Ozone therapy: what it is, what it is for and how it is made

Ozone therapy is a process in which ozone gas is administered to the body to treat certain health problems. Ozone is a gas composed of 3 oxygen atoms that has important analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, in addition to improving the oxygenation of tissues, as well as strengthening the immune system.

Due to its properties, this is a therapy that can be suggested in the treatment of chronic problems, such as arthritis, chronic pain, infected wounds and delayed healing, for example.

The treatment must be carried out by a health professional, applying ozone locally or injecting intravenously, intramuscularly or by rectal insufflation.

What it is for and how it works

Ozone therapy works by disrupting unhealthy processes in the body, such as the growth of pathogenic bacteria if there is an infection, or by preventing some oxidative processes, and can therefore be used to improve various health problems:

1. Breathing problems

As it promotes the entry of more oxygen into the blood, ozone therapy is a good option to relieve the symptoms of people with respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and COPD. Learn how to identify and treat asthma.

This is because the entry of more oxygen into the blood causes an increase in the rate of glycolysis of red blood cells, also increasing the amount of oxygen released to the tissues.

In addition, it significantly increases airway resistance and respiratory rate.

2. Disorders in the immune system

Ozone therapy can bring benefits to people with weakened immune systems and help treat diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or myasthenia gravis , for example, as it stimulates and strengthens the immune system, increasing the number of molecules involved in the emission of signals between cells during the triggering of immune responses.

See other ways to boost immunity.

3. AIDS treatment

Several studies prove that ozone therapy can be used to complement the treatment of HIV, the AIDS virus, by facilitating the inactivation of a nuclear protein in the virus, in addition to having an antioxidant and antimicrobial function. Learn more about the symptoms, contagion and how AIDS is treated.

4. Cancer treatment

Some studies also prove that ozone administered in a concentration between 30 and 55 μg / cc causes an increase in the production of interferon, which is a protein produced to, among other mechanisms, interfere in the replication of tumor cells and stimulate the defense activity of other cells.

In addition, it also leads to an increase in tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-2, which in turn stimulates a cascade of subsequent immunological reactions.

Ozone therapy can also be used in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy to reduce the risk of complications and increase their effectiveness.

5. Treatment of infections

Ozone therapy also leads to the inactivation of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. In bacteria it acts through a mechanism that interrupts the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope, leading to the oxidation of phospholipids and lipoproteins.

In fungi, ozone inhibits cell growth at certain stages and in viruses it damages the viral capsid and disrupts the reproductive cycle by interrupting contact between the virus and the cell with peroxidation.

Some studies have already shown its effectiveness in infections such as Lyme disease, vaginal infections and even vaginal or intestinal candidiasis.

6. Complications in diabetes

Some complications in diabetes can be attributed to oxidative stress in the body and studies have shown that ozone activates the antioxidant system that affects blood glucose levels. Learn about other ways to treat the various types of diabetes.

In addition, as this therapy helps with blood circulation, it can allow the vascularization of tissues affected by the lack of oxygen produced by diabetes to improve. Thus, and although there are no studies with well-proven results, this type of therapy can also be tried to improve the healing of ulcers in people with diabetes.

7. Wound treatment

Ozone can also be used to treat wounds by applying the gas directly to the affected region. In an in vitro study, it was observed that ozone is very effective in reducing the concentrations of Acinetobacter baumannii , Clostridium difficile and Staphylococcus aureus.

Ozone can also be used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, rheumatism, macular degeneration, herniated disc, circulatory problems, severe acute respiratory syndrome, in hypoxic and ischemic symptoms and to lower blood cholesterol.

In addition it has also been used in dentistry, in the treatment of dental caries. Learn how to identify and treat tooth decay.

How the treatment is done

Ozone treatment should be performed by a healthcare professional and never inhaled.

There are several ways to perform ozone therapy, applying the gas directly to the skin, if you want to treat a wound, intravenously or intramuscularly. To administer ozone through the vein, to treat other health problems, a certain amount of blood is taken and mixed with ozone and then administered again to the person intravenously. It can also be administered intramuscularly, in which ozone can be mixed with the person's own blood or with sterile water.

In addition, other techniques are also used, such as intradiscal, paravertebral injection or rectal insufflation, in which a mixture of ozone and oxygen is introduced through a catheter into the colon.

Possible side effects

The fact that ozone is slightly unstable makes it a little unpredictable and can damage red blood cells, so the amount used in the treatment must be accurate.

When not to be used

Medical ozone is contraindicated in cases of pregnancy, as well as in patients with acute myocardial infarction, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, alcohol intoxication or coagulation problems, especially cases of favism.