Would you consider inhaling 95% oxygen in a pressurised chamber? I took a breath of fresh air with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a wellness treatment in Singapore, and here are my thoughts…
How do you sleep at night? It can go two ways for me: I’m either clocking in at least seven hours of rest, or revenge bedtime procrastination takes over, and I sleep for four hours… sometimes even less. Either way, I still experience the daytime slump. Tiredness, short attention spans, and slower thinking are all good friends of mine.
So it was a timely coincidence that Jolene Ng of O2genes invited me to try out hyperbaric oxygen therapy at one of its wellness centres in Singapore. The procedure supposedly helps you sleep better, and because that’s what I need, I said yes.
Hold up! What’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Now, I know what you’re thinking: what’s this about? Originating in the US, it’s a non-invasive treatment that is believed to aid the body in healing and recovery. Besides being touted as relieving acute and chronic pain, oxygen therapy reduces fatigue by improving sleep quality. Did you know your oxygen level may be lower when you’re in slumber? This can lead to difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and a weakened immune system.
All this sounds too good to be true, and maybe it is. But here’s the catch: you’ll need to do it for multiple sessions before seeing the benefits. And in Singapore, that can take up too much time. Plus, each treatment can cost up to $200, which is not affordable to some folks.
If you’re keen to give it a shot, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is readily available in Singapore; O2genes is the only organisation offering this service. It was started by Dr Josh Lim in 2017 after extensive research and discovery of the treatment, which led to the development of the cocoon, the company’s version of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
My appointment was set for 11am at O2gene’s partner wellness centre in Malacca Street. While I looked forward to the therapy, intrusive thoughts plagued my mind. What if a fire broke out? (Highly unlikely.) Or what if a maniac barged in and tried to stab the chamber that I’m in? (Again, that’s a negative.) I shared my ‘concerns’ with the team and was lovingly told off. “Why did you have to think about such things?” my associate editor said. Fair point.
Wake me up inside (the cocoon)
The centre is a stone’s throw from Raffles Place MRT station, so getting there was a breeze. Upon reaching my destination, I was greeted by a pleasant receptionist who led me to the bathroom so my treatment wouldn’t be disrupted. Afterwards, she instructed me to remove my shoes before entering the chamber.
Measuring two metres long by 80 centimetres wide, the Reverie Cocoon was a lot roomier than I expected. I was able to comfortably lie down and stretch. The receptionist passed me a booklet so I could read leisurely; I was also pleasantly surprised when she said I could bring my phone along.
Once I was settled in, she zipped up the cocoon and turned the dials. Oxygen slowly filled the enclosed chamber as the pressure increased to 1.4 atm (atmospheric pressure). This took around 10 to 15 minutes, and while it was happening, my ears kept popping. I was told this was normal, akin to when you’re in an aeroplane taking off.
I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram, replied to a few texts, took some photos, and did a bit of reading as I underwent oxygen therapy. FYI: internet reception can be spotty inside, so if you plan to go online, be prepared to wait as everything sluggishly loads.
After a while, I put my phone away and closed my eyes, willing myself to relax. The point of this activity was to sleep better, right? Eventually, I dozed off. Jolene came over much later to let me know the session was ending.
Are there any cons to oxygen therapy?
I’d never heard of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Singapore, so naturally I had some questions for Jolene. I first asked about the type of clients they’ve seen. According to her, O2genes’s clientele is active in sports and bio-hackers. 55% of them are males, which was interesting to me. Females take up oxygen therapy for beauty and wellness purposes.
“Are there any negative side effects to this treatment?” I queried. Though there aren’t any, you might still experience some fatigue, especially if you’re napping and have to be woken up during the rapid eye movement sleep. Jolene explained: “This is similar to when we’re woken up abruptly in the morning by an alarm clock, as it disrupts the body’s sleep cycle.”
I was also concerned about oxygen toxicity because I was exposed to high oxygen levels. She reassured me this was less likely to happen, as I was in the chamber for only an hour. Those interested in the treatment are advised to stay in the cocoon no longer than 1.5 hours. However, you can go through oxygen therapy a max of twice daily.
Make me lose my breath
Contrary to the headline, I wasn’t breathless. In fact, I left the appointment feeling light, airy, and with a spring in my step. When I got to the office, my colleagues commented that I was glowing. I’d like to think it’s the combination of oxygen therapy, rest, and good makeup, as opposed to the heat and humidity making me look sweaty.
Even though I didn’t experience anything negative, I noticed an odd sensation in my taste buds. It felt like I tasted things a little differently for a few hours after the session. Jolene was surprised when I shared my observation with her. “It could be an anomaly and just a one-off,” she said. All may be good, but my true test was the days following the session.
I only managed to sleep for four hours that night; I notched it to drinks after work with my colleagues. However, I didn’t feel too tired the following day. My sleep patterns fluctuated the days after – once, I slept for almost ten hours! I’m sure that was me paying back my sleep debt, but I secretly hoped it was the effects of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy too.
It’s been over a week since my cocoon adventure, and for the most part, I feel like my sleeping pattern largely remained the same. Some days I still get lethargic, but most days I’m doing fine. Perhaps it’s less about the treatment and more about being diligent in getting enough rest.
Regardless, I enjoyed my experience and feel like I’m breathing better now. Maybe that’s all I need: more oxygen in my system. In that case, I doubt I need to go for the treatment after this. I’ll just have to breathe in and out…
Psst: Interested in hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Singapore? Readers can get $50 off a one-month and $300 off a two-month cocoon rental! Use the promo code ‘O2genes x Honeycombers’ when you enquire with O2genes via its website. (Subject to availability, valid till September 2023.)
O2genes, multiple locations including Malacca Street and Plaza Singapura
