Alternative Wellness News
The two most popular alternative wellness topics in 2019 were cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The 10 articles on these two topics that generated the most buzz are below.
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy the Key to Treating Fibromyalgia?
- This article was published by The Hearty Soul, a publication that partners with "actual healthcare practitioners" to provide "the most valuable, accurate and relatable holistic health information in the world, on February 14, 2019.
- It received the most buzz of any article on hyperbaric treatments in the past year, earning 145,800 engagements on Facebook and 17 shares on Twitter.
- The article centers on a team of researchers who believe that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be a "viable option for fibromyalgia sufferers."
- The Tel Aviv-based researchers found that "after 2 months of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients in the [fibromyalgia] treatment group had improved markers of brain functionality and pain."
- Additionally, the researchers also indicated that since there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, if patients suffering from fibromyalgia find hyperbaric oxygen treatment beneficial, it should be approved as a treatment.
Healing the brain: LSU professor sees Alzheimer's patient improve after hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- This article was published by The Times-Picayune on February 10, 2019.
- It received the second-most buzz for an article on hyperbaric treatments, earning 22,000 engagements on Facebook, 62 shares on Twitter, and 16 shares on Pinterest. In total, it received 22,100 engagements.
- After 66 days of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease saw improvement in her memory and concentration.
- PET brain scans also showed improvement following the hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
- According to Dr. Paul Harch, a clinical professor and director of hyperbaric medicine at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, the study "demonstrated the largest improvement in brain metabolism of any therapy for Alzheimer's disease."
Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown Suffers Frostbite After Burning Feet In Cryotherapy Chamber
- This article was published by KDKA CBS Pittsburgh on August 7, 2019.
- It received the most buzz of any article on cryotherapy in the past year, earning 10,200 engagements on Facebook and 21 shares on Twitter. It's total engagement was 10,300.
- NFL football star Antonio Brown suffered frostbite from a cryotherapy chamber because he was not using proper footwear.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy helps Tallahassee child recover from brain damage
- This article was published by WCTV on March 6, 2019.
- It received the third-most buzz on the topic of hyperbaric treatments, receiving 5,900 engagements on Facebook and 11 shares on Twitter.
- A child who suffered a traumatic brain injury from nearly drowning saw improvement in brain function after eight weeks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
- The child's mother stated, "Within about three days he was trying to lift himself out of the wheelchair... When we first went, he was being fed through a G-tube, now he eats real food."
Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Jaylon Smith opening cryotherapy location in Fort Wayne
- This article was published by WOWO News Talk on October 9, 2019.
- It received the most buzz after articles about Antonio Brown's cryotherapy accident, earning 3,600 engagements on Facebook.
- Dallas Cowboys football player Jaylon Smith partnered with iCRYO to open a cryotherapy location in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- The facility will offer "cryotherapy facials, localized cryotherapy, whole body cryotherapy, compression therapy, infrared sauna, vitamin IV therapy, and cryoskin body contouring services for body slimming and toning."
- The article mentions that the benefits of cryotherapy include "metabolic boost, skin rejuvenation, anti-aging, muscle recovery, decrease in joint pain, immunity boost, stress relief, and improved sleep."
Cryotherapy Treatment Saves Nurse with Stage 4 Cancer
- This article was published by The Hearty Soul, a publication that partners with "actual healthcare practitioners" to provide "the most valuable, accurate and relatable holistic health information in the world," on April 29, 2019.
- This article's topic received the third-most amount of buzz following Antonio Brown's story and Jaylon Smith's partnership, earning 2,000 engagements on Facebook.
- Colorado nurse Karie Fisher has been in remission for five years from stage IV esophageal cancer after receiving cryotherapy treatment from Dr. Toufic Kachaamy at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Phoenix, Arizona.
- After receiving three cryotherapy treatments, Fisher's tumor began shrinking and continued to shrink until it was small enough to surgically remove.
- The article also discusses other cryotherapy benefits, including those that are applicable to cancer.
‘It’s like being alive again’: Pocatello hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic changing lives
Despite New Research, Scientists Want More Proof That Hyperbaric Oxygen Treats Alzheimer's
- This article was published by Forbes on February 25, 2019.
- It received the sixth-most buzz on hyperbaric treatments, earning 1,700 engagements on Facebook, 75 shares on Twitter, and one share on Pinterest.
- Even though two researchers at U.S. medical schools have reported what they believe to be the "first PET scan-documented case of improvement in brain metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease in a patient treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)," scientists at the Mayo Clinic say that "more research is needed before declaring HBOT a long-term treatment for Alzheimer’s and a host of other diseases."
- Part of the issue stems from the fact that at least one Alzheimer's patient who received hyperbaric oxygen treatment suffered a "recurrence in her symptoms," though the stabilized after further treatment.
Lawmakers want to expand use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for vets with PTSD, brain injury
- This article was published by Stars and Stripes, an American military newspaper, on September 18, 2019.
- It received the seventh-most buzz on hyperbaric treatments, earning 1,500 engagements on Facebook, 33 shares on Twitter, and two shares on Pinterest.
- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D introduced the TBI and PTSD Treatment Act to Congress that would require the "Department of Veterans Affairs to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury."
- According to Biggs, "[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy] has the potential to help the VA make progress in their mental health and suicide prevention efforts."
Research Strategy
To determine the top news stories on alternative wellness topics in 2019, we used the BuzzSumo tool, which analyzes content to determine which articles received the highest engagement rates across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, and links. Unfortunately, to view this data, an account is required. Therefore, a screenshot of the data has been included to document the engagement rates for the 10 articles that were selected. Note that only the first article on a topic was selected for our list and blogs, articles from alternative wellness providers, and articles on questionably credible sites were eliminated.