Summary
Carbon dioxide, CO2, is often referred to as a waste product of cellular metabolism, as well as an environmental problem as it relates to shifting the temperature of the earth with a greenhouse effect. Oxygen therapy is, by far, the most promoted health therapy out there that utilizes gasses. Second place would go to ozone gas, and third would go to energized noble gasses like in the Paul Harris TheraPhi device. CO2 therapy for human health is way down the list and you would be hard pressed to find it at any health spa. This is very unfortunate because in my eyes it is near the very top of health therapies, largely for its affordability, to create the biggest shift. This is largely because of carbon dioxide's organizing effect on the water and proteins inside our cells.
Key Points
- Alternative perspectives on cancer prevention and treatment
- Longevity-promoting strategies and interventions
- Therapeutic applications of carbon dioxide
- Body temperature and pulse as metabolic health indicators
Key Moments
CO2 is not a waste product but a healing gas
Carbon dioxide is commonly thought of as a waste product, but research shows it has a multitude of positive effects including improved wound healing, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, accelerated injury repair, improved exercise performance, and reduced free radicals.
"carbon dioxide which is often thought of as a waste product he created a CO2 inhalation device"
CO2 helps release oxygen from hemoglobin (Bohr effect)
Carbon dioxide helps release oxygen from hemoglobin and acidifies cells in a healthy way. A healthy cell has a more acidic interior and more alkaline exterior, and CO2 helps maintain this gradient, drawing oxygen into cells more effectively.
"CO2 helps release oxygen from hemoglobin and it also acidifies helps"
CO2 structures intracellular water
One of CO2's main benefits may be its ability to help structure the water inside cells. When CO2 levels increase, it organizes cellular water and proteins, potentially explaining the systemic health improvements observed with CO2 therapy.
"CO2 can help the water inside the cell become more structured which may be its main benefit on how it's improving our health systemically when we raise CO2 in the body"
Personal experience with CO2 body stream therapy
Matt Blackburn describes using the CO2 body stream suit, which pumps carbon dioxide gas into a dry suit worn while lying down. Even a 15 minute session produced noticeable calming effects, with longer 45 minute sessions producing stronger systemic benefits.
"the first time I tried it just laid on my bed and pumped carbon dioxide gas into this what looks like a dry suit"
