Ozone Therapy

What is Ozone?:

The oxygen we normally breathe is formed by two oxygen atoms. (O₂) It is colorless, odorless and very stable. Ozone is a supercharged form of oxygen with three oxygen atoms (O₃) that readily occurs in nature, most commonly as a result of lightning strikes that occur during thunderstorms. Ozone is blue in color (this makes the sky blue) and has a slight odor.

Is Ozone safe?:

Ozone, like any other natural substance, can be toxic when used in doses beyond the body’s physiological capacity. However, in physicians trained and licensed to use ozone in a medical setting, its safety and efficacy is well documented.

How does Ozone work?:

Oxygen is very stable in its natural state because the two oxygen atoms are connected by a strong covalent bond. By adding a third oxygen atom the molecule becomes unstable and the molecule is very reactive as a result. The third unstable oxygen atom readily attaches itself to cell walls of bacteria, fungus or viruses and degrade the cells rapidly. It is 1,000 times more disinfectant than chlorine.

Ozone increases oxygen utilization of the body by increasing the enzyme diphosphoglycerate. (DPG) It allows hemoglobin to release oxygen more readily and increases the body’s ability to use oxygen effectively. It also stimulates mitochondrial activity and improves energy production via ATP.

How Ozone is delivered:

• IV therapy: This is the most common and most effective way of introducing ozone systemically. A doctor draws a small amount of blood and infuses ozone into the blood before infusing the ozonated blood back to the body. The whole procedure takes about 40 minutes.
• Injections (prolo-zone): Injections of ozone along with nutrients, anesthetics and minerals can initiate healing in damaged tissue. This can be used to treat chronic pain as a result of degeneration or injury. Injections can help regenerate damaged tissue and get rid of chronic pain. Can also be combined with techniques such as PRP (platelet rich plasma)
• Insufflation: Gas can be introduced into the digestive tract and urinary tract via specialized cavity bags to stimulate healing by direct contact with the gas.
• Oils: Ozonated olive oil can be used topically on the skin and as an oral rinse to combat serious skin infections and gum disease.
• Water: Ozonated water can be flushed through nasal cavities for acute or chronic sinus infections.

Conditions treated by Ozone therapy:

• Joint pain, such as knee osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, low back pain
• soft tissue injuries or scar tissues that’s not healing well.
• Coronary and cardiovascular disease
• Acute/chronic infection such as ebstein barr (EBV)
• Auto-immune disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Gastrointestinal disease such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease)
• Wound healing:

Author

Dr. David Chang ND, LAc David Chang, ND, LAc, is a board-licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist with extensive training in Naturopathic primary care and classical Chinese medicine. With more than six years of professional experience and a strong interest in chronic pain management, he is proud to own and operate his practice in Portland, Oregon.