What Is Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy is an exciting treatment gaining attention for its incredible health benefits and treatment potential across a range of conditions. But what exactly is it, and how does it work?
In simple terms, ozone therapy uses a unique form of oxygen (O3) to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Think of it like the beneficial stress your body experiences during exercise—just the right amount of stress can be good for you. Similarly, ozone therapy creates a controlled oxidative effect that encourages the body to repair and rejuvenate itself.
It works on the principle of “like cures like,” such as how vaccines function. By introducing a mild stressor, ozone therapy triggers the body to respond, strengthening its ability to heal and restore balance.
Ozone: The Science
Our red blood cells rely on water (H2O) to carry oxygen (O2) throughout the body. When ozone interacts with the water in these cells, it dissolves and creates two key messengers: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidases. These compounds activate important cellular pathways, helping the body maintain balance and repair itself.
Over time, the body gets “trained” by these gentle stress signals, like how we adapt to regular exercise. This repeated activation strengthens the body’s defenses, reduces chronic inflammation, and promotes long-term healing.
Why Is This Important?
One of ozone therapy’s most powerful effects is its ability to combat oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress occurs when your body faces persistent damage from free radicals—unstable molecules that can build up from exposure to pollution, toxins, or poor lifestyle choices. Over time, this stress can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer. By activating the body’s natural antioxidants and repair mechanisms, ozone therapy can reverse oxidative damage, reduce inflammation, and even help manage chronic conditions.
How Does it Work?
Ozone has an immune-modulating effect is based on its interaction with lipid structures of cellular membranes and depends on the chosen dose. Low ozone concentrations promote the accumulation of ozonide’s which then stimulate the cytokines synthesis of different classes. Cytokines, being biologically active peptides, contribute to the further activation of non-specific defense system (elevation of body temperature, generation of acute-phase peptides in the liver) and, apart from it, they activate cellular activity and humoral activity which essentially is the body’s defense mechanisms involving circulating antibodies to fight off infections in the blood and extracellular fluids.
Research Is Growing
A 2023 meta-analysis found a 44% reduction of PCR positivity results of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with the use of ozone major autohemotherapy. Another 2024 meta-analysis of ozone therapeutic impacts for pain management highlighted that ozone therapy reduced the rate of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to a decrease in intra-articular edema and demonstrated the potential for ozone to help improve the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Last but not least, a 2021 clinical trial on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) found a 78% reduction in fatigue and 44% of complete resolution of CFS with ozone therapy being administered twice a week for one month.
What Can Ozone Therapy Support?
As outlined above, ozone therapy shows promise as a complementary treatment for a range of health concerns, including but not limited to:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Viral infections such as COVID-19
- Joint Pain and osteoarthritis
- Mold toxicity
- Pain management
- Skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, etc.)
- Chemotherapy-induced toxicity
Ozone therapy is an innovative treatment with growing scientific evidence for its role in reducing inflammation, enhancing immune function, and promoting cellular repair. At the UltraWellness Center, we have specialized in providing safe and effective prolozone and IV ozone therapies tailored to each individual’s needs. If you’re interested in using this therapeutic tool in your healing journey or want to learn more about how it can support you, please fill out our New Patient IV Therapy. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
Clavo B, Rodríguez-Esparragón F, Rodríguez-Abreu D, et al. Modulation of Oxidative Stress by Ozone Therapy in the Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity: Review and Prospects. Antioxidants. 2019;8(12):588. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8120588
Liu L, Zeng L, Gao L, Zeng J, Lu J. Ozone therapy for skin diseases: Cellular and molecular mechanisms. International Wound Journal. Published online December 16, 2022. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14060
Hidalgo-Tallón FJ, Torres-Morera LM, Baeza-Noci J, Carrillo-Izquierdo MD, Pinto-Bonilla R. Updated Review on Ozone Therapy in Pain Medicine. Frontiers in Physiology. 2022;13. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.840623
Khan S, Smith N, Wilson A, Gandhi J, Vatsia S. Ozone therapy: An overview of pharmacodynamics, current research, and clinical utility. Medical Gas Research. 2017;7(3):212. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/2045-9912.215752
Lino VTS, Marinho DS, Rodrigues NCP, Andrade CAF. Efficacy and safety of ozone therapy for knee osteoarthritis: an umbrella review of systematic reviews. Front Physiol. 2024;15:1348028. Published 2024 Feb 20. doi:10.3389/fphys.2024.1348028
Shang W, Wang Y, Wang G, Han D. Benefits of ozone on mortality in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2023;72:102907. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102907
Tirelli U, Franzini M, Valdenassi L, et al. Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Greatly Improved Fatigue Symptoms When Treated with Oxygen-Ozone Autohemotherapy. J Clin Med. 2021;11(1):29. Published 2021 Dec 22. doi:10.3390/jcm11010029
