Ozone Therapy

What is Ozone Therapy?

Ozone therapy is the infusion of a controlled amount of ozone gas into the body. The infusion process can be administered intramuscularly, intra-articular, intravenously, or directly into the tissues. Ozone therapy has been used since the late 1800’s all over the world. It is currently extensively used in Asia, Europe, South America, and is growing significantly in the United States. Ozone is a molecule of three oxygen molecules bound together (O3), whereas oxygen is a molecule of two oxygen molecules bound together (O2).

Ozone is a reactive gas that is toxic to the respiratory system, however, under controlled conditions, it can be therapeutically beneficial in multiple human diseases and conditions. It is important to differentiate between atmospheric ozone and medical ozone. Atmospheric ozone is found high in the atmosphere and contains many pollutants due to being exposed to other elements and reactants. The ozone used in therapy is called medical ozone, which is a mixture of pure ozone and pure oxygen, generated by ozone generators. Medical ozone is pure ozone and oxygen, completely absent of any pollutants. Medical-grade ozone is administered in precise doses and can increase the body’s oxygen supply and provide a strong antioxidant effect. This effect leads to healing at a cellular level. Ozone therapy acts as a means to directly infuse and introduce oxygen into the body. The ozone molecule breaks down into oxygen shortly after introduction into the body.

How does Ozone Therapy Work?

Ozone/oxygen acts as a stimulator that increases the biological function and chemical signaling pathways of the cells. It can provide organs and tissue with adequate oxygen supply. Through this process, ozone stimulates the anti-inflammatory responses of the immune system. This impact on the body promotes faster recovery, as the oxygenation of the tissue speeds up the natural healing processes.

Injury, overuse, or disease produces localized edema, inflammation, and decreased circulation. Decreased circulation from injury results in a decrease in local oxygen delivery, resulting in decreased oxygen utilization and nutrient delivery. These results of injury lead to an increase in localized acidosis, free radical production, and potential infection slowing recovery time, tissue healing, and increasing pain. Decreased oxygen utilization disables healing mechanisms leading to slower healing times and chronic pain. Ozone is used to stimulate oxygen utilization, increase circulation, stimulate healing mechanisms, and eliminate infection. The healing process is corrected, accelerated, and inflammation is substantially reduced.

Oxygen is a significant factor in wound healing. Living tissue needs oxygen and nutrients to thrive, and with injury, it is needed to regenerate healthy tissue. Oxygen is vital for healing wounds and injuries. When looking at any type of injury, be it a muscle strain, sprain, fracture, trauma, infection, arthritis, or cartilage damage, all of these include injury at the cellular level, which can all benefit from increased oxygen delivery. Ozone has also been shown to mobilize stem cells into the blood stream to promote healing in injured tissue.

Isn’t ozone oxidative, and the answer is yes. The body needs a certain level of oxidation. Without the right level of oxidation, cellular processes cannot be triggered, resulting in cellular pathology. The correct levels of oxidation stimulated from ozone can stimulate the body’s antioxidant enzyme systems, aiding in a healthy balance of oxidation levels.

It has been proven to not only alleviate symptoms of chronic diseases but also improve the performance of athletes. Many sports injuries involve strains and sprains that cause swelling and an accumulation of excess fluid in connective tissue. Ozone therapy soothes muscles, calms nerves, and causes oxygenation of tissue at a cellular level. Nutrients are delivered to the site of injury and inflammatory fluid is removed more rapidly.

In a clinical setting, ozone can increase the body’s oxygen supply and provide an antioxidant effect, leading to healing at a cellular level. Ozone can be effective in treating conditions including arthritis, strains, sprains, joint pain, acute and chronic infections, cognitive impairment, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and many others.

The most effective way to maximize the effects of ozone therapy is to combine it with other therapies, specifically strength training and rehabilitation, aimed at eliminating the causes of decreased oxygen utilization.

Ozone vs. Oxygen?

Ozone and oxygen are different molecules, ozone is O3 and oxygen is O2. Oxygen therapies have been around for a long time and include hyperbaric oxygen chambers, oxygen bars, and concentrated oxygen. Ozone, being made up of three molecules of oxygen, is much less stable than normal oxygen. Both therapies can have similar effects on the body; however, ozone therapy tends to have greater and faster results due to a high concentration of oxygen molecules in addition to being more reactive. Oxygen and ozone therapies can provide a boost before exercise, quicker recovery, mental clarity, improvement in exercise tolerance and stamina, immune system modulation, injury healing, decreased inflammation, and many more positive effects.

How is ozone administered? What are the different types of ozone therapies?

Ozone can be administered locally, systemically, and topically. Local administration includes injections into a specific region such as muscle, tendon, ligament, joints, discs, and other regions. Systemic administration includes infusion, which entails drawing blood and mixing it with ozone, then reintroducing it back into circulation, insufflation into a body cavity, and nasal cannula systems. Topical administration includes limb bagging, ozone saunas, ozonated oils, and other ozone topicals.

Ozone therapy for athletes, performance, and recovery:

Athletes can benefit from ozone therapy for both performance and recovery by boosting the oxygenation of tissue while increasing the body’s production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). By increasing ATP, recovery from sports injuries will be quicker and more efficient. Sore muscles can be prevented by ozone therapy after exercise. Ozone slows down the cells’ anaerobic fermentation and helps scale down the buildup of lactic acid.

