CO2 Therapy for Optimal Health, Performance, & Longevity: Ultimate Guide

You’ve surely heard CO2 called a waste product or environmental pollutant. Deliberate CO2 therapy, however, actually uses this misunderstood gas for health, performance, and recovery.

In fact, it’s vital to how your body stays healthy and functions properly.

Without carbon dioxide, your brain would never get the signal to breathe, and you’d quietly black out and suffocate within seconds.

In this article, I’ll explain how carbon dioxide therapy works, the science behind it, the health and performance benefits, and show how to use CO2 therapy safely to optimize your wellbeing.

What is CO2 Therapy & How Does it Work

CO2 therapy involves using controlled exposure to atypical carbon dioxide levels for therapeutic or performance purposes.

Practitioners administer CO2 through inhalation, mineral baths, dry gas wraps, topical gels, or tiny subcutaneous injections.

Two key mechanisms underlie its therapeutic effects:

• Vasodilation
• The Bohr effect

Here’s how those work.

When CO2 enters the skin and tissue, it causes blood vessels to widen (vasodilation), boosting circulation (PeerJ).

Higher CO2 levels also prompt red blood cells to drop off oxygen where it’s needed most, such as active muscles or the brain (the Bohr effect).

CO2 also stimulates collagen activity, helping with wound repair and skin issues (Biomedicines).

These physiological responses form the basis for CO2 therapy’s wide-ranging benefits, from better tissue oxygenation to reduced inflammation.

Benefits of CO2 Therapy

Carbon dioxide therapy provides both immediate and long-term benefits via increased blood flow and oxygenation.

In the short term, carbon dioxide exposure:

• Nourishes tissues
• Aids lymphatic drainage
• Calms local inflammation

I’ve read about many people experiencing warmer extremities or relief in muscle soreness after CO2 baths or sessions. This reflects a surge in microcirculation and a dampening of inflammation.

Over the long term, repeated CO2 therapy:

• Prompts the body to build more capillaries
• Produces additional mitochondria
• Partially mimics benefits of exercise
• Improves endurance & metabolic efficiency

Below, let’s explore the top research-backed health benefits of CO2 therapy.

Improved circulation & blood flow

CO2 therapy significantly improves microcirculation and overall blood flow. CO2’s vasodilation action increases blood circulation to tissues.

Better circulation means more blood reaches organs and muscles, supporting cardiovascular health and exercise capacity and resulting in:

• Enhanced nutrient & oxygen delivery to muscles & organs (more blood flow brings more fuel & oxygen)
• Warmer extremities & reduced cold hands/feet due to improved peripheral circulation
• Better removal of metabolic waste from tissues, aiding recovery & detoxification
• Improved exercise tolerance in people with poor circulation (e.g., longer pain-free walking)

In effect, you’ll feel better and more energetic.

Enhanced cardiac protection

CO2 therapy improves heart function & protection by improving blood flow and promoting relaxation in the arteries.

In one animal study, CO2 reduces the functional damage after myocardial infarction by triggering protective mechanisms including (JPS):

• Improved microvascular resistance
• Better oxygen delivery
• Activation of endogenous signaling

The experiment was also done on pre-treatment, so CO2 was applied before the infarction rather than for therapeutic application, further highlighting the protective aspect.

Of course that doesn’t mean it doesn’t help post-disease.

In a clinical trial on patients with peripheral artery disease, just 18 days of transcutaneous CO2 treatment increased pain-free walking distance by 73% (Vasa).

This vasodilatory effect was sustained months later, indicating lasting improvements in vascular function (Vasa).

Enhanced oxygen delivery

CO2 helps the body use oxygen (O2) more efficiently through the Bohr effect.

In tissues with higher CO2 and acidity, hemoglobin releases oxygen more easily.

Muscles and the brain get the oxygen they need when it counts, which is especially beneficial during physical exertion or stress.

