What is the difference between natural springs or other water based CO₂ Balneotherapy and the dry version of CO₂ Balneotherapy that Respiderm™ creates?

What other ways are there to produce CO₂-enriched water artificially?

Can soda water be used for drinking as CO₂-enriched water?

Would sparkling carbon dioxide through bathwater create CO₂-enriched water?

Is there any danger from inhaling carbon dioxide?

Where can the CO₂ cartridges be purchased?

Has Respiderm™ device been officially approved as a medical device?

How long should treatments last?

What is the appropriate temperature for the water needed?

What is CO₂-enriched water dry treatment?

Is Respiderm™ treatment painful? Does it require anesthesia?

Are there any side effects to Respiderm™ therapy?

Are there any other technologies available that utilize CO₂ as an effective treatment?

Isn’t carbon dioxide toxic?

How many sessions before I see an improvement?

Is this natural process of converting CO₂ to O₂ available anywhere else in Nature?

Q: What is the difference between natural springs or other water based CO₂ Balneotherapy and the dry version of CO₂ Balneotherapy that Respiderm™ creates?

A:  In case of the natural springs based CO₂ Balneotherapy treatments, naturally occurring CO₂ mixed can be found mixed with other unnecessary chemicals and bacteria saturated in the water. Respiderm™ is created by using pharmaceutical grade purified CO₂ which is manufactured and cleaned by the largest pharmaceutical gas manufacturing companies.

The natural springs or other water based artificial CO₂ Balneotherapy treatment the patient sits in may also be the same pool of water with those who may have serious illnesses, thus creating a high risk for infection. Designed to be completely antiseptic, Respiderm™ uses a onetime only disposable treatment cover suit called a Bio-suit™ to contain the water and carbon dioxide vapor in an enclosed space around the affected body part. As a result, those body parts have no direct interaction with the space outside of the cover suit.

According to Balneology standards and Mitsubishi Rayon tests, 600ppm CO₂/H₂O concentration (600 parts of CO₂ mixed with one million parts of H₂O = about 0.6% CO₂ and 99.4% water) is the minimum requirement to create thermal water and produce a positive health effect.

In the case of any water based CO₂ Balneotherapy treatment, there will typically be more water than CO₂. This is because either the operator of a CO₂ Balneotherapy technology or nature itself -- such as in the case of natural springs -- always applies the carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the water (H₂O). It is important to note that the therapeutic effect is created by the CO₂ and not the water. The correct temperature of water only acts as the facilitator of the CO₂ delivery through skin tissue. Therefore the effectiveness of the natural springs or other water based artificial CO₂ Balneotherapy treatment will always be determined by how many CO₂ molecules can effectively combine with water molecules.

In the case of treatment using dry CO₂ Balneotherapy with the Respiderm™, the mixture is not required to possess the minimum 600ppm CO₂/H₂O concentration. Respiderm™ uses approximately a 1/2 cup of water to combine the CO₂ molecules with the water molecules in order to assist and facilitate skin absorption of the CO₂ molecules through the skin tissue.

Through this procedure Respiderm™ creates high concentration CO₂ vapor mixed with a relatively small amount of water (proper temperature). Its effectiveness can't 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. This is the main reason why scientists say that CO₂ Balneotherapy (as it was known prior to Respiderm™) 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 various 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 ineffective for medical use. The existing conventional methods are unsuitable for the creation of artificial carbon dioxide-containing thermal bathwater. Several companies in Japan produce artificial foot baths to treat foot conditions relatively effectively but the effectiveness is still limited by the CO₂/H₂O concentration that technology can create.

Q: Can soda water be used for drinking as CO₂-enriched water?

