We all know the Kardashians are into health and wellness, from Kourtney Kardashian’s REM supplements to Kim Kardashian’s charcoal lattes, but it’s Kendall Jenner who’s most interested in the self-care trend. The Kardashians She has her own private wellness room, which includes a $23,000 hyperbaric oxygen chamber, where she enjoys sitting and answering emails and watching TV.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) began as a medical treatment for recovering athletes and post-surgery patients. During a session, you enter a pressurized container and inhale pure oxygen. What started out in hospitals and recovery clinics is now used by celebrities and health-conscious people for self-care treatments. Not only is Jenner a big fan of HBOT, Justin Bieber is one too. In 2019, the 30-year-old singer shared on Instagram that he has his own oxygen chamber in his home.
Knowing that, when social wellness club Remedy Place invited me to tour their facility in West Hollywood, California, I jumped at the chance to try HBOT. To better understand its benefits, I spoke with Dr. Jonathan Leary, founder and CEO of Remedy Place, who holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine.
A standard HBOT session is $165 for 60 minutes, but there’s also a 30-minute express option available for $100. Leary says regular treatments “help you perform at the best of your life.” Why? According to Leary, oxygen “reduces inflammation and supports the body’s natural healing process.” Leary also says you’ll experience “increased mental clarity” and glowing skin due to increased collagen production. According to Johns Hopkins University, the increased oxygen from HBOT stimulates cell growth and promotes collagen production.
You’ve probably seen the word collagen on various beauty products. Collagen is a protein that strengthens skin and prevents wrinkles. According to the Cleveland Clinic, consuming a healthy amount of collagen is ideal to keep your skin looking vibrant and hydrated, but topical products like retinol and tretinoin can have the same effect.
All of these benefits sound great, but I had to try hyperbaric oxygen therapy for myself to see if it’s as worth the hype.
The hyperbaric oxygen chamber quickly became intimidating.
Before my session at Remedy Place, I had to fill out paperwork that triggered my flight response. The paperwork warned me about the risks of undergoing HBOT, including ear and sinus pain due to the increased pressure in the chamber. I don’t like the air pressure on airplanes, so the idea of being stuck in a tiny pod with the same sensation was a bit terrifying.
I thought about canceling my appointment, but decided to overcome my fear and go for it. When I arrived at the WeHo location, I was shown around and shown the other treatments I could book, including cupping, lymphatic compression, ice baths, and remedy roller, a full-body massage. There is also an automated foam roller that massages your entire body, so I tried that too.
It was explained to me that the two treatments go hand in hand as HBOT is a recovery tool and entering the chamber immediately after reduces the chance of pain from the massage the next day.
After the rollercoaster ride, I was taken to my room, which resembled a futuristic space pod. I was shown how to enter and exit gracefully, and was given tips on how to equalize my ears. On planes, you need water to relieve pressure, but this time I decided to try the yawning technique.
Before the door closed, it was explained to me that if I needed to get out for any reason and the pressure was too much, I would need to press a button to get someone to help me. I was not able to open the door by myself. I would not recommend this room for anyone who is claustrophobic. There is a window in the door so you can see outside, but it was a bit unsettling to be locked in a pod with no easy way to escape.
I had difficulty relaxing during the session
The pressure changes in the chamber are intense and much more noticeable than those felt inside an airplane. Mild HBOT treatments are around 2-4.5 psi, which is significantly lower than sea level air pressure (14.7 psi) or the cabin pressure of an airplane at 8,000 feet (10.9 psi). The extremely low pressure in the chamber allows your body to take in pure oxygen.
Before the doors closed, I was given a pair of headphones with an iPad preloaded with a guided meditation track. The only problem was that I was distracted by the change in air pressure and kept yawning to clear my ears, so I couldn’t keep up with the meditation at all.
I was told that most people take a nap in the room, but I wanted to take a nap but I just couldn’t fall asleep. I had my eyes closed for an hour straight and it relaxed me but I just couldn’t fully switch my mind and fall asleep.
I didn’t notice any significant difference in the oxygen I was breathing, it just felt like I was in a tube, like an airplane.
My results impressed me
Immediately after leaving the room I felt so relaxed, like I’d just woken up from a nap – without actually waking up. It’s the same feeling you get after a massage when you want to stretch a bit before getting up. I booked it a few days after returning from vacation and was feeling stressed about getting back into shape at work, so this was a nice change of pace.
My results were exactly what I expected: Leary tells Elite Daily that the relaxing and stress-relieving effects are often felt after just one session, but she says you can also experience increased energy levels, reduced inflammation, and pain relief.
The next day I felt energized enough that I didn’t need my morning coffee right away, and I also didn’t experience any pain from the Remedy Roller.
Overall, I had pretty good results, but I don’t think I’ll be trying HBOT again – after all, being in a little pressure pod isn’t my thing and I find getting a massage or acupuncture to be a better way to deal with stress and muscle pain. That being said, It’s easy to see why Jenner and Bieber are such ardent fans.
Luckily for claustrophobic girls like me, there are other ways to get more oxygen even if you can’t afford to spend $165 on HBOT. Leary suggests trying breathing techniques like the Buteyko technique, eating more antioxidant-rich foods like leafy greens and berries, and improving your posture to help your lungs work better. Other strategies from the Remedy Place founder include nasal breathing and daily exercise.
Now that I know the benefits of increased oxygen intake, I’m looking to incorporate all of this into my daily routine more. For example, it prompted me to “add to cart” Taylor Swift’s posture-correcting sports bra. While Jenner may enjoy a pressure chamber, I prefer to sit up straighter and eat more strawberries while I get my oxygen in.
Experts cited:
Jonathan Leary, CEO and founder of Remedy Place
