Q: What is the difference between water baths based CO2 Balneotherapy that can be found in Natural Springs and the Dry version of CO2 Balneotherapy that RespidermTM creates?
A: In case of the Natural Springs based CO2 Balneotherapy treatments we can find naturally accruing CO2 mixed up with other not needed chemicals and bacteria as well saturated in the water. RespidermTM is using pharmaceutical grade purified CO2 manufactured and cleaned by the largest pharmaceutical gas manufacturing companies.
The Natural Springs or other water based artificial CO2 Balneotherapy treatment the patient is sitting in the same water (same pool of water) with others whom might have serious illnesses, creating the high risk for infection. RespidermTM on the other hand was designed to be completely antiseptic. It uses a one time use only, disposable treatment cover suit called a Bio-suitTM to contain the water/Carbon Dioxide vapor in a completely closed space around the effected body part; therefore those body parts has no direct interaction with the space (air) outside of the cover suit.
According to Balneology standards as well as Mitsubishi Rayon tests, 600ppm CO2/H2O concentration (600 parts of CO2 mixed with a million parts of H2O = about 0.6% CO2 and 99.4% water) is the minimum requirement to create thermal water and produce heath effect.
In the case of any water based CO2 Balneotherapy treatment, you will generally always have a lot more water than CO2 since either the operator of a CO2 Balneotherapy technology or Nature itself in case of Natural Spring always applies the Carbon Dioxide to the water (CO2 to the H2O). It is important to note that the therapeutic effect is created by the CO2 and not the H2O and the right temperature of H2O is only the facilitator of the CO2 delivery trough the skin tissue. Therefore the effectiveness of the Natural Springs or other water based artificial CO2 Balneotherapy treatment will always be determined by how much CO2 molecules can be effectively mixed with the H2O molecules.
In the case of having a treatment using the dry CO2 Balneotherapy with the RespidermTM, the mixture is not subject to the minimum 600ppm CO2/H2O concentration. RespidermTM is using about 1/2 cup of H2O just to mix the CO2 molecules with the H2O molecules in order to assist and facilitate the skin absorption of the CO2 molecules trough the skin tissue. Through this procedure RespidermTM delivers approximately 95-97% CO2 mixed with about 3-5% H2O; therefore its effectiveness can’t even be compared with any Natural Springs or water based CO2 Balneotherapy treatments, which produces a small amount of CO2 combined with a large amount of water producing little effect each time. I believe that this is the main reason why scientists say that CO2 Balneotherapy (as we know it before RespidermTM) is effective if applied during the lifetime of a person.
Q: What other ways are there to produce CO2-enriched water artificially?
A: The most common method is used in spas with relatively large machines. A method used in different commercial Health Care facilities to produce carbonated water consists of filling a pressure-resistant container with water, then blowing in carbon dioxide bubbles continuously. This approach is inappropriate for carbonating warm water. It is difficult to dissolve carbon dioxide to reach a high concentration level without allowing the carbon dioxide to escape, making it inappropriate for medical use. The existing conventional methods are inappropriate for the creation of artificial carbon dioxide-containing thermal bathwater. There are companies in Japan producing artificial foot bath to treat foot conditions relatively effectively but the effectiveness is still limited the CO2/H2O concentration that the technology can create.
Q: Can somebody use soda water for drinking as CO2-enriched water?
A: RespidermTM applies a purified pharmaceutical grade carbon dioxide that is registered in the European, US, and Janap Medicine Book and has been used worldwide in hospitals and medical care facilities since decades. Warm water at about 37 °C (95F) is used in CO2 Balneotherapy. Opening a bottle of soda water and warming the water allows the carbon dioxide to escape, making the water ineffective and thus useless. On the other hand, if the bottle is warmed without removing the cap, there is a danger that the rise in internal pressure could cause the bottle to burst. Under no circumstances should this be tried!
Q: Would sparkling carbon dioxide through bathwater create CO2-enriched water?