In practice, raising CO2 levels increases tissue oxygenation, giving you:

• Increased muscle endurance & reduced fatigue during exercise (more O2 available to muscle fibers)
• Improved aerobic energy production as tissues receive O2 more readily for ATP synthesis
• Sharper cognitive function under stress (adequate O2 delivery to the brain even when demands are high)
• Better high-altitude tolerance, since CO2 retention helps counteract low-O2 environments (by facilitating oxygen release to tissues)

These translate to better overall performance and endurance.

Brain protection

CO2 therapy helps protect neurons, increases cerebral blood flow, and improves oxygen delivery to brain tissue.

Human studies show inhaling 5% CO2 can raise cerebral blood flow by ~50% (Cereb Circul).

Improved circulation enhances oxygen and nutrient delivery to neurons and brain tissue, supporting cognition and resilience.

The increased blood flow and neuroprotective effects also help manage acute brain injuries, particularly after events that cause cerebral ischemia (or restricted blood supply).

• Post-cardiac arrest: Inhaled CO2 has been shown to augment blood flow, mitigate brain injuries, & improve neurological outcomes in animal studies (J Am Heart Assoc)
• Ischemic stroke: Administering inhaled CO2 to rats with acute stroke reduced the size of the affected tissue, preserving the tissue around the ischemic core (Front Digit Health)

CO2 therapy is proving valuable for stroke recovery, vascular dementia, and cognitive performance.

Accelerated wound healing & tissue recovery

One of the most promising uses of CO2 therapy is speeding up the healing of injuries and chronic wounds.

CO2 stimulates the body’s healing processes. Research shows it can promote new capillary formation and collagen remodeling.

Resulting in improved local blood supply and tissue oxygenation, which are critical for repair.

In a study of 70 patients with chronic ulcers, adding CO2 therapy to standard care significantly increased tissue oxygen levels and led to faster wound healing and area reduction (In Vivo).

Notably, experimental studies report that CO2 application reduces inflammation and fibrosis, leading to less scar tissue and stronger tissue regeneration (Int Wound J).

Other healing benefits of CO2 include:

• Faster closure of chronic wounds (e.g., diabetic foot ulcers heal more quickly with CO2 therapy)
• Reduced scar tissue formation as CO2 has been shown to limit fibrosis during healing
• Lower inflammation at injury sites as CO2-treated tissues show significantly reduced inflammatory markers (like IL-1β, IL-6)
• Quicker muscle recovery from strains or injuries, aided by improved circulation & oxygenation (animal studies found CO2 doubled muscle regeneration rates) (Int Wound J)

Essentially, you heal faster, bounce back stronger, and get back in the game quicker.

Skin rejuvenation

CO2 therapy promotes collagen and elastin production, improves tone and texture, lightens dark circles, and reduces signs of aging like wrinkles and pigmentation.

When it comes to rejuvenating your skin, CO2 therapy:

• Stimulates collagen (types I, III, IV) & elastin genes in the skin: A study treated one side of subjects’ abdominal skin with weekly carboxytherapy over 10 sessions, & saw marked increases in collagen expression compared to the untreated side (Arch Dermatol Res)
• Firms skin & reduces wrinkles: Carboxytherapy plus fractional CO2 laser produced visible improvement in skin texture & epidermal (outer skin layer) thickness (J Cosmet Dermatol)
• Reduces dark circles/hyperpigmentation under the eyes: Carboxytherapy sessions show significant reduction in periorbital darkening with good patient satisfaction & few side effects (J Cosmet Dermatol)

Over time, these changes gives your skin a smoother, more even tone, and a refreshed appearance that lasts longer.

Reduced pain & inflammation

CO2 therapy helps relieve pain and calm inflammation.

Improved circulation from CO2 alleviates pain from poor blood flow (ischemic pain) by nourishing starved tissues.

Historically, doctors observed that CO2 applications provided almost instant pain relief.

An 18th-century physician noted “astonishing” and “almost instantaneous relief of pain” in ulcerative wounds with CO2 gas (Case Study).

This analgesic effect arises from CO2’s ability to reduce inflammation, creating a less painful environment for nerves and tissues.

