Autoimmune & Inflammatory Conditions

Flares, fatigue and good days that don't last?

Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions can be unpredictable — symptoms that come and go, flares that arrive without warning, and fatigue that's hard to explain. Cocoon offers guided, at-home hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) that some people choose to explore as part of their wider wellbeing plan, alongside the care of their own specialist or medical team.

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A person relaxing calmly at home by a window

Does this sound familiar?

When your body feels unpredictable

Living with an autoimmune or inflammatory condition often means managing symptoms that change from day to day. If several of these feel familiar, you're not alone.

Fatigue Joint pain or stiffness Flares that come and go Brain fog Disrupted sleep Digestive issues Skin changes Muscle aches Feeling generally unwell

These are common experiences for people living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Your symptoms are best understood and managed with your own doctor or specialist — and some people also look for additional ways to support their wider wellbeing.

Understanding autoimmune conditions

Why autoimmune and inflammatory conditions affect the whole body

In autoimmune conditions, the immune system — which normally defends the body — mistakenly targets the body's own tissues. Many autoimmune conditions involve chronic inflammation that can affect different parts of the body over time, which is why symptoms can show up in many different places and change from day to day.

That's part of why these conditions can be so unpredictable, why flares come and go, and why they're diagnosed and managed individually with a specialist over the long term.

Many forms

Autoimmune conditions come in many forms

People contact us with a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Every condition is different, which is why any decision about additional therapies should be discussed with your own doctor or specialist.

Rheumatoid arthritis Lupus Psoriatic arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis Psoriasis Inflammatory bowel disease Multiple sclerosis Hashimoto's Chronic inflammation

About the therapy

Why some people explore HBOT alongside an autoimmune condition

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy isn't a cure for autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, and it doesn't replace the care of your specialist. But when symptoms are ongoing, some people choose to explore HBOT as one part of their wider wellbeing plan. Here's what it actually involves.

01

Oxygen under gentle pressure

During a session you breathe oxygen-enriched air while the chamber is gently pressurised, allowing more oxygen than usual to dissolve into your bloodstream.

02

Dissolved oxygen circulates through the body

That dissolved oxygen circulates in the blood throughout the time you spend in the chamber, reaching tissues around the body.

03

Part of a wider routine

People generally use HBOT as one part of a broader routine — alongside rest, the right medical care and the advice of their own health professionals.

Whether HBOT is a sensible fit depends entirely on your situation, and it isn't right for everyone. We'd always encourage you to talk with your specialist or medical team, and our team will talk it through with you honestly before you decide anything.

The Cocoon difference

Why at-home HBOT is different

Most hyperbaric therapy means travelling to a clinic for short, scheduled appointments. Cocoon brings the chamber to you — which changes how easily it fits into your life.

Traditional clinic-based HBOT

  • Travelling to and from each appointment
  • Fixed, limited session times
  • Fitting around the clinic's availability
  • Waiting rooms and parking

At home with Cocoon

  • Your chamber is installed in your own home
  • Unlimited sessions across your programme
  • Use it at the times that suit your day
  • No travel, no waiting rooms

Consistency is often one of the biggest challenges in any recovery programme. Having your chamber available at home can make it easier to build therapy into everyday life.

Dr Gary Dennis, founder of Cocoon Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Meet your guide

Guidance from Dr Gary Dennis

DC (USA) · MMC (AUS) · Dip HBOT (USA) · NZCA

Dr Gary Dennis has spent much of his career supporting people with complex and chronic health challenges, with a special interest in neurological recovery and dysautonomia. His own experience recovering from a serious brain injury led him to explore hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the role that consistent access can play within a broader recovery programme.

Every Cocoon programme begins with a personal conversation with Gary to understand your situation, answer your questions and determine whether at-home HBOT may be appropriate for your goals. From installation through to ongoing support, you'll have direct access to guidance throughout your programme.

How it works

Your Cocoon programme

Recovery takes time, and everyone's path is different. Here's how a Cocoon programme works — from the first conversation through to ongoing support.

1

Consultation

We start with a conversation about your symptoms, history and goals, to understand whether HBOT is a sensible fit for you.

2

Personalised HBOT programme

If it's appropriate, we map out a programme — session length, frequency, and how it fits around your routine.

3

At-home therapy

Your chamber is installed in your home, giving you convenient access to HBOT without travelling to appointments or fitting sessions around clinic schedules.

4

Ongoing support

We stay in touch throughout your programme, checking in and adjusting your plan as you go.

A Cocoon hyperbaric chamber set up in a calm home room

What you can count on

Why people managing autoimmune conditions choose Cocoon

Guided by Dr Gary Dennis

Every programme is personally guided from your first conversation through to ongoing support.

Consistent access at home

Daily access makes it easier to stay consistent with your programme and fit sessions around your life.

Delivery & setup included

Your chamber is delivered, installed and explained by our team so you can get started with confidence.

Ongoing support

Regular check-ins throughout your programme mean you're never left to navigate the process alone.

Common questions

Autoimmune conditions & HBOT, answered

What is an autoimmune condition?
In an autoimmune condition, the immune system mistakenly targets the body's own tissues rather than only defending against outside threats. This can cause ongoing inflammation and a wide range of symptoms. There are many different autoimmune conditions, and each is diagnosed and managed by a doctor or specialist.
Why do autoimmune and inflammatory conditions flare?
Flares — periods where symptoms get worse — are a common feature of many of these conditions. They can be linked to things like stress, illness or poor sleep, and sometimes happen for no clear reason. Your specialist is the best person to help you understand and manage your own flares.
What does inflammation have to do with it?
Many autoimmune conditions involve ongoing inflammation, which is part of why symptoms can appear in different parts of the body and change over time. Understanding and managing that is something to work through with your medical team.
Can HBOT help with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions?
We can't claim that, and HBOT isn't a cure. Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions are managed by your doctor or specialist. Some people choose to explore HBOT as one part of their wider wellbeing plan, but whether it's appropriate for you is individual — and it's something to discuss alongside, not instead of, your specialist's care.
Why do people with autoimmune conditions explore HBOT?
People explore HBOT for different reasons. Some are looking for ways to support their wider wellbeing, while others are simply researching the options available alongside the care of their medical team. Whether it's appropriate depends entirely on the individual.
Can I use HBOT alongside my medication and treatment?
Any decisions about your treatment and medication should always be made with your specialist or medical team — HBOT isn't a replacement for them. If you're considering it, it's worth discussing with the people who manage your care, and every Cocoon programme starts with a conversation to check whether it's appropriate.
What does a typical HBOT programme at Cocoon involve?
A typical Cocoon programme runs over about six weeks using a chamber installed in your home. Session length and frequency are mapped out with you based on your situation, so the routine fits around everyday life.
Is HBOT safe?
HBOT is generally well tolerated, but it isn't suitable for everyone and there are some conditions where it isn't recommended. That's why every programme starts with a conversation — and, for autoimmune conditions, we'd want you to have input from your specialist — to check whether it's appropriate for you.
Is it covered by insurance?
Coverage varies and isn't guaranteed. Some people check with their private insurer about whether any support is available. We're happy to provide information you can pass on, but we can't advise on individual claims.

Talk to us

Find out whether HBOT could fit your wellbeing plan

Have a conversation with our team about your situation, and we'll help you work out whether an at-home HBOT programme is a sensible fit alongside your specialist's care. No pressure, no obligation.

Talk to our team

Call 022 067 2277  ·  info@cocoon.net.nz

“The cocoon hyperbaric oxygen chamber is sensational. I don't know, but feel sure, that it has been a life saver.”

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- Anne