Hydrogen Inhalation

• Each hydrogen inhalation provides many days of therapeutic protective benefits.

• Hydrogen has NO known biological toxicity and no side effects.

Hydrogen Research

There is over 1500 published papers on the benefits of molecular hydrogen in health and wellness. As of August 2020, there are more than 700 on-going studies related to molecular hydrogen on clinicaltrials.gov. indicating that hydrogen therapy (inhalation and drinking hydrogen rich water) is highly beneficial. 

It also proved useful as an effective adjunct to radiation and chemotherapy treatments as it will effectively detox the chemical residue from the body.

A 2001 study found that breathing high-pressure H2 could reduce liver inflammation and was the first demonstration of the anti-inflammatory properties of H2.

Hydrogen enriched water reduces muscle fatigue after intense exercise. This is because it reduced lactic acid buildup, which improved muscle function.

In recent research papers, hydrogen is effective in anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, chemotherapy side effects, competency of athletes, and acceleration of energy metabolism.

Being exposed to chronic stress at workplace, our sympathetic nerves become overly activated, resulting in not being able to fall asleep at night. Even after falling asleep with much effort, shallow sleep is repeated, which is insufficient for the brain to recover from the stress that it received throughout the day. 

Hydrogen inhalation has an effect of creating a balance between sympathetic nerves and parasympathetic nerves, hence calming down the brain. If parasympathetic nerve is activated, NON REM sleep is achieved, which leads to good quality of sleep that recovers mind and body’s fatigue. ( “study on the acute effect of hydrogen inhalation on the human body” (Yamanashi University, Japan, General research center, part of Dr. Koyama Katsuhiro’s study))

Deep sleep stimulates release of hormones and enhances the immune system.

Research Suggests that Hydrogen is Beneficial for the Following Organs and Systems:

• Pancreas
• Cardiovascular system
• Musculoskeletal system
• Auto-Immune Diseases
• Immune system
• Nervous system
• Endocrine system
• Eyes
• Hydrogen has NO known biological toxicity and no side effects

Hydrogen the Master Antioxidant

Hydrogen is the safe and effective inhalation of less than 10% Hydrogen gas.  What is unique about the hydrogen molecule is that it can penetrate the membrane or barrier designed to control what particles are allowed in and out of the cell.

Because hydrogen is so small it can diffuse freely across these membranes, even the blood-brain barrier. Hydrogen seems to work at the nuclear gene transcription level.

Persistent oxidative stress is one of the major causes of most lifestyle-related diseases, cancer and the aging process. Hydrogen anti-oxidation is much more powerful than common antioxidants such as vitamin C, carrot, lecithin etc.  200ml hydrogen Water has same antioxidant level as 100 fresh lemons.

The molecular hydrogen is the lightest molecule in the universe. For reference, vitamin C (176.2 g/mole) weighs 88 times more than hydrogen gas (2 g/mole). Therefore, hydrogen water at a concentration of 1.6 mg/L would have more “antioxidant” molecules than 100 mg of vitamin C, as there are more total molecules in 1.6 mg of hydrogen compared 100 mg of vitamin C.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, constituting nearly 75% of the universe’s mass.

Hydrogen Inhalation Q&A

When and for how long do we inhale hydrogen?

It takes around 20 minutes for hydrogen to reach cells in all parts of your body. In hospitals and clinics in Japan, depending on the patient’s condition, hydrogen inhalation is performed for about 1 hour, 1 to 3 times a day.

• For athletes, pre/post-exercise, once each, 60~90 minutes per session
• 60 minutes prior to sleep for severe insomnia
• for normal health, once or twice a day (morning and night) 30~60 minutes per session
• For patients during chemotherapy, brain diseases like Parkinson’s, or autoimmune diseases, 4~6 hours (during sleep) (the more the better, and less side effects)

Is drinking hydrogen water different from hydrogen inhalation?

