Savannah clinic uses hyperbaric therapy to treat dementia, inflammation and more

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah physician is using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat conditions ranging from dementia to cancer recovery, saying the treatment works by activating genes that promote healing at the cellular level.

Dr. Allen Meglin, owner of the Advanced Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Savannah, said hyperbaric therapy — long associated with wound care — has applications across a wide range of diseases.

“By driving oxygen into cells, you stimulate the mitochondria in the cell,” Meglin said. “And the mitochondria signals the nucleus to turn on regenerative genes and turn off degenerative genes.”

Meglin said approximately 8,101 genes are turned on or off through hyperbaric therapy, making it what he described as “the strongest epigenetic tool we have.”

How the treatment works

Patients enter a pressurized chamber and breathe oxygen for approximately one hour per session. Meglin said the primary challenge for new patients is clearing their ears as pressure increases — similar to the sensation experienced during air travel, but in reverse.

Staff members remain outside the chamber throughout each session, monitoring patients and coaching them through the process. Meglin said the clinic conducts an initial test dive before beginning a full treatment plan.

“Once we know that they can dive, then they’ll come for two to three times a week for an hour each treatment,” he said.

Meglin said most patients sleep through their sessions. He added that the only significant risk is ear injury from failure to equalize pressure, which he said has not occurred at his clinic.

What patients can expect over time

Meglin said patients typically begin noticing changes after five to ten dives, including reduced inflammation and improved mood.

“A lot of cognitive issues, brain fog, anxiety, depression, worry — a lot of mood things are really a reflection of brain inflammation,” he said.

He said immune system enhancement tends to occur between 10 and 15 dives, and that after 20 to 40 dives, patients report significant improvements in overall energy and metabolism.

Meglin also said each session produces a shift from the body’s stress response — what he called “fight or flight” — to a restorative state.

Off-label use and consultations

Meglin said much of the therapy his clinic provides falls outside FDA-approved indications, meaning insurance typically does not cover it. He described the approach as treating patients “off-label.”

New patients spend several hours in consultation with Meglin and receive trial sessions with multiple treatment modalities, including red light therapy, pulsed electromagnetic fields and hyperbaric therapy, before a personalized treatment plan is developed.

The Advanced Regenerative Medicine Clinic can be reached at 912-403-4203. The clinic is located at 617 Stephenson Ave Ste 103, Savannah, GA.