Ozone therapy works by increasing blood flow to the muscles. Also, blood flow to the heart is increased, which reduces strain during the same workload. Ozone therapy has been shown to have the following benefits on athletes:

Increases tissue oxygenation.
Increases production of ATP, resulting in more energy and faster recovery.
Delays the onset of anaerobic fermentation of sugar in the cells, reducing lactic acid build-up.
Oxidizes lactic acid, helping prevent sore muscles.
Reduces swelling, bruising, and pain for injuries, and speeds healing.
Helps to enhance immunity.
Can protect the intestinal flora, reducing digestive issues and inflammation.
Increases hormone production to optimum levels.

Conditions that respond well to ozone:

All musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, inflammatory diseases, and immune disorders. Some specific conditions are listed below:

Rock Climber Specific Injuries:

Joint Capsulitis
Annular pulley injury (A2, A4, etc.)
Finger tenosynovitis
Climber’s elbow

Musculoskeletal Conditions:

Ligament injuries
Tendon injuries, tendinitis, tendinosis
Muscle strains
Arthritis
Herniated disc
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
Hip bursitis
Shoulder bursitis
Shoulder injuries
Rotator cuff injury
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Medial epicondylitis (Golfer’s elbow)
Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)
Frozen shoulder
Labral injuries of the shoulder and hip
Chronic back pain
Chronic neck pain
Degenerated spinal discs
Knee pain
Ankle sprains and injuries
Meniscus injuries
Cartilage injuries and tears

Injections:

An ozone injection is an injection of a mixture of O3/O2 molecules into a specific injured anatomical site. This can result in therapeutic effects due to increased oxygen saturation in the area injected. This type of ozone administration directly introduces ozone into a specific area of the body, including joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscle. It is a means of directly delivering oxygen to an area of the body, such as a tendon or ligament, that normally does not have a large blood supply. This can signal anti-inflammation, healing, and improved energy production, which helps the area heal at a faster rate.

What to expect, risks, and side effects of injections:

An ozone injection is pure oxygen, and because of this, there are little to no side effects or adverse reactions. There can be a mild to moderate burning sensation immediately following the injection, which decreases in several minutes. The burning sensation occurs due to the initial oxidizing reaction of the ozone/oxygen on the surrounding tissues. There may be mild soreness and swelling in the injection site up to 72-hours following the injection.

Other forms of administration:

Ozone Steam Sauna: This form of treatment allows ozone to be absorbed by the skin. In this method, the heat and humidity serve to infuse the gas and deliver it to the cells and tissues of the body. The ozone steam sauna is appropriate for the reduction of oxidation processes in the cells and tissues, which primarily cause the degenerative disorders of the blood vessels, tissues, and other organs. This process positively affects performance and recovery time, as increased oxygenation in the tissues allows for the anti-inflammatory benefits of ozone to spread throughout the body. The ozone steam induces physiological adaptation that aid in the increase of the body’s capacity for endurance and the ability to increase muscle mass and brain function.

Major Ozone Autohemotherapy (MAH): In this treatment, a specified amount of blood is treated with a precise ozone dosage. The ozonated blood is then brought back to the bloodstream, typically intravenously. This is also known as an “ozone IV”. This therapy has a significant effect on blood disorders/disease, systemic conditions, and the immune system.

Ozone Insufflations: This is the introduction of ozone gas into a body cavity, such as the ears, bladder, or rectum. It is often used to fight chronic diseases, inflammation, immune disorders, digestive tract disorders, infections, and systemic disease. It is comparable to MAH but uses a different method of introduction. It has also been shown to support recovery and boost the immune system.

Ear Insufflation: This is an infusion of ozone into the ear canal by using a stethoscope in the ears that has a small amount of ozone gas trickling into the ear for several minutes. This method helps to increase oxygen in the head and neck region, including the throat, sinuses, and nasal passage. It is a safe, comfortable way to treat different diseases and infections in this area including ear infections, common cold, sore throat, headache, and sinus congestion.

Rectal Insufflation: This is insufflation or the infusion of ozone with the use of a small catheter through the rectum. This technique was initially used for treating chronic colitis and fistulae but has been shown to be just as effective as MAH. The procedure is completely painless, minimally invasive, and highly effective. The ozone acts as a bioregulator, resulting in the regulation of antioxidants and anti-aging effects.

The main benefit of insufflation is the ability to oxygenate the whole body by increasing the oxygen levels in the gut and liver. As a side benefit, ozone therapy detoxifies the liver and boosts the immune system by activating multiple immune cells. Another benefit is the regulation of the body’s oxidative stress, resulting in cell repair.

Since rectal insufflation targets the gut and liver, it is used to treat issues such as chronic constipation, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hepatitis, anal fistulae and fissures, hemorrhoids, infections, and other parasitic infections.

Bladder Insufflation: This is an infusion of ozone directly into the bladder via the urethra. It is only used in cases where chronic infections persist in the bladder and urinary tract where antibiotics have failed. Insufflation is performed multiple times to flush out and kill the infection. Once this flushing is performed a new round of antibiotics is administered with great success.

Vaginal Insufflation: This is insufflation of ozone into the vaginal cavity. It is used to treat infection and other disorders of the female reproductive tract including infertility, yeast and/or bacterial infections, PCOS, uterine tube disorders, menstrual irregularities, endometriosis, and other diseases. It is minimally invasive and a safe alternative to aid in the treatment of these disorders and pairs well with other treatments.

OZONE THERAPY