Usually, 0.001g of hydrogen is present in 1ℓ (half of a large water bottle) of hydrogen water. This is barely a trace of hydrogen, and the size is similar to a peck of dust. Scientifically, in room temperature/pressure, maximum amount of hydrogen that can dissolve in 1 liter of water is 1.6mg (0.0016g). However, using 60 minutes of 600ml/min, a hydrogen generator for inhalation purpose, is equivalent of drinking 18,000 bottles of 2-liter hydrogen water bottles. If you use hydrogen for treatment or health purposes, hydrogen inhalation is the key.  In addition, as distilled water is required in the Hydrogen Generator tank, so if you made 2 liters of H2 water with the machine, that would require about 3 to 4 liters of distilled water daily.  Whereas hydrogen inhalation requires very little distilled water in the device.

What does hydrogen inhalation do to the human body?

It reverts overly produced active oxygen in the body, and acts as an anti-oxidant in cell signaling system within molecular cells. Especially during chemotherapy, it acts as a strong antioxidant and manages chemotherapy side-effects, and maintains immunity. (“From the study of terminal cancer patients by Dr. Junji Akagi, medical treatment center in Tama, Japan”)

Does hydrogen inhalation help with chronic fatigue?

In a study of “hydrogen and oxygen gas mixture inhalation on chronic fatigue and fatigue from high intensity exercise”, it has proven that inhalation mitigates fatigue until one day after the inhalation. (Yamanshi University, Japan, General research center, from Dr. Koyama Katsuhiro’s study)

26 Amazing Hydrogen Health Benefits

1) Antioxidant and Brain-Protective Effects

It was first shown that molecular hydrogen (H2) could protect from damage by reducing the most toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. Inhaled hydrogen also easily reached the brain to reduce injury in rats with stroke [R].
In the first pilot study of 38 stroke patients, a hydrogen solution (IV) was safe and had a mild antioxidant effect [R].
In a small study (DB-RCT) of 17 patients with Parkinson’s disease, those who drank hydrogen water had improved symptoms. Those who drank regular “placebo” water, however, experienced a worsening. There were also no adverse effects to drinking 1L of hydrogen water daily for almost one year [R].
No study so far has looked at the effect of hydrogen water alone on Parkinson’s Disease, though. In the completed studies, patients drank hydrogen water as an add-on to regular medications (L-Dopa) [R+].
In rats, hydrogen water reduced oxidative stress and prevented Parkinson’s Disease. Curiously, hydrogen seems to achieve better results with lower doses. Rats who drank hydrogen water did better than those who constantly received higher amounts of hydrogen intravenously [R].
Hydrogen water prevented cognitive, learning, and memory problems in mice under stress by acting as an antioxidant. It also protected cells in the brain’s memory hub – the hippocampus – from the detrimental effects of stress [R].
Hydrogen water could potentially be used to prevent cognitive and stress-induced disorders with more research.

2) Mood Disorders

Hydrogen water restored the natural growth of brain cells in mice. Since this also happens in people who overcome depression (with antidepressants or otherwise), hydrogen water has the potential for improving depression and other mood disorders [R, R].

3) Suppressing Inflammation

In one pilot study, 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis drank 0.5 L/day of hydrogen water for 4 weeks. By the end of the study, all patients with early rheumatoid arthritis achieved remission and 20% became symptom-free [R, R].
Molecular hydrogen (H2) also had anti-inflammatory effects in many animal studies [R, R].

4) Muscle Fatigue and Weakness

In an experiment with 10 young athletes (DB-CT), drinking hydrogen water reduced lactic acid build-up during heavy exercise and decreased muscle fatigue [R].
Drinking 2 L of hydrogen water daily helped 8 cyclists power through sprints with more energy and less exhaustion in one small 2-week study [R].
In a study on mice with a serious muscle-wasting disease (Duchenne muscular dystrophy), hydrogen water prevented abnormal body mass gain and increased the production of the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase. Hydrogen water could potentially improve muscular dystrophy in DMD patients [R].

