Author’s note: The treatments described in this article are for providing medical information but this is not medical advice. While there are studies that support the treatments described, the treatments are considered experimental and not the standard of care. For medical guidance, you should contact your physician or health care professional.
Ozone is O3. We know the importance of oxygen (O2). The additional oxygen atom in ozone creates a high-energy molecule. In the body, ozone is converted quickly to ozonides. These are energy-rich compounds that enhance metabolism. Metabolism is our body’s use of energy. The better our metabolism, the better our energy level and health in general. By reading this article, you will learn about the safety of ozone and the multiple ways I have helped my patients with ozone.
When people think of ozone, they think about the pollutant and the ozone layer. Ozone is considered a pollutant because it is easy to measure and is associated with hydrocarbon pollutants, which are more toxic though more complex to measure. Because we have many devices to easily measure ozone, that is the one that is reported to quantify the degree of pollution. In the medical setting, ozone is very safe. Ozone is well utilized almost everywhere in the body. The one organ that ozone can potentially irritate is the lungs, so ozone is not applied directly to the lungs. Everywhere else, ozone is well-tolerated and enhances metabolism where it is applied.
With a background in pain medicine, I learned about ozone to use as part of my pain treatments. I was enlightened to learn about all the other ways ozone can help my patients. As I have discussed in many articles, regenerative treatments greatly enhance healing of ligament and tendon injuries and arthritic joints. Regenerative treatments including prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections work by strengthening tendons and ligaments. Prolotherapy is a regenerative treatment in which dextrose is injected onto tendons and ligaments. This creates a mild irritation and the body responds by growing stronger tissue, which leads to good healing of the tendons and ligaments. When prolotherapy is combined with ozone in a treatment called Prolozone (developed by Dr. Frank Shallenberger, one of the pioneers of ozone therapy), the metabolic boost that ozone provides increases the effectiveness of prolotherapy. Adding the metabolic boost of ozone has further strengthened my regenerative treatments; adding the ozone seems to improve the regenerative response. For instance, to treat knee arthritis usually takes four to six prolotherapy treatments. By adding ozone, we often achieve successful results in three to four treatments.
As noted above, ozone is not applied directly to the lungs. However, ozone can be instilled into olive oil with the ozonated vapors providing comfort for one with sinus congestion. There are other natural treatments that can help sinus problems. While ozone will not cure sinus problems on its own, ozonated oil vapors play an important role by soothing the nasal passages and airways. This is especially helpful when sinus congestion is affecting breathing. The treatment for sinus is even more effective when combining ozone with neural therapy, which I have described previously.
For wounds, pressure sores and other skin conditions, ozone can be applied to the affected areas to enhance healing. Wounds heal poorly when they do not get adequate tissue nutrients and oxygen. Applying ozone to the area of the wound improves the local metabolism, which provides an opportunity for the wound to heal. It has been rewarding to see wounds that were not responding to conventional treatments heal with ozone.
For digestive problems, intestinal insufflation with ozone can be used for its metabolic benefit. The ozone helps with intestinal symptoms and enhances body health. It sounds intimidating but is very easily applied and is well tolerated. As a gas, ozone travels within the intestine and can reach up to the liver. I have found ozone to be helpful for constipation and for general abdominal discomfort seen with colitis and irritable bowel. Usually the first treatment is done in the office and subsequent treatments can be done at home, taking a bag of ozone “to go.”
One of the greatest uses of ozone is applying it intravenously (IV). This is done by a method called major autologous hemotransfusion or MAH. That is a fancy way of saying that you donate blood to yourself. After a predetermined amount of blood is taken, usually starting with 100 mL, the blood is combined with saline and ozonated. The ozonated blood is then given back to you by IV. This is usually done as a series of treatments. MAH improves overall metabolism, which can greatly enhance health. Many diseases are related to poor metabolism including heart disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic fatigue syndrome. By improving metabolism, ozone can potentially help these conditions. There are medical studies that have shown benefits of MAH for heart disease.
It is important to understand that while ozone treatment can be effective as a stand-alone treatment, it is even more effective as part of a multifaceted approach to wellness. For instance, treating wounds with ozone is enhanced with good nutrition that provides the environment for wound healing. IV therapy with MAH to enhance metabolism is complemented by bioidentical hormone replacement to optimize metabolism. I have noted how prolotherapy and ozone combine to enhance healing of tendons, ligaments and arthritic joints.
To summarize, ozone therapy works by improving metabolism and has a wide variety of clinical applications. Whether treating a poorly healing wound, treating an injury or arthritic joint with Prolozone, improving metabolism with IV ozone (MAH), helping with sinus decongestion using nasal ozone or improving bowel health with intestinal ozone, there are many ways that ozone can potentially improve your health. Ozone is a very safe treatment and greatly complements your efforts to achieve wellness and improve your health.
Dr. Slaten is a wellness physician specializing in regenerative pain treatments and lifestyle counseling. He is certified in advanced bioidentical hormone replacement. Please contact him at 201-882-1500 if you are considering or have any questions regarding ozone therapy.
