Ozone therapy is a medical treatment that increases the amount of oxygen in the body through the introduction of ozone. Ozone is a colorless gas made up of three atoms of oxygen (O3) whereas the oxygen molecule we breathe is made up of two atoms of oxygen (O2)
With its healing properties, oxygen is crucial to our well-being. It can be a real game-changer where health and wellness are concerned. In fact, ozone therapy plays a key role in my practice as well, helping to rejuvenate and heal the body from patients’ very first session. When it comes to improving immune health, ozone therapy can be highly beneficial.
How Does Ozone Therapy Work?
Before we discuss ozone therapy, let’s briefly discuss ozone specifically. You’ve probably heard of ozone in an environmental context, but the biological agent also has medical applications.
Specifically, ozone is a highly-active form of oxygen—a super-oxygen, if you will—with various health-promoting and healing properties. Healthcare practitioners like myself introduce ozone gas made from medical-grade oxygen into the blood to create a special ozone-oxygen mixture that promotes healing.
But how does ozone therapy work, exactly? I’ll go right ahead and explain
Also known as Major Autohemotherapy (MAH) or bio-oxidative therapy, ozone therapy works by interrupting harmful physiological process such as eliminating the growth of harmful bacteria or even the spread of an infection
For over 150 years, medical ozone has been used not only to disinfect medical supplies, but also to treat a number of health conditions. Medical studies show the treatment can help mitigate infections caused by:1
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Protozoa
- Viruses
- Yeast
Since these many of these infectious pathogens do not survive in an oxygen rich environment, ozone therapy can also help the body get rid of infected cells, putting it in a better position to produce new and healthy cells.
What Can Patients Expect During Treatment?
Before patients begin ozone therapy, I like to walk them through what to expect. I talk to each of my patients about the best ways to prepare for treatment, encouraging them to keep hydrated and to get plenty of sleep leading up to their appointments
I also explain to my patients that with ozone therapy, I will be drawing blood from their body, mixing it with ozone gas, and then adding the mixture back to their bloodstream.
But what does this process look like?
Patients may receive ozone therapy in a number of different ways. Some healthcare practitioners offer treatment directly to the tissue, and some administer ozone therapy as an intramuscular injection. In my practice, I provide treatment intravenously.
How this works is that the patient is hooked up to an IV, and blood is drawn and placed in a bottle. The ozone gas is then dissolved under pressure into the blood that was drawn, and the blood-ozone mixture is rapidly returned to the patient’s bloodstream through an IV. When administered into the bloodstream, this mixture can help treat a number of medical conditions. It can also yield many rejuvenating properties.
Moreover, by significantly increasing the oxygen utilization in the body, there is subsequently increased mitochondrial output of energy. That energy it produces is then used by the body immune and repair systems. Many of my patients express an increase in energy following their ozone therapy session. It’s also worth noting that some patients notice improved skin color soon after the treatment. For this same reason—that is, due to the higher oxygen content—the blood will be a brighter shade of red when ozone is present.
This rejuvenating therapy doesn’t require any downtime. My patients even have the go-ahead to leave my office directly after their ozone therapy treatments, as the therapy does not interfere with a person’s driving abilities.
What Are the Benefits of Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy helps to remove damaging bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, and other pollutants from the body. It also boosts circulation and speeds recovery. And the treatment is especially beneficial for patients with a compromised immune system, as it’s been shown to strengthen the overall immune response.1
Let’s dive deeper into the way in which ozone therapy improves immunity. It does so by killing infectious pathogens and increasing the immune cell count. It also increases the activity of the eosinophils and cytotoxic T8 – lymphocytes (which help to kill harmful microorganisms and parasites). Ozone also stimulates the production of an antiviral substance called interferon, which increases cellular immunity and helps to ward off infection.
With that, other benefits of ozone therapy include the following:
Reduced inflammation
Ozone significantly reduces chronic inflammation in the body. The treatment blocks pro-inflammatory markers such as cytokines right at the source, curbing the inflammatory response. This helps to lessen the symptoms of inflammatory diseases including hypertension, arthritis, and diabetes. It can also help prevent cancerous growths from developing.
Decreased cardiovascular risk
Ozone therapy can help reduce one’s risk of contracting cardiovascular disease. This occurs by increasing the synthesis of prostacyclin, or a substance naturally produced by the endothelial cells in the blood vessels. The treatment can help widen the blood vessels, facilitate blood flow, and strengthen the heart.
Tissue regeneration
Ozone therapy offers remarkable tissue regeneration, increasing the synthesis of growth factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). VEGF promotes the development of new blood, enabling a greater supply of oxygen and delivering more essential nutrients to the cells. This ensures the cells are well-nourished and rejuvenated. The revitalizing effects of ozone therapy also translate to better hair and skin health, as the procedure encourages the production of more collagen and elastin
Patients who engage in ozone therapy will enjoy a wealth of detoxifying effects. Many claim they experience a visible reduction in wrinkles after just 10 to 15 treatments
Ozone Therapy: An Anti-Aging Treatment
In addition to the abovementioned benefits, ozone therapy can help slow the aging process. The treatment promotes the excretion of toxins and heavy metals that are linked to fatigue, sleep problems, and many signs of premature aging.
What do these connections look like? The improved blood flow that results from ozone therapy promotes the tightening and firming of the skin. Meanwhile, the treatment’s detoxifying and cleansing properties can lighten or even remove age spots on the hands and arms (typically after 20 treatments).
Even spider or varicose veins can disappear due to the therapy’s circulatory benefits. Many patients claim their varicose veins were cured after ozone therapy, and others reveal their performance, confidence, and quality of life significantly improved from the time they started treatment.
The Future of Ozone Therapy
Researchers are still investigating the clinical benefits of ozone therapy. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) report on Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States recommends that “definitive studies be undertaken to determine whether these treatments have any utility.” However, many states have passed “freedom of medicine” laws that allow licensed practitioners such as myself to use these experimental therapies in a safe and controlled environment
It’s worth noting that ozone is safe and effective at the therapeutic level when used in healthcare applications. The risk of side effects is also very low. From my end, I work with patients at every step to ensure their experience is safe, comfortable, and all-around positive.
In my experience, ozone therapy can serve as an effective treatment for conditions such as chronic muscle or joint pain, Lyme disease, mold exposure, arthritis, sports injuries, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, and even autoimmune disorders.
And let’s not forget the treatment’s anti-aging and rejuvenating properties.
In my professional opinion, medical ozone is at the cutting edge of modern healthcare. The holistic treatment is safe, natural, and more cost-effective than many conventional therapies. The procedure is also designed to have a cumulative effect so that each treatment builds upon the last. And because bio-oxidative therapies like ozone feature varied applications, I believe they’ll soon be integral to mainstream medicine.
That said, patients should only schedule ozone therapy sessions with a licensed professional who has strict protocols and procedures in place to guarantee their health and safety. I would also recommend that patients choose a healthcare provider who offers a custom approach and truly understands their needs and goals.
Are you interested in learning more about 10-pass ozone therapy? Please contact me with questions or for
more information on this revitalizing treatment.
- Elvis AM, Ekta JS. Ozone therapy: A clinical review. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2011;2(1):66–70. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.82319
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