Local acupuncturist introduces hyperbaric chamber to available treatments
- Chuck Thompson
- Aug 11, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 12, 2025
Imagine laying in a human-sized duffle bag, or hard cylinder. You’re calm, relaxed, breathing deeply, feeling the oxygen entering your blood stream. You’re more alert, poised, clear; even energetic. Maybe you’re reading a book or have your eyes closed while quietly listening to music or a podcast – perhaps you might even be scrolling through The Shelby Independent on your phone, enjoying reading the Sunday Column, or interested in a feature article, such as this one.
Where, exactly, are you?
You’re in a hyperbaric chamber.
If you have heard of these devices, they might seem like something from a science fiction movie, or only available to college and professional athletes or the wealthy, but that’s not true. Anyone can try out – and now, you can do it right here in Shelby.
A hyperbaric chamber, usually a cylinder device, but sometimes it can be an entire room, delivers hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to the user. The chamber is pressurized with air, and the patient receives more oxygen into the bloodstream, allowing it to reach areas of the body that may not receive enough oxygen due to injury or illness. This oxygen delivery through a hyperbaric chamber can help with healing wounds, control an infection and other conditions where oxygen is crucial for the body’s recovery.
Recently, Joe Bonacci, owner of All Seasons Acupuncture and Wellness, welcomed The Shelby Independent into his practice to peek at its new hyperbaric chamber.
Bonacci, a licensed acupuncturist and certified functional medical practitioner, explained the benefits of having a hyperbaric chamber right here in Shelby.
“It puts your body under pressure, forcing oxygen into a second carrier,” said Bonacci. “Normally, you only carry oxygen on your red blood cells; under pressure, it forces oxygen to your blood plasma.”
Bonacci said red blood cells sometimes have trouble getting in certain spaces in your body, such as behind inflammation, whereas the plasma can enter very easily.
“It reduces infections and heals tissue and can boost stem cell production and brain health,” noted Bonaci, stating all of this is FDA approved.
He continued, “Describing what oxygen does to your body is like describing what water does for your body. It is part of every single process that your body has. A lot of NFL athletes have this in their homes to help with pain and repair tissue.”
As for the public, while insurance only will cover it for very limited reasons, “Acute reasons,” as Bonacci states, he said it’s more affordable than most people might realize. They do accept VA insurance, which Bonacci said is beneficial for veterans.
“We’re more of a Shelby price than a large city price,” he said, stating that a session is anywhere between $110 to $120, and offers a ten-session package price for a thousand dollars. “We try to keep it priced to where it can be more accessible to the public.”
Bonacci said a session takes about an hour. It takes five minutes, or so, to get up to pressure and then the user is at pressure for about 45 minutes and then have to be brought down out of pressure for another five minutes.
The pressurization is like being on a plane, he explained, “When we pressurize it you have to clear your ears, but while you’re in the session it’s like being at cruising altitude and there’s nothing to it; and the same feeling of pressurization is felt when it is depressurized.”
He warns that if someone has severe congestion or the inability to clear your ears it should be taken into consideration before using the hyperbaric chamber.
Joe Banacci is a firm believer in hyperbaric chamber treatments.
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“My main goal is to ease human suffering so people can live their lives as they want to. I believe it makes a community stronger when people are healthier and happier.”
Bonacci, who has owned All Seasons Acupuncture and Wellness the past couple of years moved here with his wife, Jessi, and children from New Jersey. An avid outdoorsman and soccer player said his family has blended in well in Cleveland County and enjoy the many recreational outdoor activities found in the region and have been very welcomed by their church family at Elizabeth Baptist Church, Shelby.
“We’re out every weekend with the rescue dogs and the kids, enjoying nature,” he noted. “Also, having moved here, we really enjoy having the earlier Spring, being able to enjoy the outdoors for a longer period of time.”
“We really love it here in the small town, rural area, escaping the rat race of the bigger city.”
Bonacci has been fascinated by acupuncture since he was in college, changing his major to focus on acupuncture and functional medicine.
He originally began private practice in New Jersey within the offices of Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, headed by Dr. Peter Wenger and Dr. Richard Levandowski; both experienced Orthopedic Physicians whose resumes include past and current positions as Team Physicians for US Olympic Track & Field and US Olympic Rowing programs.
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Bonacci suggests anyone interested In a hyperbaric session to give them a call, 704-473-8528, or book an appointment, by calling or visiting their website at allseasonsacupuncture.com.
When arriving at the front desk, more than likely you will be greeted by Colleen, who has been employed with Bonacci for almost two years. Just tell Collen LaSalle you're there to check out the hyperbaric chamber and she will take it from there.
All Seasons Acupuncture and Wellness is located at N. Lafayette St., Ste 24, in Shelby.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter for The Shelby Independent.
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