Hydrogen Medicine

Hydrogen gas inhalation has been shown to significantly improve the survival rate of organ damaged septic mice by reducing levels of early and late pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and tissues.[1] Molecular hydrogen therapy is able to significantly reduce the release of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress injury thereby reducing damage of various organ functions that are so common with sepsis.[2]

Hydrogen has protected organisms against polymicrobial sepsis injury, acute peritonitis injury both by reducing oxidative stress and via decreasing mass pro-inflammatory responses. It is also known that most viral induced tissue damage and discomfort are mainly caused by an inflammatory cytokine storm and oxidative stress rather than by the virus itself. Same goes for fungus infections that bring on sepsis.

Studies have shown that suppressing the cytokine storm and reducing oxidative stress can significantly alleviate the symptoms of influenza and other severe viral infections diseases. Medical scientists thus hypothesize that hydrogen therapy to be a safe, reliable, and effective treatment for Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) induced by influenza and other viral infectious diseases.

Hydrogen gas inhalation significantly improved the survival rate and organ damage of septic mice with moderate or severe cecal ligation and puncture, by reducing levels of early and late pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and tissues.[3]

Hydrogen’s protective effect on sepsis has been proved by biopsy, levels of inflammatory factors/anti-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress reductions, behavioral experiment, and other related indicators of organ function. Molecular hydrogen therapy is able to significantly reduce the release of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress injury thereby reducing damage of various organ functions that are so common with sepsis.[4]

“Critically ill patients suffer from oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Although ROS/RNS are constantly produced under normal circumstances, critical illness can drastically increase their production. These patients have reduced plasma and intracellular levels of antioxidants and free electron scavengers or cofactors, and decreased activity of the enzymatic system involved in ROS detoxification. The pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance is of functional relevance during critical illness because it is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure.”[5] Hydrogen is the gas that directly and immediately addresses critical conditions resulting from massive oxidative stress.

Hydrogen works fast because of its small size and neutral footprint. “Inhalation of 1–4% hydrogen gas alleviated tissue damage and reduces infarct size. The blood and tissue levels of hydrogen reach saturation within 2 or 3 min after commencing inhalation of hydrogen gas.” Full tissue saturation takes longer, about 30 minutes but administration is constant.  

In the future oxygen should not be given without hydrogen as it presently is not given with carbon dioxide.

[1] Protective effects of hydrogen gas on murine polymicrobial sepsis via reducing oxidative stress and HMGB1 release. Xie K, Yu Y, Pei Y, Hou L, Chen S, Xiong L, Wang G. Shock. 2010 Jul; 34(1):90-7.

[2] Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. Volume 2016 (2016),

Molecular Hydrogen Therapy Ameliorates Organ Damage Induced by Sepsis

[3] Protective effects of hydrogen gas on murine polymicrobial sepsis via reducing oxidative stress and HMGB1 release. Xie K, Yu Y, Pei Y, Hou L, Chen S, Xiong L, Wang G. Shock. 2010 Jul; 34(1):90-7.

[4] Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. Volume 2016 (2016), Molecular Hydrogen Therapy Ameliorates Organ Damage Induced by Sepsis

[5] Crit Care. 2006; 10(5): R146. Oxidative stress is increased in critically ill patients according to antioxidant vitamins intake, independent of severity: a cohort study