Carbon dioxide therapy — The only ‘recovery’ modality that really works

Carbon dioxide therapy (not to be confused with carb MONOXIDE which is lethal) is a powerful therapy that has been used in Europe in hot springs for centuries.

C02 therapy (in its many different forms) is one of the few ‘therapeutic’ modalities (along with PEMF) that I’ve found to be particularly effective at exercise performance and recovery. CO2 baths in particular are amazing at reliving DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and muscular ‘guarding’ and tension. This is a big point of interest for me since there really aren’t a lot of things that can reliably do this aside from prescprtion anti-inflammatories and SPM’s

First I’ll cover some of the basic science (mechanisms of action and benefits). Then we’ll get into some of the different ways you can apply CO2 therapy

What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?

Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of cellular respiration. It’s often viewed as expiratory ‘waste’. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. CO2 is involved in various physiological processes. CO2 is produced during the metabolic process of cellular respiration (aka breathing), which occurs in the mitochondria. During the Krebs cycle, glucose and other fuels are broken down to produce ATP (‘cellular energy’), the primary energy currency of the cell. This process generates CO2 as a ‘waste product’. But CO2 is entirely waste. It also helps oxygen get into our cells, and has a variety of other ‘healing’ properties

Cellular mechanics and benefits of carbon dioxide therapy and bathing

1. Vasodilation and improved circulation:

CO2 induces vasodilation by relaxing smooth muscle cells in the blood vessel walls. This occurs through the activation of potassium channels, leading to hyperpolarization and subsequent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells. CO2 can convert to carbonic acid

in tissues, which dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, this lowering the pH and causing local vasodilation. Enhanced blood flow obviously improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues and accelerates waste removal. Particularly of lactic acid. For this reason, CO2 therapy has been shown to be particularly useful for treating both vascular and cardiovascular conditions.

2. Relaxation/anti-anxiety

CO2 activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the ‘rest and digest’ state. Activation of the PNS promotes relaxation, reduces heart art rate, and lowers blood pressure. CO2 may influence the levelsof GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for relaxation. C02 therapt is particularly effective for panic disorders

3. bohr effect (oxygen delivery)

The Bohr effect describes how increased CO2 levels in the blood lower the pH, reducing the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. This facilitates the release of oxygen in tissues where it is needed most. Improved oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissues can enhance cellular respiration, energy production, and tissue repair and this is particularly effective when combined with other ‘oxygen’ based therapeutics like HBO (hyperbarics) and EWOT (exercise w/ oxygen)

4. Collagen Production

CO2 can stimulate fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen, through various signaling pathways, including the activation of hypoxia-inducible factors. These promote the expression of genes involved in collagen synthesis and extracellular matrix formation for wound healing. This is particularly useful for connective tissues injuries and disorders like ehlers danlos syndrome.

5. Anti-Inflammatory

CO2 can modulate inflammatory responses by affecting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting the release of anti-inflammatory molecules like pro-resolving mediators. It can also reduce oxidative stress by improving mitochondrial function and reducing the production of ROS

6. Bone healing/joints

C02 has also been shown to stimulate osteoblasts and osteogenesis (creation of new bone), making it particularly useful for bone healing. high levels of CO2 in the habitats of naked mole rats are believed to contribute to their remarkable lifespan and resistance to osteoporosis, joint problems, and low oxygen conditions (hypoxia). In humans, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can be exacerbated by tissue hypoxia, which activates hypoxia-inducible, factor triggering inflammatory processes. C02 has been observed to inhibit HIF, making it a potential treatment option.

7. Cancer

Current research is exploring the use of CO2 therapy as an adjunctive treatment for cancer. Traditional cancer therapies often have detrimental effects on bone integrity, but the bone-enhancing properties of CO2 could potentially counteract these effects, particularly in bone cancer cases. Additionally, CO2 has been implicated in hindering the spread of cancer cells, thereby reducing the likelihood of metastasis. A study conducted in 2017 involved implanting tumors into mice, which were then treated with C02. The outcomes were compared with a control group not receiving C02 therapy. After two weeks, the mice that received CO2 treatment exhibited a noticeable decrease in tumor size. The results underscore the potential of CO2 treatment as a cancer therapy.

CO2 application

The CO2 bath

The easiest way to apply carbon dioxide therapy is with the C02 cold bath. This involves mixing baking soda with citric acid. This essentially turns your bath into sparkling water. You’ll notice an immediate increase in local circulation as the skin begins to slightly heat and turn pink.

In order to do the C02 bath, you’ll need to add liberal amounts of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and citric acid into cold or room temperature water. It’s import to use room temp or cold as hot will will cause the C02 to dissolve out of the water immediately. There really isn’t an ideal ‘dose’ here. Just dump enough in the tub until the entire tubs is fizzing. The ideal time to stay in the bath is anywhere between 10-30min. After 10-15min you may need to add a little more citric acid and baking soda. This can be done as often as you want

CO2 inhalation

Another way to do C02 therapy is to buy a carbon dioxide inhaler. Bag breathing (5-10min daily) is another way to increase circulating C02 levels. This is great for many of the stress and anxiety lowering benefits. The dosage of carbon dioxide inhilation will dependent on the application. You’ll need the inhaler (link bellow) as well as a C02 tank which you can get form a welding supply

https://www.consciousbreathing.com/products/carbohaler

C02 suit

The C02 suit is the best way to do carbon dioxide therapy. Particularly for injuries. It’s also more expensive though. The suit is filled with carbon dioxide for 30-60min.

https://www.consciousbreathing.com/products/bodystream