MOLECULAR HYDROGEN AND HEALTH
The Research Behind the Results
Delve into the source of the body’s most common illnesses and the science behind molecular hydrogen.
Basics of Body Chemistry
Molecular Hydrogen
How does molecular hydrogen fit into the conversation about free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidants?
- Molecular Hydrogen is the most powerful antioxidant.
- Molecular Hydrogen is a selective antioxidant.
- Molecular Hydrogen reduces oxidative stress by selectively neutralizing harmful free radicals.
Free Radicals
Oxygen is essential for life but in certain forms it can also be harmful. When oxygen molecules break apart they create unstable atoms called free radicals, which have unpaired electrons. These act like tiny wrecking balls in our bodies, damaging cells, proteins, and even DNA as they steal electrons from these structures. While free radicals play a natural role in our bodies, it’s all about balance. Too many can lead to harm or even speed up aging.
Oxidative Stress
When free radicals damage cells we call this oxidative stress. This can lead to inflammation and health problems like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heart disease, and other illnesses. Certain environmental factors increase oxidative stress—like unhealthy foods, smoking, drinking alcohol, and exposure to pollution. Even normal activities like breathing and exercising expose us to some level of oxidative stress.
Antioxidants
You can combat the free radicals in your body with antioxidants. We get these molecules in two ways. 1) Our bodies naturally produce some (but not enough to fully prevent damage), and 2) we get antioxidants from what we consume. While plant based, whole foods, and antioxidant supplements like vitamin C and glutathione are excellent sources of antioxidants, Hydrogen (H2) is perhaps the most powerful antioxidant.
Supplements
The body is incredibly complex. You can’t just label cells as ALL “good” or ALL “bad.” Antioxidants, while important, need to be in balance. You’ve heard that it’s possible to have “too much of a good thing,” right? If you take too many over-the-counter antioxidant supplements, it could throw off the body’s balance. You see, most antioxidants don’t just attack HARMFUL free radicals, they go after ALL free radicals, even the ones our body needs. Some free radicals play an important role in helping our bodies recycle and repair.
Unlike most antioxidant supplements, Hydrogen aids the body’s natural balance. It “selects,” or “targets” ONLY the harmful free radicals, without wiping out the necessary ones too.
Discovering Molecular Hydrogen
Hydrogen therapy began gaining attention in the scientific community in 1975 when researchers from Baylor University and Texas A&M conducted a groundbreaking study. They discovered that exposing mice with skin tumors to hydrogen gas for two weeks resulted in a significant reduction in tumor size. This early study was one of the first to suggest that hydrogen could have therapeutic benefits. However, the results were not widely pursued at the time, and the potential for hydrogen as a treatment remained relatively unexplored for several decades.
Interest in hydrogen therapy surged again in 2007, when a team of Japanese researchers published a study on the therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen in Nature Magazine. The study by Dr. Ohta from Japan reported that inhaling 2%-4% molecular hydrogen gas had a significant positive impact in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion recovery. They observed that hydrogen seemed to react with toxic free radicals, but didn’t react with other beneficial radical oxygen species such as nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide. In short, hydrogen neutralized only the most harmful free radicals in the body, while leaving other necessary molecules intact. This study spurred a wave of new research on hydrogen’s anti-inflammatory and protective properties.
Clinical Applications With the Lourdes Hydrofix
The Lourdes Hydrofix has been introduced at the Central Tanaka Acupuncture Clinic in Japan that specializes in the treatment and rehabilitation of dementia, Alzheimer's, cerebral palsy, and other conditions. The clinic director, Dr. Yoshihiro Tanaka, believes that brain-related diseases such as Dementia, Alzheimer's, and depression can be improved and their progression delayed by increasing blood flow to the brain, reducing oxygen deficiency and the accumulation of free radicals.
At his clinic, patients regularly inhale hydrogen gas from Lourdes Hydrofix and their extremities are photographed with a thermographic camera. Dr. Tanaka shared these images with us with the following comments:
Before inhaling hydrogen gas from the Lourdes Hydrofix, the temperature of the patient's right foot was approximately 28.8°C / 83.84°F.
After inhaling hydrogen gas from the Lourdes Hydrofix for 30 minutes, the temperature rose to 34.1°C / 93.38°F. An increase of more than 5°C/41°F.
"Thermography results suggest that hydrogen gas inhalation through Lourdes Hydrofix contributes significantly to increasing blood flow.
By increasing blood flow, symptoms of diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and even depression can be improved or their progression slowed.
Therefore, we believe that hydrogen gas inhalation through Lourdes Hydrofix could be an effective means of treating these conditions without putting a strain on the body." - Dr. Tanaka