By correcting low oxygen in tissues (tissue hypoxia) and lowering pH stress, CO2 diminishes pain signals and swelling in the following ways:

• Relieves chronic wound & ulcer pain, thanks to improved oxygenation & waste removal from tissues
• Eases neuropathic pain & numbness such as in a recent trial where transcutaneous CO2 showed “promising results in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy,” potentially restoring sensation & reducing burning pain (Appl Sci)
• Reduces joint stiffness & swelling as CO2’s anti-inflammatory effect helps conditions like arthritis or muscle soreness
• Activates the relaxation response since gentle CO2 elevation can stimulate parasympathetic nerves, reducing stress-related tension & pain

Carbon dioxide therapy provides relief in a variety of conditions, enhancing comfort and mobility.

Better relaxation

CO2 therapy promotes relaxation by calming the nervous system, easing stress, and making pain feel less intense.

Studies in humans and animals suggest that breathing more CO2 temporarily can soften how your brain senses pain and quiet overactive nerve responses.

CO2 has even been tested to calm seizures, where the brain becomes overly stimulated.

When CO2 levels rise in a controlled way through therapy:

• Pain thresholds go up: You feel less pain in response to heat or pressure (Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol)
• Nerve cell activity quiets down: CO2 has been shown to reduce spontaneous firing or overexcitement in brain circuits (J Cereb Blood Flow Metab)
• CO2 inhalation has helped suppress seizures: Seizures quickly stopped in epilepsy patients given 5% CO2 (Epilepsy Curr)

CO2 therapy helps your body better handle stress and discomfort, and bring a greater sense of calm.

Enhanced athletic performance & recovery

High profile athletes are exploring CO2 therapy as a tool for better endurance and faster recovery.

Controlled CO2 exposure (through breath-holding exercises or CO2-enriched air) trains the body to tolerate higher CO2 levels, which can stabilize breathing and delay fatigue.

Improved circulation and oxygen delivery further boost exercise capacity.

I’ve also come across reports of accelerated recovery from workouts and injuries.

For example, a professional baseball pitcher used daily CO2 sessions to return from a hamstring injury in just 15 days instead of a projected 6 weeks (Luke Weaver).

With CO2 therapy, athletes experience:

• Greater endurance & stamina, as better oxygen unloading in muscles delays exhaustion
• More efficient breathing (higher CO2 tolerance means fewer urges to hyperventilate, even under intense effort)
• Faster recovery between workouts aided by increased blood flow, removing lactate & delivering nutrients to muscles
• Rapid injury rehabilitation with CO2 treatments helping reduce downtime

As evidence continues to build, CO2 therapy will become a valuable complementary tool for sports performance.

Faster recovery from joint & muscle issues

CO2 therapy increases oxygen delivery to tissues, relaxes tight muscles, and accelerates the body’s natural repair processes.

This is especially helpful for people recovering from injuries, surgery, or dealing with long-term stiffness.

Studies in animals and clinical practice suggest several ways CO2 therapy supports joint and muscle health:

• CO2 treatments improves range of motion after immobilization or spinal cord injury by reducing fibrosis & stiffness in both muscles & joints in a research in rats (Clin Orthop Relat Res)
• Transcutaneous CO2 accelerates muscle repair, increases blood vessel growth, & stimulates mitochondrial recovery after injury (Int Orthop)
• CO2 therapy sped up healing, increased callus formation, & improved the strength of repaired bone in animal studies of bone fractures (BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care)

While more large-scale human trials are needed, the early results suggest that CO2 therapy may help reduce joint pain, ease muscle tension, and promote faster recovery after trauma or surgery.

It represents a safe, non-invasive approach to improving mobility and supporting musculoskeletal health.

Improved metabolism

CO2 therapy helps optimize cellular metabolism by improving oxygen delivery, stimulating tissue renewal, and supporting the body’s natural regulatory processes.

By enhancing how efficiently cells use oxygen and nutrients, it promotes better energy production and recovery.

Clinical studies in humans show that mild increases in CO2 improve tissue oxygenation during surgery and raise muscle oxygen saturation (Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology).

Animal research also demonstrates increased collagen turnover in the skin following CO2 injections, indicating stimulated metabolic activity and repair (J Drugs Dermatol).

