Israeli Clinic Uses Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Treat PTSD in Festival Survivors
In a remarkable approach to healing trauma, the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research in Be’er Ya’akov, Israel, is treating survivors of the October 7th Hamas attack at the Nova Music Festival—turning traditional hyperbaric oxygen therapy into a lifeline for those grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Idit Negrin, a survivor who faced unimaginable horror that day, describes her tumultuous journey through anxiety and fear that followed the traumatic event, stating, “I woke up every night, every night around 3 o’clock screaming and sweating and shaking.”
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has long been utilized to treat conditions like decompression sickness in divers. Now, Dr. Shai Efrati and his team are employing it to address the mental and physical scars left by violence and trauma. With oxygen delivered in high-pressure chambers, the treatment purportedly promotes healing in both body and mind—a promise that has drawn around 650 patients seeking solace after the horrors they endured.
What unfolds in the pressurized environment of these chambers is both scientific innovation and a reflection of human resilience. “What we are doing is actually tricking the body,” explains Dr. Efrati, illustrating how inducing a state similar to hypoxia can trigger powerful repair mechanisms within the brain. This innovative treatment offers hope and a semblance of control to individuals whose lives have been turned upside down, like Negrin and many others.
Psalm 147:3 reminds us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” a sentiment that resonates deeply in the context of these therapeutic efforts. As patients navigate the shadows of their trauma, the integration of spiritually-centered healing with advanced medical treatment appears to foster recovery. It’s a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between physical healing and spiritual restoration, highlighting how compassionate care can invigorate the human spirit.
Despite the groundbreaking advancements being made at the Sagol Center, the U.S. has yet to fully embrace the potential of hyperbaric therapy for PTSD, with some insurance companies citing insufficient evidence. Congressman Greg Murphy, a medical doctor and veteran advocate, has raised critical questions regarding the slow adoption of such effective interventions within the Department of Veterans Affairs. “If there is a treatment that has shown definitive results, I believe it’s medical malpractice not to offer that to our veterans,” he stated, urging action and acknowledgment of the positive outcomes observed in Israeli clinics.
The innovative Hungarian approach has garnered significant attention as other practitioners in the U.S. begin to explore its benefits. Dr. Lin Weaver, who runs Hyperbaric Medicine at Intermountain Health in Utah, reported that although they treat PTSD patients infrequently, he has seen encouraging results.
For Negrin, receiving this treatment fosters not just healing but a renewed hope for the future. “It’s the first time that I was feeling again. I begin to sleep at night, I was less afraid,” she shares, embodying the transformative power of both medical and spiritual healing. As we reflect on this evolving narrative of recovery, let us remember the potential for hope and healing in our own lives and those around us.
Encouragingly, we’re reminded to look beyond our current difficulties, knowing that healing—whether physical or spiritual—is accessible. With each step toward recovery, both individually and collectively, we can find strength in faith and the resilience of the human spirit. Perhaps we might ask ourselves: How can we extend this compassionate understanding and modern healing to those in our communities who are suffering?
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