From Discovery of Oxygen to gO2 therapy: A brief History of Oxygen

 In recent years, millions around the world are starting to learn about the benefits of supplemental oxygen. Much like drinks like energy drinks became widely accepted for energy-boosting in the 1980s after years of public education, portable supplemental oxygen is taking a similar path in terms of education, acceptance, and growth.

The journey from oxygen’s discovery in 1774 to gO2 therapy gaining popularity during the second wave of Covid in 2021 is certainly amazing. 

A Brief and Amazing History of Supplemental Oxygen 

The discovery of Oxygen: English chemist Joseph Priestly usually gets credit for discovering oxygen in 1774 – but it was German chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele who likely discovered the element back in 1773, but he didn’t publish the discovery until after Priestly made his announcement. 

Early references to supplemental oxygen: In 1776, Thomas Henry (a renowned surgeon and chemist) speculated that oxygen might become “as fashionable as French wine at the fashionable taverns”. He did not expect, however, that tavern goers would “relish calling for a bottle of air, instead of Claret” (a popular red wine at the time). Read more