The metabolic benefits include:

• More oxygen released from hemoglobin into tissues (Bohr effect), improving energy use (Adv Exp Med Biol)
• Faster collagen renewal, supporting tissue repair & skin health (J Drugs Dermatol)
• Greater mitochondrial activity & cellular energy metabolism (Biochem Biophys Res Commun)
• Improved systemic oxygenation, even under stress or low-oxygen conditions (Physiol Rep)

By boosting how cells breathe and repair themselves, CO2 therapy works like a natural reset for metabolism, helping tissues function more efficiently, recover faster, and stay resilient.

Reduced stubborn fat

Injecting small amounts of CO2 under the skin (carboxytherapy) helps shrink fat cell size, increases blood flow, and improves the body’s fat-burning mechanics in treated areas.

Carboxytherapy, a type of CO2 therapy, reduces the appearance of cellulite by improving circulation and breaking up fat deposits under the skin.

It also produces body-sculpting effects that resemble a gentler version of liposuction.

Instead of surgically removing fat, the treatment gradually reduces localized fat thickness by enhancing fat breakdown and improving metabolic activity in the treated area.

When carboxytherapy is used for fat reduction:

• Clinical trial in humans: Adults with mild-to-moderate abdominal fat got weekly CO2 infusions on 1 side of the belly (vs sham treatment on the other side). After 5 treatments, ultrasound showed less fat on the CO2-treated side (J Am Acad Dermatol)
• Localized fat reduction in multiple areas: Weekly CO2 treatments significantly reduces fat thickness (measured by ultrasound) & circumference in arms, chin, thighs, & abdomen (JEWD)
• Animal model showing mechanism: In obese mice, CO2 treatment led to smaller fat cells, lower fat mass, increased blood vessel growth in fat tissue, & signs of higher energy (Aesthetic Plast Surg)

With carboxytherapy, treated spots tend to become slimmer and more defined.

Promotes hair regrowth

CO2 therapy helps reactivate follicles, improves blood flow, and delivers needed oxygen and nutrients to scalp tissue.

Carboxytherapy increased hair density, improved bald patches, and restored follicular activity in some treated patients.

In a study on carboxytherapy in alopecia, hair density and dermoscopic appearance improved in treated zones compared to baseline. (J Cosmet Dermatol)

In a comparative trial for alopecia areata, CO2 treatment (alone or combined) produced substantial hair regrowth even in areas that had lost hair for some time. (ResearchGate)

The benefits include:

• Enhanced blood flow and oxygen delivery to the scalp
• Reactivation of dormant follicles, especially in thinning zones
• Increased hair density & stronger shaft formation
• Potential regrowth in hair loss areas where circulation is poor

This approach is still in early stages. I’m expecting more large-scale human trials to confirm optimal dosing, long-term durability, and effectiveness across different types of hair loss.

Types of CO2 Therapy

There are different ways to administer CO2, each with unique therapeutic benefits.

I placed the different modalities in a table below for your easy reference.

While the CO2 delivery methods differ, these CO2 therapies share a common goal:

To harness the unique physiological effects of carbon dioxide, whether locally in the skin and tissues or through the lungs into systemic circulation.

Your ideal route of administration depends on your use case. Note that some application types are backed by decades of clinical use and others are in early stages of research.

How to Get Started with CO2 Therapy

If you’re ready to try CO2 therapy, you’ll want to grab any necessary gear, educate yourself on the process, and start slowly.

I’ve put together a mini step-by-step guide and tips to help you start your CO2 therapy sessions safely at home:

• Do your homework & check safety. Start by educating yourself (which you’re doing right now). Understand the basics of how CO2 therapy works and the different methods and their safety concerns
• Consult with your healthcare provider before you begin, especially if you have any medical conditions. CO2 therapy is gentle, but it might not be suitable for everyone
• Choose the CO2 therapy method that suits you. For at-home therapy, popular choices are the transdermal route (CO2 bath or suit) or the inhalation route (breathing device)

Also, think about your comfort level and budget.