5) Preventing Metabolic Syndrome

Hydrogen water reduced fatty liver in mice with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and those fed a high-fat diet. It also boosted energy use and reduced levels of glucose, insulin, and triglycerides [R].
In rats, hydrogen water could prevent hardening of the arteries, atherosclerosis [R].
In a pilot study on patients prone to metabolic syndrome, drinking hydrogen water (1.5 – 2 L/day) for 8 weeks increased in HDL-cholesterol and decreased total cholesterol [R].

6) Boosting Weight Loss

Long-term drinking of hydrogen water helped lose body fat and weight in rats. It boosted burning fats and sugars for energy, without any change in diet. In fact, drinking hydrogen water had similar effects on the body as calorie restriction [R].

7) Hydrogen Water Enhances Energy Metabolism

Drinking hydrogen water protected the body’s energy powerhouse, the mitochondria, in several studies of 41 people with muscle diseases. They drank 0.5 – 1 L of hydrogen water per day [R].
Drinking hydrogen water also stimulated energy metabolism in mice [R].

8) Diabetes

Drinking hydrogen water decreased cholesterol, improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in a study (DB-RCT) of 36 patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance). The patients drank 900 mL of hydrogen water daily for 8 weeks [R].
Although it may be a safe way to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, drinking sufficient amounts of regular water alone may be helpful enough. Low water intake is linked to an increased risk of high blood sugar [R].

9) May Alkalize the Body

Metabolic acidosis is when the blood drops and becomes more acidic, which can happen from intense exercise. Drinking 2 L of hydrogen water daily increased the blood p
H before and after exercise after 2 weeks with no side effects in a study of 52 healthy, active men (DB-RCT). Hydrogen water was safe and had an alkalizing effect on the blood that can neutralize the post-exercise pH dip [R].

10) Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation

In one study (RCT) of 49 patients on radiation therapy for liver cancer, drinking hydrogen water (1.5 – 2 L/day) improved the patients’ quality of life and appetite. Hydrogen water could reduce oxidative stress and damage from radiation without compromising its therapeutic effects [R].
In mice, drinking hydrogen water increased survival, reduced kidney damage and weight loss from a chemotherapy drug (cisplatin) [R].

11) Boosts Skin Health

Hydrogen water given through an IV solution safely improved skin health in 4 patients with skin redness and inflammation, and pain. The skin redness went away after a couple of days of treatment and did not come back [R].
Bathing in hydrogen water for 3 months noticeably reduced skin wrinkles in 6 people. Hydrogen water could also boost collagen production, reduce UV damage and act as an antioxidant in skin cells. Warm hydrogen-infused baths could be a pleasant, safe way to reverse skin aging [R].

12) Enhances Wound Healing

Hydrogen water intake via tube feeding in elderly patients reduced the wound size of pressure ulcers and enhanced recovery [R].

13) Improves Bladder Health

In rats with a blockage in the bladder, drinking hydrogen water reduced bladder volume by neutralizing oxidative stress. It also improved the responsiveness of bladder muscles. As a strong antioxidant, hydrogen water could potentially help those with a bladder obstruction [R].

14) Protects The Heart

In diabetic mice, hydrogen water significantly improved heart health and prevented heart disease. It could become a nutritional intervention for preventing heart problems in people with diabetes [R].

15) Protects the Eyes

Hydrogen-loaded eye drops aided the recovery of eye injuries caused by high eye pressure in rats. It protected the nerves in the eye by its antioxidant action [R].
A hydrogen solution reduced detrimental blood vessel growth in mice with eye injuries from chemicals. Hydrogen solutions could be used as a first-aid eye rinse to prevent blindness from chemical burns [R].

16) Prevents Hearing Loss

Hearing loss often results from oxidative damage (due to aging, noise, or drugs). Molecular hydrogen protected the cells responsible for hearing from this damage and increased their survival [R].
In guinea pigs, hydrogen water prevented the death of cells responsible for hearing after noise exposure. Hydrogen water could potentially protect against hearing loss caused by noise or other types of oxidative stress [R, R, R].

