Oxygen therapy has been promoted as a promising remedy for various ailments, and as people age, the promise of such a ‘remedy’ to remain young can be tempting. However, dozens of elderly residents in Kanpur fell for this scheme, losing crores of rupees when a couple claimed they could help them regain their youth.

Two fraudsters, Rajeev Dubey and his wife Rashmi, reportedly earned around Rs 35 crore from a fraudulent scheme. They are believed to have fled abroad after their activities came to light.The couple operated a therapy centre in Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur, where they offered “oxygen-therapy” using an “Israel-made time machine.” 

Each session of the therapy was priced at a substantial Rs 90,000. This high cost was part of the fraudulent scheme, where the couple convinced people that the “oxygen therapy” using an “Israel-made time machine” could reverse the effects of ageing, leading many to pay large sums in hopes of regaining their youth.

The accused also provided discounts to individuals who referred more customers to them. According to the police, the couple misled people by claiming that their ageing was due to the “extremely high pollution levels” in Kanpur.

The primary complainant, Renu Singh, reported being defrauded of Rs 10.75 lakh, according to reports. The police have registered a cheating case against the couple under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

What is oxygen therapy?

Oxygen therapy for the skin can refer to either hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often used for wound treatment, or oxygen facials, a non-invasive skincare method. 

oxygen therapy
Image Source: Northwestern Medicine

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing the body in an environment with 100% oxygen at higher-than-normal pressure, usually inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This treatment helps accelerate the healing process for wounds. Other than this, Oxygen therapy involves oxygen facial, a kind of skin treatment in which pure oxygen that is pressurised is applied to the skin to be treated. This helps tackle many skin problems such as wrinkles and fine lines. This treatment is so popular among many celebrities.

Can oxygen therapy really reverse aging?

Oxygen therapy may help minimise the visible signs of ageing, but there is no definitive research proving that they can actually reverse the ageing process. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can reverse the shortening of telomeres, reduce harmful senescent cells, and improve physical fitness by increasing VO2Max, which typically declines with age. It also helps with vascular issues in the elderly and can enhance cognition after a stroke.

While oxygen therapy shows potential in addressing certain aspects of ageing, such as improving physical fitness, vascular health, and cognition, there is still no conclusive evidence that it can fully reverse the ageing process. Further research is needed to fully understand its long-term effects and benefits.

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