Oxygen, Healing & Longevity

Long Read

28 Jan

Why how we deliver oxygen matters more than ever

By Revive Wellness Centre

Oxygen is so fundamental to life that we rarely question how it works. We breathe. Our cells respond. Energy is made. Healing happens — or doesn’t.

But modern research is quietly reframing oxygen as more than fuel. Oxygen is a biological signal, capable of switching genes on and off, stimulating repair, and guiding how the body adapts to stress, injury and ageing.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the growing field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy — where pressure, timing and delivery matter just as much as oxygen itself.

At Revive, we work with two distinct tools: mHBOT (Hyperbaric Hydroxy) and sHBOT (Smart, higher-pressure hyperbaric therapy). Understanding why both exist — and when each is appropriate — requires a look at the biology underneath.

Angiogenesis: the quiet engine of healing

Angiogenesis is the process by which the body forms new blood vessels from existing ones. It is central to wound healing, injury recovery, neurological repair, and long-term tissue health.

Without sufficient vascular supply, tissues struggle. Oxygen delivery falters. Waste products accumulate. Repair slows.

Scientific literature shows that oxygen — particularly when delivered under controlled pressure — plays a direct role in stimulating angiogenesis by activating growth factors such as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). These signals tell the body to improve blood supply where it is needed most.

Peer-reviewed reviews from biomedical research consistently demonstrate this mechanism in action, particularly in healing, neurological recovery, and chronic tissue damage.

Angiogenesis isn’t dramatic. It’s slow, adaptive, and cumulative — which is why it matters so deeply for longevity.

Oxygen as a signal, not just a supply

Traditionally, oxygen was viewed simply as something tissues consume. Modern physiology tells a different story.

Changes in oxygen availability act as signals that influence:

Gene expression
Stem cell mobilisation
Mitochondrial efficiency
Inflammatory regulation

This explains why how oxygen is delivered matters.

Higher pressure delivers a stronger signal. Lower pressure, used consistently, encourages adaptation.

This distinction underpins the difference between mHBOT and sHBOT.

Two tools, different jobs: mHBOT vs sHBOT

At Revive, we don’t believe in “more is better”. We believe in right tool, right context.

mHBOT — Hyperbaric Hydroxy

(Intelligent oxygen for adaptation, recovery & longevity)

mHBOT uses mild pressure, oxygen-rich air, and molecular hydrogen delivered via the Japanese-designed AirPod.

This approach focuses on:

Improving oxygen efficiency
Supporting mitochondrial energy production
Reducing oxidative stress
Encouraging gentle angiogenesis over time

mHBOT is particularly effective for:

Fatigue and brain fog
Jet lag and travel recovery
Everyday inflammation
Stress resilience
Longevity and cellular health

Because it is gentle and repeatable, mHBOT suits regular use — the kind that compounds benefits quietly over months and years.

sHBOT — Smart, higher-pressure hyperbaric therapy

(Targeted oxygen for acute repair and performance)

sHBOT delivers oxygen at higher pressures, producing a stronger angiogenic and oxygenation signal.

This is valuable for:

Acute injury
Post-surgical recovery
Tissue damage requiring rapid repair
Performance and athletic recovery

Smart systems such as those developed by OneHype are increasingly used in elite sport and rehabilitation settings, where pressure and protocol are carefully controlled.

Used selectively, sHBOT is powerful. Used indiscriminately, it can overwhelm systems already under strain.

What the clinicians say

One of the most influential researchers in this field is Dr Shai Efrati, whose work has shown that repeated oxygen therapy can stimulate neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to repair and reorganise — even years after injury.

Clinical imaging from his research demonstrates improved cerebral blood flow and structural repair, underscoring oxygen’s role as a regenerative signal rather than a short-term stimulant.

Meanwhile, surgeons have long used hyperbaric therapy to support:

Wound healing
Graft survival
Reduced post-operative complications

All of which trace back to angiogenesis and oxygen-mediated repair.

Longevity medicine enters the conversation

Functional medicine voices have begun reframing ageing not as a single process, but as the cumulative impact of:

Chronic inflammation
Mitochondrial decline
Reduced stress tolerance
Impaired recovery

Doctors such as Dr Mark Hyman frequently highlight that longevity depends less on extreme interventions and more on restoring balance — particularly around inflammation, energy production and resilience.

While he does not promote hyperbaric therapy directly, his work aligns closely with the mHBOT philosophy: help the body adapt better, rather than forcing it harder.

Biohackers, cautiously

Public figures in the biohacking space have also embraced oxygen therapies. While these voices should never replace clinical evidence, they reflect growing curiosity around mitochondrial health and recovery.

The key difference at Revive is restraint.

We don’t chase optimisation for its own sake. We focus on sustainability, repeatability, and biological sense.