17) Combats Allergies

Drinking hydrogen water stopped immediate-type allergic reactions in mice. These occur within a couple of minutes and are more characteristic of Th2 dominance. Hydrogen stopped the allergies not only by its antioxidant action but also by blocking the whole allergic pathway [R].
Hydrogen water is a promising potential remedy for people with allergic, inflammatory conditions like eczema as it seems to balance the immune response. In mice with eczema, hydrogen water improved symptoms by suppressing inflammation and balancing both Th1 and Th2 responses [R].

18) Protects the Kidneys

Hydrogen-rich water protected the kidneys from damage in rats. It could reduce oxidative stress, improve kidney blood flow and function (lowering creatinine and BUN) [R+].
Hydrogen added to the dialysis solution reduced inflammation and high blood pressure in 21 patients on dialysis because of kidney failure [R].

19) Protects the Liver

In 60 patients with Hepatitis B (RCT), drinking hydrogen water as an add-on to regular treatment was safe and reduced oxidative stress [R].
Drinking hydrogen water suppressed liver scarring in mice by protecting liver cells from free-radical damage [R].
Hydrogen water also significantly improved liver function and reduced oxidative stress in patients with chronic hepatitis B [R].

20) Gut Health

Hydrogen-rich water prevented damage to the stomach lining
in rats by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Hydrogen water could potentially protect healthy individuals from gut damage [R, R].

21) Lungs

Rats who drank hydrogen water were protected against lung tissue injury. Hydrogen water reduced inflammation and oxidative stress (by reducing NF-κB) [R].

22) Could Protect from Radiation

Molecular hydrogen has the potential to be used as a safe radioprotective remedy. Giving mice hydrogen water before radiation increased their survival rates and protected the heart from damage [R].
Hydrogen also increased the survival of white blood cells exposed to radiation [R].

23) May Relieve Pain

Drinking hydrogen water could reduce neuropathic pain in mice due to its well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Clinical trials would need to confirm this success, but hydrogen water holds promise for safely improving otherwise hard-to-treat neuropathic pain [R].

24) Longevity

The ability of molecular hydrogen to protect the DNA and the mitochondria from oxidative damage may have beneficial effects on chronic diseases. A couple of cellular studies give us some interesting clues [R, R].
It was already discovered that hydrogen can prolong the life of stem cells by reducing oxidative stress [R].
A hydrogen-rich environment reduced both oxidative stress and aging in cells. Some scientists think that drinking hydrogen water could increase longevity in humans.  [R].

25) May Kill Bacteria and Improve Oral Health

Drinking hydrogen water 4 – 5X daily improved gum health in 13 patients with inflamed gums after 8 weeks. It also boosted blood antioxidants and enhanced the effects of other gum disease treatments [R].
Hydrogen water could kill the bacteria that most commonly cause gum disease and cavities. It could be used to improve overall oral health [R].

26) Preserves Transplant Organs

Hydrogen water could help preserve and reduce damage to transplant organs without any toxic effects. It reduced the inflammation and injury that usually happens when donated organs are stored, which could help save more lives [R].

 Mechanism of Action and Genetics

Hydrogen has the unique capability of entering cells and even tiny structures within the cells (organelles), such as the mitochondria and nucleus (where DNA is stored). Other molecules cannot penetrate this deep into cells [R, R].

Hydrogen water affects various pathways, such as:

• Decreasing inflammatory cytokines (TNF alpha and gamma, IL-6, IL-1 beta, IL-10, IL-12, NF-κB) [R].
• Reducing the activity of inflammation-related genes (i-NOS, VEGF, CCL2, ICAM-1, PGE2) [R].
• Boosting energy metabolism (increasing FGF21) [R].
• Increasing ghrelin, which can also lower inflammation [R].
• Activating detox genes (Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1) [R].

Safety, Dosage, Side effects

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has no known side effects. It’s not toxic even at high concentrations. In fact, it seems that smaller amounts of molecular hydrogen have a stronger, more beneficial effect than very high amounts. However, the long-term risks remain unknown until additional studies are carried out [R].

In most clinical studies, people drank 0.5 – 2 L of hydrogen water daily.

After drinking hydrogen water, about 40% of the H2 is absorbed by the body [R+].