MYTH BUSTED: Do Oxygen Bars Actually Improve Your Health?
- Rebecca Nolan Harris, PhD
- Oct 5
- 4 min read
The Verdict: BUSTED 🚫
You've probably seen them at malls, spas, or trendy wellness centers—oxygen bars promising to boost your energy, relieve stress, cure hangovers, and enhance your overall well-being. For about a dollar a minute, you can breathe "purified" oxygen through a nasal cannula, often infused with pleasant scents like lavender or peppermint. But do these claims hold up to scientific scrutiny?
Spoiler alert: They don't.
What the Science Actually Says about Oxygen Bars
The Problem: You're Already Maxed Out
Here's the thing about healthy lungs: they're already doing their job perfectly. When you breathe normal air (which contains 21% oxygen), your blood is already 99% saturated with oxygen.
Think of it like trying to fill up a gas tank that's already full—there's simply nowhere for the extra oxygen to go. As one medical expert put it: "If you're healthy, you're already saturated. You're not going to be any more saturated just because you're breathing in additional oxygen."
The Research: Zero Benefits Found
Multiple studies have tested oxygen bar claims:
Energy, relaxation, and stress? A 2012 randomized study found oxygen bars had NO effect on participants' energy, relaxation, or stress levels.
Any measurable difference? A 2004 Indiana University study comparing oxygen to regular compressed air found no significant differences in oxygen saturation, heart rate, or well-being.
What about those positive testimonials? Researchers believe any perceived benefits are due to the placebo effect—if you think it's helping, you might feel better temporarily.
What Medical Experts Say
Dr. George Boyer, chief of pulmonary and critical care at Mercy Medical Center, states bluntly: "There has been no scientific research that this extra shot of pure oxygen has any benefits".
Even more concerning, the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists issued a position statement saying they "cannot ethically or morally support providing oxygen therapy to those who do not require it".
The Hidden Dangers
While oxygen bars are generally safe for healthy people during brief sessions, there are real risks:
🚨 Dangerous for Certain Medical Conditions
People with COPD, emphysema, congestive heart failure, or asthma should NEVER use oxygen bars—excess oxygen can cause carbon dioxide narcosis, which can be deadly.
🦠 Infection Risk
Improperly sanitized nasal cannulas and tubes can spread upper respiratory infections. Not all oxygen bars use disposable equipment or follow proper cleaning protocols.
💨 Lung Inflammation
The FDA warns that aromatic oil droplets can be inhaled, potentially causing lung inflammation.
🔥 Fire Hazard
High oxygen concentrations dramatically increase fire risk and make flames burn hotter and faster.
⚖️ Technically Illegal
Plot twist: Under federal law, oxygen administered by another person is classified as a prescription drug, meaning oxygen bars violate FDA regulations. The FDA just chooses not to enforce this strictly. Massachusetts has banned them outright Policy on oxygen bars in Massachusetts | Mass.gov.
The Bottom Line
MYTH: Oxygen bars boost energy, reduce stress, and improve wellness.
REALITY: For healthy individuals, there is little harm but also absolutely no scientific evidence of benefit. You're essentially paying for expensive air and a placebo effect.
Our Recommendation
Save your money. If you want to feel energized and relaxed:
Take a walk in fresh air (it's free!)
Practice deep breathing exercises
Get adequate sleep
Stay hydrated
If you're experiencing fatigue, headaches, or breathing problems, see a doctor—not an oxygen bar.
The medical community is clear: Oxygen bars are recreational entertainment at best, and potentially harmful pseudoscience at worst. Your healthy lungs are already giving you all the oxygen you need.
References & Further Reading
Scientific Studies
Repsher, L. et al. (2012). "Oxygen bar effectiveness: a randomized quantitative study." The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc. PubMed PMID: 22754923.
Chu, D.K., Kim, L.H., Young, P.J., et al. (2018). "Mortality and morbidity in acutely ill adults treated with liberal versus conservative oxygen therapy (IOTA): a systematic review and meta-analysis." The Lancet, 391(10131), 1693-1705. Referenced in: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30546-4/fulltext
Bennett, M.H., French, C., Schnabel, A., Wasiak, J., Kranke, P., & Weibel, S. (2015). "Normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment and prevention of migraine and cluster headache." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005219.pub3
Medical & Healthcare Resources
Healthline. "Oxygen Bar: Benefits, Risks, What to Expect, Cost, and More" (March 25, 2019) https://www.healthline.com/health/oxygen-bar
WebMD. "The Rise of Oxygen Bars" (June 24, 2002)
Cleveland Clinic. "Supplemental Oxygen Therapy: Types, Benefits & Complications" (September 6, 2023)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23194-oxygen-therapy
Medical News Today. "Oxygen for emphysema: Benefits, types, and risks" (March 8, 2022)
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/oxygen-for-emphysema
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. "Does Oxygen in a Can Deliver on Its Altitude and Energy Claims?" (December 20, 2024)
Government & Regulatory Resources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Review Guidelines for Oxygen Generators and Oxygen Equipment for Emergency Use"
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "Policy on oxygen bars in Massachusetts"
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/policy-on-oxygen-bars-in-massachusetts
Quackwatch. "Oxygen Bars: Is a Breath of Fresh Air Worth It?" (November 4, 2002)
Academic Medical Literature
Abdo, W.F. & Heunks, L.M.A. (2012). "Oxygen-induced hypercapnia in COPD: myths and facts." Critical Care, 16, 323.
Brill, S.E. & Wedzicha, J.A. (2014). "Harms of overoxygenation in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." Canadian Medical Association Journal, 186(11), E428.
Acott, C. (1999). "Oxygen Toxicity." StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing (Updated 2023).
Additional Resources
American Lung Association. "Oxygen Therapy"
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/oxygen-therapy
Divers Alert Network (DAN). "FDA Prescription Exemption: Oxygen Fills for Emergency Use" (April 30, 2024)
Have you tried an oxygen bar? Did you feel any effects? Let us know in the comments—we'd love to hear about your placebo experience! 😉