Anders Olsson of Conscious Breathing offers the Cardisuit, while Carbogenetics has a similar one called the BodyStream. Both full-body suits bathe your entire body in CO2.

If you want something quick and energizing, the CO2Inhaler (from Carbogenetics) or Cardihaler (by Conscious Breathing) are perfect. These are smaller time and budget commitments.

I actually first came across Carbogenetics a long time ago in different podcasts, so I excitedly tested our their CO2Inhaler at the Health Optimization Summit (HOS) in April 2025.

It was a fairly simple and short session. I sat down in their booth and put on a mask that was connected with a tube to the device, which in turn was connected to a CO2 tank.

I started low but I didn’t notice much difference. Then I turned it up to 8%, the highest setting, and did that for around 10 minutes max.

I felt like I was hiking at 15,000 feet, where the air is thinner and I run out of breath faster. Kind of like I’d just finished an intense workout. But I liked it!

It had a noticeable impact on my thinking and my mood. I felt slightly elated and upbeat.

Gather your equipment & setup

Purchase your equipment of choice and necessary accessories (e.g., CO2 cartridges), and read the product instructions carefully.

It’s a good idea to have a timer (your phone is fine) and maybe a notebook to jot down how you feel after sessions (optional, but helpful for tracking your experience).

Start low & slow. It’s best to start with a lower intensity and shorter duration to let your body adjust.

I’ll describe the two most common systems.

CO2 Inhaler

Set it to the lowest or a very low CO2 level (some devices might call this level 1 or 2, around 1–2% CO2). This is what I did the first time I tried a CO2 inhaler.

Take slow, gentle breaths. You might feel a slight urge to breathe more deeply. That’s normal.

Begin with just 1-2 minutes of breathing, then take the mask off and breathe normal air. See how you feel. Many people will feel fine (or, good) with such a short exposure.

If all is well, you can extend to 3-5 minutes next time. The typical session length for breathing devices is about 5 minutes (and not more than 10 minutes when you’re just starting).

CO2 suit or bag

You don’t necessarily have “levels” to set, but you can control duration.

A first session could be just 10 minutes in the suit filled with CO2. You should feel warm and relaxed.

If at any point you feel lightheaded or uncomfortable, just open the suit to let some fresh air in. There’s no harm in cutting a session short.

Many newbies tolerate 10-15 minutes easily. There’s no rush to do a full 30-minute spa session on day 1.

By starting with brief, easy sessions, you allow your body to gradually adapt.

This adaptation is key. Over days and weeks, your CO2 tolerance will improve, meaning you can enjoy longer or slightly higher-CO2 sessions without discomfort.

Listen to your body

Pay close attention to how you feel during and after each CO2 therapy session.

It’s normal to feel sensations like warmth, a bit of flushing of the skin, mild tingling, or sleepiness.

You might also feel an energy lift or a clear mind, especially after a carbogen inhalation session.

Like what I experienced after my CO2Inhaler session during HOS.

These are positive signs that your blood flow is increasing and your nervous system is responding.

However, watch out for any discomfort such as:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Extreme shortness of breath

These are signs you might be overdoing it.

For example, inhaling too high a concentration of CO2 too quickly can cause a headache or a panicky feeling for some people. If this happens, stop and get fresh air.

This almost happened to me during my 2nd go at carbogen therapy, this time at the Biohacking Conference. I went straight to 8% CO2 and found that I had a little harder time with it.

It was a bit less comfortable, and I was pushing myself. But I know that pushing too hard can cause headaches.

I didn’t get a headache. I also didn’t feel quite as great as I did during my 1st try because the CO2 concentration was so high.

Improvements come with consistent practice, not with maxing out intensity beyond your comfort zone.

Gradually increase your dose

After a few introductory sessions, you can slowly increase either the time or frequency of your CO2 therapy, as it feels right.

For a breathing device, you might move up to 5 minutes daily at 3-4% CO2, for example.

For a CO2 suit, you might go up to 20-minute sessions, or 2-3 times per week.

Everyone’s ideal “dose” is different. Some people get great results from just a couple of sessions a week, while others enjoy doing a small session every day.

