We pay close attention to what we eat, how we move and how we sleep, yet the role oxygen plays in cellular energy is often overlooked. Originally designed to support the recovery of professional athletes, Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy (IHHT), sometimes called “cellular interval training”, guides the body through controlled cycles of lower oxygen (hypoxia) followed by higher oxygen (hyperoxia). The goal is not breathlessness or exertion, but cellular adaptation: a gentle stress signal, then an assisted recovery, repeated.
Why does that matter? Mitochondria, the cell’s power generators, are highly sensitive to oxygen availability. Research suggests these alternating oxygen phases can stimulate the body’s oxygen-sensing pathways and prompt “quality control” inside the cell, helping it clear out underperforming mitochondria (mitophagy) and support the function of healthier ones. In practical terms, that may translate into steadier energy, improved resilience to stress and clearer thinking.
The Vivamayr Clinic in London provides high-quality IHHT therapy, which can help
with fatigue, long COVID, metabolic syndrome and other conditions.
The evidence base is still evolving, but it is moving beyond sport. A 2023 clinical study in people with metabolic syndrome reported benefits from IHHT across multiple markers, using protocols that alternated hypoxic breathing (roughly 11 to 12% oxygen) with brief hyperoxic periods (around 30 to 35% oxygen) across a short course of sessions. In 2024, IHHT was also investigated in an inpatient rehabilitation context for long COVID, reflecting growing interest in its potential role in fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance and recovery. Clinical trials registered in early 2026 are continuing to explore IHHT for post-viral fatigue conditions including ME/CFS and long COVID symptoms.
A session typically lasts around 45 minutes. You relax in a reclining chair with a mask while a device adjusts the oxygen mix and monitors your response. Most people find it calming, though some notice mild air hunger during the hypoxic phases. Because oxygen therapies are not one-size-fits-all, reputable clinics screen for suitability, especially in pregnancy, acute illness, or uncontrolled heart or respiratory conditions.
An isolated session can feel noticeable, but a short course is usually recommended to support more durable shifts in energy, sleep quality and recovery. £150 / session at Vivamayr London Clinic in Harley Street.
Book a consulation: Tel. 0203 034 1331 | london@vivamayr.com
Author: Julia Pasarón
Photos © Stefan Leitner
Other restorative treatments recommended by I-M Inquisitive Minds include Contrast Therapy at the Kohler Waters Spa and Hydrotherapy at the Kronenhof Spa.
Show Comments +