What is ozone therapy?
2011 review made public that ozone therapy has the following uses:
- treating arthritis
- fighting viral diseases, such as HIV and SARS
- disinfecting wounds
- activating the immune system
- treating ischemic heart disease
- treating macular degeneration
- treating cancer
When you hear ozone therapy, you may wonder how gas in the Earth’s atmosphere can serve as a therapeutic agent.
There’s plenty of skepticism surrounding this type of alternative medicine, but research suggests that ozone benefits are the real thing by supplying potent oxygen.
That said, ozone is an unstable molecule, and there are certain risks when using it therapeutically.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concluded that it has no known useful medical application, though studies suggest otherwise.
So what’s the deal with ozone therapy? Is it an under-researched but potentially impressive agent, or should you steer clear of this type of treatment altogether?
What Is Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy involves utilizing ozone (O3), a powerful form of oxygen, as a disinfectant agent that is launched into affected body parts.
The color gas is accustomed to enhance oxygen intake and also improve the body’s immune system response. Ozone is the best natural oxidant.
It is produced in nature by super and ultraviolet irradiation. Medical ozone is created by passing medical grade oxygen through the ozone discharge, causing a gasoline combination of one % to five % ozone and ninety-five % to ninety-nine % oxygen.
Ozone therapy is not accredited by the FDA, so as of today, it cannot be done inside the United States by healthcare providers.
Some doctors and researchers support its use for specific medical conditions, though much more human clinical trials are required to navigate its efficacy and safety.
How It Works/Uses
Medical ozone is utilized to minimize the damaging effects of bacteria, yeast, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. It is used to disinfect and deal with diseases that are brought on by these invaders.
It works by disrupting fungal and bacterial cellular development and virus-to-cell communication through oxidation.
Cells that are susceptible to invasion by international pathogens, like viruses, are usually prone to oxidation. That is just how ozone works to interrupt their growth, eliminate them, and permit the replacement of healthy cells.
The primary function of ozone is to protect humans from the dangerous effects of UV radiation. It occurs naturally on Earth, in concentrations that are perfectly compatible with life.
Although the gas has dangerous effects, researchers have explored its therapeutic potential.
How is ozone therapy administered? In medicine, controlled therapeutic doses are used several ways, but it’s not ingested or inhaled.
While in a gaseous state, ozone uses include:
- Direct injection: Ozone gas is used intravenously to treat internal organs and oxygenate the blood. Intramuscular injections are also common.
- Autohemotransfusion: This form of ozone therapy involves drawing blood from the body, mixing it with ozone gas, and then reinfusing the oxygenated blood.
- Rectal insufflation: This method is done by introducing ozone gas through the rectum to enter the colon and bloodstream.
- Skin exposure: Ozone gas is used on the skin through a sealed bag or medical chamber, much like hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Potential Health Benefits
Research indicates that diseases and health issue that are sometimes treated with ozone therapy include:
- infected wounds
- diabetic foot
- viral diseases
- SARS
- AIDS
- circulatory disorders
- peripheral vascular disease
- breathing disorders
- macular degeneration
- rheumatism/arthritis
- cancer
1. Works as an Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent
Studies display that ozone operates as an antibacterial agent that is used to treat dental infections and wounds. When germs are subjected to ozone, the phospholipids & lipoproteins inside the bacterial cellular envelope are oxidized and reduced.
This works on fungal cellular wall space in the same way, making it possible for ozone to prevent fungal development by interfering with its reproductive cycle.
2. Enhances Immune Responses
Ozone therapy works to avoid inflammatory responses triggered by pathogens. Scientific studies indicate that it significantly reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines without causing severe side effects or toxicity.
Additionally, it activates the body’s immune system and can be used as a disinfectant for treating illness.
3. Increases Antioxidant Production
What is ozone therapy, and what can it do?. Ozone therapy works to boost the endogenous generation of antioxidants, which enables it to enhance oxidation and an immune support function.
The study suggests that by increasing antioxidant generation, ozone supports wound healing as well as fights infections.
4. Supports Wound Healing
Ozone therapy can improve blood circulation, destroy microorganisms, which include viruses and bacteria, improve oxygen delivery, and modulate the immune system. For the above reasons, it is used as an alternative treatment for diabetic foot and wound healing.
Is It Safe?
What is ozone therapy, Ozone therapy does attract a lot of skepticism as an alternative treatment since it’s an unstable molecular structure? Is ozone therapy not right for you?
Scientists agree the toxicity of ozone depends upon the focus and administration of the correct place on the body. However, in case it is not used correctly, it can be dangerous.
A significant problem with ozone could be the harm it can do when breathed into the lungs. It increases airway resistance considerably, without changing the suppleness of the lung, resulting in severe problems like:
- shortness of breath
- swelling of blood vessels
- feeble circulation
- risk of stroke and cardiovascular illnesses
Direct exposure to the eyes, ozone injection therapy, and rectum exposure have the danger of side effects. If ozone is breathed, it can cause irritation, headaches, coughing, burning, and nausea.
In individual states, ozone therapy isn’t authorized for use by doctors and naturopathic practitioners. It is not approved or perhaps controlled by the FDA because there are not enough long term human studies to demonstrate its efficacy and safety.
Risks and Side Effects
Side effects and the risks of ozone therapy originated from its unpredictable nature. The gas is unstable, along with the wrong dose or perhaps administration, it can cause toxicity.
Exposure to excessive levels of ozone gas can harm red blood cells as well as lung function. Additionally, there are potential risks to utilizing ozone injections, and many more human trials are required to understand its safety.
Ozone therapy isn’t a standard treatment modality, but it’s used in some instances.
To lessen the risk of undesired side effects, make sure that the health care provider is well trained.
Speak to your doctor about the possible health consequences before treatment.
Conclusion
- What is ozone therapy? Ozone therapy is the usage of gaseous ozone to help wound healing, severe infections, and oxygenation. The evidence on this particular type of alternative treatment is missing, but several scientists praise its healing potential.
- The FDA does not approve medical ozone usage because it’s considered a toxic gas with no known useful medical application.
- There are many ozone forms, including ozonated h2o, autohemotherapy, IV ozone therapy, and ozone chambers. These practices come with possible risks, including toxicity, damage of lung capacity, and cardiovascular problems.
