The Benefits of Hydrogen Inhalation Therapy
Nov 28,2022.
Hydrogen has emerged as a safe treatment with several benefits.
Medical gases can exert biological effects that are currently accepted in experimental settings for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.
Carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and nitric oxide (NO) play an important role as signaling molecules at lower levels; however, they are highly toxic molecules at higher concentrations.
In contrast, hydrogen therapy may be beneficial to a person's overall health and well-being.
History of Hydrogen Therapy
H2 has long been considered an inert gas with no function at body temperature in mammalian cells. In fact, in the absence of a catalyst, H2 does not react with any biological compounds such as molecular oxygen at body temperature.
While some bacteria have hydrogenases (enzymes that catalyze the conversion of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons) that can metabolize excess H2, mammals lack this enzyme. Therefore, hydrogen therapy is thought to have no function in our cells.
However, recent research suggests that this hydrogen may have more benefits than previously thought.
For example, most lifestyle-related diseases are associated with persistent oxidative stress.
Hydrogen gas has been shown to act as an antioxidant and a therapeutic antioxidant for many diseases, and it is an odorless, non-toxic gas.
Is hydrogen inhalation useful?
How Hydrogen Therapy Works
Since the publication of the first H2 paper in 2007, more than 38 different diseases, physiological states and clinical trials have been published in leading medical/biological journals, and clinical trials have been conducted by multiple groups.
Additionally, H2 has antioxidant effects as well as various anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties.
Hydrogen regulates various gene expression and protein phosphorylation, although the molecular mechanisms behind the remarkable effects of very small amounts of hydrogen remain elusive.
There are a variety of methods that can be used to administer hydrogen, the most common being dissolving molecular hydrogen tablets in water.
Water acts as a hydrogen carrier, and after ingestion, the hydrogen concentration increases within five to fifteen minutes.
Due to its small size, molecular hydrogen easily penetrates and diffuses across cell membranes.
The initial spike or spike of hydrogen and its activating effects on cells may last only an hour, but the protective effects of hydrogen last for a long time. Depending on the purpose and duration of administration, other hydrogen methods may also be used.
Ways to increase hydrogen in the body include:
drinking hydrogen gas dissolved in water
Inhalation of low concentration hydrogen (1-4%)
Hydrogen water bath
High pressure hydrogen chamber
Intravenous injection of hydrogen-rich saline
Increases hydrogen production by gut bacteria. For example, turmeric has been shown to increase hydrogen production by gut bacteria.
