), I feel like I don't get enough "air". I do extra breathing techniques (pranayama) which make me feel a little better but not enough.

The other reason is ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Btw, when I am in the moutains (Doi Suthep e.g.) I feel a lot better.

??????????? As you go higher there is less oxygen not more so whatever you are feeling can't be due to increased O2! Think of Everest and the difficulties breathing at heights.!

I don't know about Doi Suthep becuase I don't think its all that much higher but I sure noticed a considerable difference (and felt a lot better) when I visited Doi Inthanon.

[SwaziBird]

...

I think you will be well-advised to speak with a doctor before investing your time, energy and money in that direction. Some respiratory problems demand that you DO NOT exacerbate the condition with extra oxygen.

How many litres flow p.m. is important in the effective administration of oxygen.

The small oxygen-saturation measuring device that most of the local hospitals thrust onto your finger-tip the minute you show your face, will very quickly tell you whether your oxygen level is normal or not. Even if reading a little low, a few quick and deep-breaths will restore you to "normal".

...

Any doctor you can recommend me?Or can I just go to a hospital and ask for the test to measure the oxygen saturation?

tainly not rely on the sales techniques

I don't have my hopes on this, I just want to find out the possible effects. I noticed when I'm in Austria how different the air is comparing to Holland and for sure to CM. And it only sounds logical what 'good air' can do to your cells and energylevel.

Soulwy, I am only suggesting that a chat to an English-speaking doctor ( possibly at one of the hospitals ) will be helpful for you to decide how to proceed from here.

I would certainly not rely on the "spiel" from any oxygen therapy bar/spa for sound advice.

Good luck.

Cheers

[elektrified]

What for??

What ailment are you suffering from?

I don't drink, so not to fight hangovers

Since I live in Asia (warm, sometimes humid climate), I feel like I don't get enough "air". I do extra breathing techniques (pranayama) which make me feel a little better but not enough.

The other reason is ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Btw, when I am in the moutains (Doi Suthep e.g.) I feel a lot better.

??????????? As you go higher there is less oxygen not more so whatever you are feeling can't be due to increased O2! Think of Everest and the difficulties breathing at heights.!

I don't know about Doi Suthep becuase I don't think its all that much higher but I sure noticed a considerable difference (and felt a lot better) when I visited Doi Inthanon.

It's because the air is so much fresher.

[jayjay0]

You can buy an oxygen bottle and regulator next to the old Chiangmai Ram 2 hospital. It is very useful if you have severe respiratory problems.

It is also very helpful if you have a bad hangover. 30 minutes the next morning does help a lot.

30 minutes oxygen therapy is just a gimmick like a lot of things health spas offer. It is far too short a period to have any significant effect.

I think you will be well-advised to speak with a doctor before investing your time, energy and money in that direction. Some respiratory problems demand that you DO NOT exacerbate the condition with extra oxygen.

How many litres flow p.m. is important in the effective administration of oxygen.

The small oxygen-saturation measuring device that most of the local hospitals thrust onto your finger-tip the minute you show your face, will very quickly tell you whether your oxygen level is normal or not. Even if reading a little low, a few quick and deep-breaths will restore you to "normal".

I somehow imagine that this device would be a lot cheaper to purchase than the oxy-bottle with it's valves and regulators etc.

I agree that so-called "oxygen therapy bars" are a gimmick.

For sure see a doctor.

The little gizmo they throw on your finger will tell you quick enough if you are in need of more oxygen.

The big problem with that is it only tells you about that moment. As you say take a couple of deep breaths and it will go up. For my self it has always shown a good level. However at night when I was sleeping it was a different story I was not getting enough and had to gee a machine to add to what I was breathing. I needed another 6 liters a minute.

If you are not getting enough oxygen at night it can affect you during the day.

[paulchiangmai]

Think before buying an oxygen bottle as there are two systems available. One uses a local Thai valve which flows oxygen all the time, the other uses a complex valve which only flows oxygen when you breath in and stops the flow when you breathe out. This second one uses about half the oxygen than the first type, you also regulate the flow to suit your condition. The far superior one is readily available at Pharma Choice and possibly elsewhere, it is an aluminium bottle with its own very neat bag which has wheels and a handle should you want to pull it around. The cost is about 10,500 Baht.

Maybe some of you here in Chiang Mai knew Max Mckenzie usually called Mr Mac, Max went on to oxygen full time about three years ago and during a one month stay in Chiang Mai last year he had me purchase one of these bottles for him, a month later he returned to Australia and did not take the bottle back with him as the Australian government surplied him with bottles for free in Australia. With Max's permission I loaned a lady this bottle to help her take care of her small boy who only had a few months to live, regrettably the boy died a few months ago and also regrettably the lady has never returned the bottle to me.

The first time I had this aluminium bottle filled it registered onle about three quarters full, when I queeried this I was told they can only put pressure in equivalent to what is in the bottle they use for filling, if you want it filling 100% then you must send it to Bangkok for filling. Those of you who knew Max sad news, he passed away a month ago.

[Soulwy]

It's all a lot complicater than I thought...