A: At normal atmospheric pressure, bubbles have very low dissolution efficiency; most of the carbon dioxide simply escapes into the air. Moreover, this should never be tried because the carbon dioxide concentration in the air could rise, leading to carbon dioxide poisoning.
Q: Is there any danger from inhaling carbon dioxide?
A: In case of Natural Spring based or other water based artificial CO2 Balneotherapy, using a lots of CO2 and the CO2 enriched water is open to the environment (air), you always need to be careful about exhaling the CO2 vapor leaving the water. In case of RespidermTM, the treatment is accruing in a sealed space around the effected body part; therefore only insignificant amount of CO2 can escape, which would mixe up with the air particles making it completely harmless. The amount of CO2 used in a single treatment when RespidermTM is being applied is about 0.28 oz. (8g), 0.56 oz. (16g), or 1.16 oz. (33g). Even if all of this were to escape into the air, the level of carbon dioxide would be unlikely to have any adverse effect on the body. However to be on the completely safe side, one needs to be careful and always carry out the application in an open or in a ventilated place.
Q: Where the carbon dioxide cartridges are bought? A: Please contact your designated sales representative for supplies of the proprietary safe sealed carbon dioxide disposable cartridges specially designed and exclusively manufactured for RespidermTM. Currently, the 0.28 oz. (8g), 0.56 oz. (16g), disposable cartridges are available. Because of their safe design, they escape federal regulation of the Department of Transportation (DOT); therefore can be transported via any ground or air carrier service around the globe.
Q: Has the device been officially approved as a medical device?
A: RespidermTM`s predecessor has received the official approval as a Class I. medical device in the European Union but not yet in the U.S. Because the unit itself does not carry out treatment, no such approval is necessary; furthermore, the FDA has officially approved the device as a therapeutic device for sale in the United States. However, regulations differ from country to country and we are currently working on obtaining Medical Device classification in Japan, EU, and in the US as well. For more information, please contact us at info@bio-bath.com or call 1 (818) 631 3375.
Q: How long should treatments last? A: The optimal length of treatment is about a period of 5 to 10 minutes. Increasing the length of treatments does not appear to change the effect. Depending on the status of the condition, a series of applications shall be carried out over a longer period of time. Recommendations by the doctors’ experiences suggest that clients should have a treatment at least 3 times a week for best effect.
Q: What is the appropriate temperature for the water needed?
A: A temperature within a range of 40-50 °C (104-122 Fahrenheit) is best. Raising or decreasing the water temperature results less effective delivery trough the skin tissue. On the other hand, a temperature below 30 °C (86F) reduces the blood flow increasing effect of the CO2 therapy, making it less effective for treatment.
Q: What is CO2-enriched water Dry treatment?
A: A certain concentration of carbon dioxide has been dissolved in a water that is about 40-50 °C (104-122 Fahrenheit) in a special mixing device (RespidermTM) that creates a mist like H2CO3 vapor that is injected into a special, comfortable, lightweight treatment cover suit called Bio-SuitTM. Water that is below 30 °C (86F) is ineffective for treatment. For an effective therapeutic treatment, RespidermTM shall be filled with 1/2 cups (4.2 oz.) of water and one disposable CO2 cartridge should be applied.
Q: Is there any pain associated with the CO2 bath therapy treatments? Is there any need for anesthesia?
A: Treatment comes with no pain and is generally extraordinary, so the use of anesthetics and painkillers are not necessary.
Q: Are there any side effects to CO2 bath therapy?
A: No distinctive side effects have ever been reported for this treatment in the past. However, please refrain from using CO2 bath therapy in clients with certain disorders, conditions, or in certain situations: Please read counter indications here!
Q: Are there any other technology out there utilising CO2 as an effective treatment?
A: Yes there are few technologies out there applying CO2 therapy for specific skin conditions, weight loss, wound therapy, etc. Please click here for more information.