Find what makes you feel good.

A good rule: When increasing, change only one factor at a time. For instance, either make the session a bit longer or with higher CO2, but not both at once.

And remember, more isn’t always better.

I’ve heard reports where 5% CO2 for 5 minutes gives some users more benefit than 8% for 10 minutes, which just made them dizzy.

So build up gradually and find your sweet spot.

Make it a habit (and enjoy the process)

Consistency is key to getting the most out of CO2 therapy. Try to integrate your CO2 sessions into your routine sustainably.

For instance, you might schedule a CO2 inhalation session every morning when you wake up, or use the suit every Sunday evening for a relaxing reset.

Treat it like a self-care ritual rather than a chore. Maybe play your favorite music while in the CO2 suit, or do gentle stretching after a CO2 bath.

Over time (a few weeks), pay attention to any changes:

• Are you sleeping better?
• Feeling less anxious?
• Noticing improved stamina during workouts?

These subtle improvements appear with regular practice.

Also, adjust your routine if needed. For example, some find CO2 inhalation gives them too much energy if done late at night, so they switch to mornings only.

By starting slow, listening to your body, and building consistency, you’ll set yourself up for a safe and rewarding CO2 therapy journey at home.

When I did my carbogen therapy, it would have been interesting to test some biomarkers like peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) and real time heart rate variability (HRV)

I would then get a grasp on what the CO2 therapy is actually doing before, during, and after the session.

A simple CO2 therapy routine for beginners

To tie everything together, here’s a sample routine you could follow using one or more of the at-home CO2 therapy methods.

Consider this a template. You can modify it to fit your schedule and the equipment you have.

Natural ways of utilizing CO2 therapy

You’d love to start on CO2 therapy at home, but you’re not quite ready yet to invest in expensive devices?

They can be costly. $700 plus the ongoing cost of new CO2 tanks for the CO2 Inhaler, and even more ($2,000) for the bodysuit.

But here’s the thing…

You don’t need expensive devices or spa treatments to start using CO2 in your daily life.

The body already produces CO2 naturally every time you breathe and move. With the right practices, you can harness that CO2 for therapeutic benefits for free or almost free!

Here are some ways to do it.

Practice CO2-tolerance breathing

Most of us over-breathe and blow off too much CO2, limiting oxygen release to tissues (the Bohr effect).

By learning to tolerate slightly higher CO2, you train your body to deliver oxygen more efficiently.

How to do it:

• Nasal breathing only – Breathe gently through your nose throughout the day. This conserves CO2 & promotes nitric oxide production
• Breath holds after exhale – Exhale normally, then hold your breath for at least 30 seconds or until you feel the first strong urge to breathe. Inhale calmly, rest, repeat. Start with 3-5 rounds
• Aim to build comfort with mild air hunger, not gasping

Regular practice gently conditions your body to stay calm with higher CO2, unlocking more efficient oxygen delivery.

Walk with breath holds

Movement + breath holding increases CO2 levels and trains your circulation to adapt. Athletes use this to boost endurance.

How to do it:

• While walking, exhale gently, hold your breath, & walk 10-20 steps
• Resume nasal breathing until recovered
• Repeat 5-10 times
• Aim to hold your breath for at least 30 seconds (without extreme discomfort) to create a noticeable buildup of CO2

Over time, this simple practice builds CO2 tolerance, strengthens circulation, and supports greater stamina.

Warm bath CO2 boost

CO2 dissolves more readily in warm water, and soaking increases circulation while helping retain CO2 in the blood.

How to do it (budget version):

• Take a warm bath (no need for special gas baths)
• Practice nasal breathing while soaking. Try box breathing or alternate nostril breathwork. Or simply exhale longer than you inhale (slows breathing rate & helps retain CO2)
• Or add breath holds after exhaling
• Optional: Add a mixture of 2 parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) & 1 part citric acid powder to your warm bath to produce CO2 bubbles
• Adding 1–2 cups of baking soda only will mimic the alkalinity of CO2 mineral baths

This easy ritual combines relaxation with a natural CO2 boost, leaving you refreshed while quietly supporting better blood flow.

