To date, the most popular ways of consuming hydrogen are hydrogen water and hydrogen inhalation.
Hydrogen inhalation therapy is becoming more and more popular this days as it provides consumption of large amount of hydrogen in short period of time which leads to fast therapeutic effect.
Molecular hydrogen (H2) is a small and safe molecule for the human body, possessing unique properties that make it priceless for our health.
If many fans of healthy lifestyles are already familiar with hydrogen water, H2 inhalation has spread relatively recently, which is associated with long-term adaptation of this technology for home use. In Japan and South Korea, hydrogen inhalation is the most popular way of hydrogen consumption.
Hydrogen, as an atom, is an element. Hydrogen gas, H2, is an elemental substance, consisting exclusively of atoms of a single element.
The hydrogen inhalation procedure is carried out by inhaling hydrogen gas (H2) through a medical cannula or mask connected to a hydrogen generator.
Hydrogen inhalation uses the process of water electrolysis to produce hydrogen gas (H2) mixed with oxygen (O2). Most of these H2 inhalers keep the hydrogen concentration under 4 %. Some of hydrogen inhalation machines uses PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) technology where pure hydrogen gas of 99,9% is generated without mixing with oxygen.
Molecular hydrogen applications via H2 inhalation has shown great benefit in the scientific studies, as it allows larger amounts of H2 gas to enter the bloodstream to be readily distributed throughout the body.
Important information about molecular hydrogen
To date, 500 scientific articles have been published and 1600 studies have been done on more than 170 different models of human and animal diseases, which confirm that hydrogen has therapeutic potential.
Molecular hydrogen is a biologically active molecule (H2), which has many properties, including anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The most important thing to know about molecular hydrogen is that it eliminates the toxicity of oxygen. Aging testifies to the damage of millions of cells of the body by oxidation.
The strongest oxidant is hydroxyl-radical (OH), which is a by-product of the metabolism involving oxygen.
Hydrogen creates an antioxidant stress, in which a direct removal of the hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite occurs. Studies show that hydrogen activates the Nrf2-Keap1 system. Each H2 molecule neutralizes 2 hydroxyl radicals into two molecules of H2O, moisturizing the body cells in the process.
Hydrogen inhalation is expected to be as a method of cardiac arrest treatment in Japan
Since February 2017, the first multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of hydrogen inhalations in cardiac arrest in patients has been conducted. This serious study is designed for 3 years with the participation of 15 medical institutions and the registration of results in 360 patients. Expected positive results will open new horizons in the medical field for the treatment of emergency cases and assistance to patients.
Hydrogen inhalation is expected to be an innovative treatment that protects the life and function of the patient’s brain after cardiac resuscitation and helps the patient recover.
Hydrogen inhalation is safe
The hydrogen explosion limit is 4.0% -75.6% (volume concentration), which means that hydrogen can explode at a hydrogen volume concentration in hydrogen from 4.0 to 75.6%. However, the studies shows when the hydrogen concentration is below 4% or above 75.6%, it is not explosive at all. Moreover, the hydrogen molecule is the smallest and lightest and has a high diffusion among all substances, so the absorption of hydrogen is safe.
Researches and Studies on hydrogen inhalations
Molecular hydrogen (i.e., H2 gas) receives considerable attention from academic researchers and doctors. One of the first articles on hydrogen as a medical gas in 1975 was published by Dole and his colleagues from Baylor Universities and Texas A & M. They reported in the journal ‘Science’ that hyperbaric (8 atm) hydrogen therapy is effective in reducing melanoma tumors in mice. However, interest in hydrogen therapy began only after 2007, when it was demonstrated that the introduction of hydrogen gas through inhalation (at levels below the inflammability limit of 4.6%) or ingestion of an aqueous solution, can have therapeutic effects.
Study in 2011 has shown that inhaling small amounts of hydrogen in addition to concentrated oxygen may help stem the damage to lung tissue that can occur when critically ill patients are given oxygen for long periods of time, according to a new rat model study. The study also found hydrogen initiates activation of heme-oxygenase (HO-1), an enzyme that protects lung cells.
Another study shows that H2 inhalation improves lung function and protects established airway inflammation in the allergic asthmatic mice model which may be associated with the inhibition of oxidative stress process. This study provides a potential alternative therapeutic method for the clinical management of asthma.
Hydrogen inhalation is a method of obtaining a large amount of H2
High doses of hydrogen when received through Hydrogen inhalation are the key to a serious therapeutic effect.
For inhalation below 4% or above 75.6% hydrogen is safe, because it is below the level of flammability.
Hydrogen is poorly soluble in water, and therefore most of it comes out in gaseous form into the air, thus, by inhalation it is possible to obtain a large concentration of hydrogen over a short period of time.
The inhalation of hydrogen allows the body to get a large amount of hydrogen. It is better absorbed by the brain, nervous system, circulatory system and lung. The inhalation of gaseous 2% hydrogen for 30 minutes is equivalent to the use of 15 liters of hydrogen water (concentration 1-1.2 ppm).
To date, hydrogen inhalations are becoming more widespread and are considered as an alternative or addition to the use of hydrogen water. Both ways perfectly complement each other and help to achieve the maximum result in taking care of your health.
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