What Is Ozone Therapy?

Ozone therapy, sometimes called “ozonotherapy,” is a longstanding medical procedure, in which a reactive form of oxygen, ozone (or “O3”), is administered to promote a therapeutic effect in the body. Ozone therapy can help boost immune responses to infectious diseases, help with the pain associated with and effects of arthritis, and assist with a range of other conditions. The use of ozone to treat various medical conditions was first developed in Germany in the early 1950’s. Today, medical ozone therapy is common throughout Europe, and its use has gradually been spreading in North America over the last 25 years.

Medical Properties of Ozone

Ozone has five properties that account for why it works so well.

Ozone is a potent regulator of the immune system. This means that when the immune system is overactive (as in auto-immune disease), ozone will calm it down. Conversely, when the immune system is under active (as in cancer, AIDS, and chronic infections), ozone will stimulate it. This unique ability of ozone stem from its action on the membranes of white cells that cause them to produce immune related messenger molecules called cytokines. Example of cytokines are gamma interferon, interleukin-2, colony stimulator factor, and TNF-alpha just to name a few.

Ozone stimulates increased uptake of oxygen by stimulating the enzyme diphosphoglycerate (DPG). DPG enable the release of oxygen from the hemoglobin molecule so that it can be taken up into the cell. In the absence of an adequate amount of DPG, our cells become starved for oxygen. This is a common problem in diabetics and in patients with cancer.

Ozone improves circulation. It does this by enhancing the flow characteristics of blood. This effect enables more of the oxygen carrying hemoglobin to reach the capillaries where ultimately the cells will receive more of the oxygen they require. Almost all patients with cancer have impaired circulation.

Ozone increases antioxidant protection more than any other therapy, even vitamin C therapy. Most people with cancer have deficient antioxidant defenses.

Ozone is a powerful stimulator of cellular energy production. This is even true of cancer cells. So, it has the potential to correct the fundamental cause of cancer as discussed above, decreased energy production. Several published studies have shown that ozone controls cancer growth and even kills cancer cells by causing them to increase their energy production. 

Based on the above five properties, ozone can:

• Activate the immune system in infections
• Improves oxygen utilization in cells to reduce ischemia in cardiovascular disease
• Cause release of growth factors that stimulate joints and degenerative discs to regenerate
• Can reduce or eliminate chronic pain through its action on pain receptors
• Inhibits tumor metabolism and destroy malignant cells by oxidizing the outer lipid layer
• Reduce edema, joint swelling and compression on nerve root structures (Anti-inflammatory properties)

Conditions Treated

Ozone therapy, sometimes called “ozonotherapy,” is a longstanding medical procedure, in which a reactive form of oxygen, ozone (or “O3”), is administered to promote a therapeutic effect in the body. Ozone therapy can help boost immune responses to infectious diseases, help with the pain associated with and effects of arthritis, and assist with a range of other conditions. The use of ozone to treat various medical conditions was first developed in Germany in the early 1950’s. Today, medical ozone therapy is common throughout Europe, and its use has gradually been spreading in North America over the last 25 years.

• Artery diseases: Systemic inflammation results from the body’s immune response to a range of diseases. Most significantly, it results from diseases of the arteries, including stroke, peripheral artery diseases like chronic limb ischemia (in which arms and legs aren’t getting enough blood supply), and the lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), among others. Prolonged ozone therapy is effective to help with these conditions.
• Cardiovascular diseases: Ozone therapy can help promote heart health in cases of coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
• Orthopedic and Traumatology: Especially with conditions that involve erosion of joints, such as osteoarthritis of the knee or elbow, ozone therapy help. It is also highly recommended for spinal diseases (disc herniation, spondylolysis, disc arthrosis, lumbar and cervical pain), plantar fasciitis, carpal and tarsal tunnel, tendinopathies (tennis elbow, painful shoulder and rotator cuff tendinopathy), fibromyalgia and painful disorders of musculoskeletal soft tissue. Direct application to affected areas via injection help greatly to reduce pain over the long term.
• Immune system disorders: Patients with chronic and progressive immune system disorders such as fatigue disorder, or other autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, IBD) may consider this approach for pain relief. In addition, ozone may be effective to help with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Gastrointestinal disorders:Studies have shown efficacy in taking on chronic hepatitis C (HCV), liver cirrhosis, and gastrointestinal ulcers.
• Skin diseases: Ozonized solutions and ozonized oils have been used for the treatment of mycosis (athlete’s foot, onychomycosis), bacterial infection (Helicobacter Pylori, Staphylococcus Aureus), viral diseases (herpes zoster), eczema and atopic dermatitis, bedsores, chronic wounds, diabetic foot ulcer, psoriasis,
• Neurological disorders: Ozone therapy can assist brain cells in combating degenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Cancer: Outside the U.S., ozone therapy is considered a standard approach to help combat the cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy/radio therapy side effects when integrated with the conventional treatment.

Process

Ozone therapy is an in-clinic treatment, and, in most cases, it requires multiple visits. There are several different ways it’s delivered:

Autohemotherapy: The most popular method of the therapy, this approach involves extracting a predetermined amount of blood, delivering ozone to this sample, and then reinjecting it back into your bloodstream.  

Direct injection: Especially for cases involving joint, neck, or back pain, the ozone may be injected directly into the affected area (Intramuscular, Paravertebral and Intra-Articular injection).

Insufflation: This method involves using a specialized device to blow the ozone into a body cavity, such as the nose, mouth, rectum, or vagina.

Gasification in Plastic Bag: For cases of diabetic foot ulcers or other skin problems, the affected area is enclosed in a sealed pouch, which is flooded with ozone gas.

Subcutaneous (Mesotherapy) Application: This application is used for cosmetic purposes in acne, cellulitis.

Ophthalmologic: This approach is used in ophthalmological cases (keratitis, corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis and ocular burns).

Topical Application of Water, Oil and Ozonized Creams: Ozone in water and ozonized oil are applied on ulcers, dirty traumatic lesions, fungal infections, insect stings, several infected lesions, dental infections.

Sauna Cabin or Quasi-Total-Body Exposure to Ozone: This treatment combines steam vapor with O2/O3 for detoxification, aesthetic medicine, stress relaxation and muscle tension, improve blood circulation, total body infective diseases, and psoriasis.