Buteyko-style breath meditation

The Buteyko breathing method involves breathing more slowly and shallowly using the diaphragm (controlled, reduced breathing) instead of shallow chest breathing.

It was developed in the 1950s by Ukrainian doctor Konstantin Buteyko.

This method emphasizes nasal breathing, breath-holding, and relaxation to normalize breathing patterns and increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

How to do it:

• Sit comfortably, relax shoulders
• Breathe slowly through the nose
• Focus on making breaths smaller and gentler than normal, creating a slight “air hunger”
• Continue 5-10 minutes daily

Done consistently, this breathing protocol calms your nervous system, balances breathing, and raises your baseline CO2 tolerance.

Lifestyle changes to help the body retain CO2

Beyond breathwork and movement, your daily habits also influence how much CO2 your body retains.

Here are lifestyle tweaks that make a big difference to raising CO2 in your body:

• Posture: Slouching compresses breathing; sit tall to breathe lightly and prevent breathing out too much CO2
• Mouth-taping at night: If safe for you, this prevents over-breathing in sleep. Over-breathing leads to greater CO2 loss
• Eat slowly & chew well: Rushed eating often leads to over-breathing, again resulting in lowering your CO2 levels
• Reduce stimulants: Excess caffeine can cause rapid breathing & lower CO2

These small daily changes help preserve CO2, making every breath more efficient and restorative.

As you just saw, CO2 therapy doesn’t have to cost you a dime.

With breath work, movement, and simple lifestyle tweaks, you can train your body to retain and use CO2 more effectively.

Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll build your own “natural CO2 therapy” routine at home.

Stacks that go well with CO2 therapy

CO2 therapy stacks well with other health protocols like sauna, cold exposure, and light therapy. These have synergistic benefits such as getting more oxygen delivered where it matters with better vascular control and metabolic resilience.

With smart stacking, you get complementary mechanisms like nitric-oxide signaling, heat/cold stress adaptations, and hypoxia tolerance.

Evaluate how the stacks are working for you by tracking data like your HRV and SpO2.

Below is a table with 4 high-leverage stacks and exactly how to combine them with CO2 therapy.

CO2 therapy sets the stage for smarter oxygen delivery.

Stacking it with hypoxia preconditioning, strategic heat/cold, and light-driven nitric oxide release then trains the entire “delivery system” (vessels, mitochondria, and autonomic control) for stronger performance and recovery.

Start small, stack deliberately, and let the data guide your progression.

CO2 Therapy Safety Tips, Precautions, & Maintenance

CO2 therapy is considered safe when done properly, but it’s important to keep some safety tips and common-sense precautions in mind.

To make safety simple, I’ve gathered the most important precautions into one easy-to-scan chart. Review this before starting your first session.

When practiced responsibly, CO2 therapy is a safe and enjoyable addition to your health optimization routine.

Just keep these precautions and guidelines in mind, start gently, and you’ll set yourself up for a positive experience.

CO2 Therapy Questions & Answers

Here’s a roundup of commonly asked questions found on the web regarding CO2 therapy. I’ve answered them for your convenience and reference.

Harnessing CO2 Therapy for Optimal Health and Performance

Recent clinical studies continue to validate what ancient cultures intuitively knew:

CO2 exposure can be profoundly therapeutic.

They might not have had the same high-tech machines, but they used therapeutic CO2 other ways.

Trials have shown that:

• Transdermal CO2 improves walking distance in peripheral artery disease
• Carbogen inhalation boosts tissue oxygenation
• Topical applications accelerate wound healing

These findings reinforce carbon dioxide’s unique ability to enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and optimize oxygen delivery at the cellular level.

The science is still young, with small sample sizes and open questions on dosing, frequency, and long-term effects.

Beyond circulation and recovery and more interesting to me, CO2 therapy may have roles in:

• Managing chronic diseases
• Supporting healthy aging
• Working as an exercise mimetic

Its ability to stimulate angiogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and stress resilience make it a candidate for performance optimization and longevity.

Have you tried CO2 therapy? Let us know in the comments below.

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