Ozone (O3) is a natural component in the atmosphere. In its medicinal use it is composed of a mixture of oxygen and ozone in variable proportions depending on the therapeutic purpose. Ozone is a very unstable gas so when it is produced for therapeutic administration it must be used immediately.
What does ozone therapy consist of?
Ozone therapy consists of the application of a mixture of oxygen and ozone for therapeutic purposes, either as a single treatment or as an adjuvant treatment to other treatments necessary to improve or cure patients.
The therapeutic effects of ozone are many and very positive:
- It has a revitalizing and anti-aging effect.
- It is antioxidant, since it stimulates the production of endogenous antioxidant enzymes.
- It is bactericidal, virulicidal and fungicidal, that is, it acts on all types of infections, whether by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
- It increases blood flow and increases the capacity to transport oxygen to the tissues.
- It modulates the biological and immunological response of the organism.
- It is a metabolic regulator, in such a way that it has effects on glucose, cholesterol and protein metabolism and, in addition, it has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
In which pathologies is ozone therapy applied?
Ozone therapy is a complementary therapy to pharmacological and surgical therapy, but without interrupting them. It is indicated in practically all diseases:
- In dermatology it is very useful in herpes zoster, acne and eczema.
- In internal medicine we can use it in hepatitis, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, asthma, gastritis, gastric ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori, in autoimmune diseases,…
- In neurology it has very good effects in migraines, depression and neurovascular disorders.
- In rheumatology it gives very good results in osteoarthritis, disc herniation, lumbago, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendinitis,…
- It is also used in venous insufficiencies, diabetic or other types of ulcers and gangrene.
- In gynecology it is very useful in bacterial infections, candidiasis, HPV infections, vaginitis, bartolinitis, neck ulcers and infertility.
- In Aesthetic Medicine it is used in the treatment of cellulite.
Any disease is susceptible to treatment with ozone therapy, it can even be adjuvant in cancer and also gives very good results in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
Application of ozone therapy
There are several ways to apply ozone therapy, always depending on the effects we want to achieve, if they are local or general:
- Large autohemotherapy consists of the extraction of a quantity of venous blood which, after being ozonized, is transfused again through a closed and sterile circuit with the maximum guarantees of safety and asepsis.
- The small autohemotherapy consists of the extraction of a small quantity of venous blood which is ozonized and re-injected intramuscularly. This route serves to increase immunity in all allergic processes and skin diseases.
- In rectal ozone therapy, ozone is introduced into the rectum through a probe; it is the route of choice in the elderly and children.
- The paravertebral injection is used in lumbalgias and cervicalgias and consists of small infiltrations of the gas in the lumbar and/or cervical area.
- The ozone bag is used mainly for the treatment of ulcers of all kinds, arterial, venous, diabetic, etc.. As well as for the healing of ulcers, wounds or burns of all kinds.
- Subcutaneous application consists of injecting the gas into the subcutaneous cellular tissue and is used in neuropathic pain and cellulitis.
- Vaginal insufflation is performed by means of a special cannula or probe and the gas is insufflated into the vagina through it.
- Topical application of water, oil and ozonized creams used for washing, ulcers and various skin lesions, to disinfect or regenerate.
Contraindications of ozone therapy
Like all therapies, it has some contraindications. This therapy is contraindicated in patients suffering from glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or the disease called favism, because it also causes allergy to beans. It is also contraindicated in all decompensated cardiac, renal and hepatic diseases. Nor can it be used when there is a lot of anemia and in some other blood diseases, in epilepsy, and in severe malnutrition.
There are usually no adverse reactions to ozone treatment, although there could be allergies. Sometimes the rectal route can produce abdominal tension and if we inject ozone directly into the veins we could cause a gas embolism. It is important to keep in mind that ozone cannot be inhaled, so it is not indicated for inhalation.