A: Respiderm™ applies a purified pharmaceutical grade carbon dioxide that is registered in the European, US, and Japan Medicine Book and has been used worldwide in hospitals and medical care facilities since decades. Warm water at approximately 37°C (95°F) is used in CO₂ Balneotherapy. Opening a bottle of soda water and warming the water allows carbon dioxide to escape, making the water ineffective and 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 the case of natural spring based or other water based artificial CO₂ Balneotherapy, using a lot of CO₂ and the CO₂ enriched water is open to the environment (air). One must always be careful about exhaling the CO₂ vapor leaving the water. In case of Respiderm™, the treatment is occurring in a sealed space around the affected body part; therefore only insignificant amounts of CO₂ can escape, which would mix with the air particles rendering it harmless. The amount of CO₂ used in a single treatment when Respiderm™ is being applied is about 0.28 oz. (8g), 0.56 oz. (16g). Even if all of it escaped into the air, the level of carbon dioxide is unlikely to have any adverse affect on the body. To be on the completely safe side, however, one needs to exercise caution and always use the application in an open or well-ventilated place.

Q: Where can the disposable CO₂ cartridges be purchased?

A: Please contact your designated sales representative for supplies of the proprietary safe sealed carbon dioxide disposable cartridges specially designed and exclusively manufactured for Respiderm™. Currently, the 0.28 oz. (8g), 0.56 oz. (16g), disposable cartridges are available. Because of their safe design, they are not under federal regulation of the Department of Transportation (DOT); therefore can be transported via any ground or air carrier service around the globe.

Q: Has Respiderm™device been officially approved as a medical device?

A: Respiderm™’s predecessor has received the official approval as a Class I medical device in the European Union but not yet in the United States. Furthermore, the Federal Drug Administration (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 (702) 289 44 91.

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 change the effect. Depending on the status of the condition, a series of applications should be carried out over a longer period of time. Recommendations from doctors' experiences suggest clients should be treated a minimum of 3 times a week for optimal effect.

Q: What is the appropriate temperature for the water needed?

A: The water temperature inside RespidermTM within a range of 45°- 70° C (113-158°F) is best. Increasing or decreasing the water temperature results in a less effective delivery through the skin tissue. On the other hand, a temperature below 30°C (86°F) 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: It is a concentration of carbon dioxide that has been dissolved in water with temperatures ranging from 45°- 70° C (113-158°F) in a special mixing device (Respiderm™). The result is a mist like H₂CO₃ vapor injected into a special, comfortable, lightweight disposable treatment cover suit called Treat-cover™. Water that is below 30°C (86°F) is ineffective for treatment. For an effective therapeutic treatment, Respiderm™ should be filled with ½ cup (125ml = 4.22oz) of hot water and one disposable CO₂ cartridge should be applied.

Q: Is Respiderm™ treatment painful? Does it require anesthesia?

A: Respiderm™ treatment is non-invasive and completely pain free! You can easily watch TV, read a book, or perform any activity that does not require your body to move.

Q: Are there any side effects to RespidermTM therapy?

A: No distinctive side effects have ever been reported for this treatment. 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 utilizing 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

Q: Isn’t carbon dioxide toxic?

A: No. Carbon dioxide is naturally produced by the cells in our bodies every day of our life. It is a by product of metabolism. It is transported in the red blood cells and exhaled through the lungs. In published studies, no important side effects were linked to CO₂ treatment ever. The studies found that CO₂ therapy is a safe therapy with no relevant side effects.

Q: How many sessions before I see an improvement?

A: Physiological improvement can be measured after the first treatment (Blood pressure balances, Heart rate goes back few points). Of course visible health improvement defers by medical conditions and partial or complete healing can take weeks even months depends on the type of conditions.

Q: Is this natural process of converting CO₂ to O₂ available anywhere else in Nature?

A: Yes. This process is all around us. Plants are converting CO₂ to O₂ trough the process called Photosynthesis. Also scientists use planktons in the ocean to take the CO₂ out of the atmosphere and convert it to O₂. They find that wherever the planktons are close to the surface of the water, they automatically "consume" the CO₂, convert it to O₂ (the same process our in Red Blood Cells in our body), and the whole area where these planktons are performing this natural process, life of all kinds comes back in only a few weeks.

References:

http://blog.glaswater.com/articles/5/1/Plankton-and-Oxygen-A-Critical-Relationship/Page1.html

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=4250

http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=470