Overview of Medical Ozone Therapy

 At a Glance:

• Overview - Ozone (O3) is a gas with use in many industries, but medical applications have distinct differences.  Its medical history dates back to 1871 and saw an increase in WWI.  
• Safety - Ozone as a gas is harmful to breathe but scientific data shows a higher safety record than aspirin when used correctly.  Different tissues respond differently to medical ozone gas, which is why you cannot breathe it but could have an intravenous therapy.  
• Benefits - The primary actions of ozone therapy include increased oxygen efficiency, immune modulation, mediated oxidative stress, and improved microcirculation.  People often report increased energy, cognitive function, endurance, and decreased pain.
• How Ozone Therapy is Administered - There are two primary categories for ozone administration.  The first is a systemic form of administration. Medical researchers and practitioners claim that this yields a stimulation of fundamental processes in the body. The second is a local form of administration which may have a positive effect for tissue damage in that localized area.
• Diseases Treated - Ozone therapy treats a lot but cures nothing.  It has a fundamental action to the body which allows the body to rebalance and heal itself.  There is a more in depth list attached.  
• How to Do Ozone Therapy or Get Equipment - For the average person, there is equipment you can get at home for under $1,500 that comes with details on how to do everything. .

Download the definitive guide to ozone therapy.

What is Ozone Therapy?

Ozone therapy is the administration of a small dose of medical grade ozone gas into the body.  It can be administered via the veins, rectum, vagina, ears, skin, or other safe places (we’ll cover safety below).  It’s an alternative therapy that’s growing in popularity, and may be beneficial for a variety of ailments because of its proposed ability to rebalance complex systems in the body. 

If you’re like a lot of people, you’ve gone through all the recommendations of traditional medicine without seeing the results you want.  Not like you’re asking for anything crazy — you just want to be free from sickness without popping endless pills. And after all the time, money, and energy you invest, you deserve those results.

We understand what it’s like to feel trapped by illness in the medical system.  We are frustrated by the lack of results and clarity.   Sorting through all the information shouldn’t be so difficult. There should be a clear answer.

Although we don’t promise to alleviate all your problems, we do want to provide one piece of the puzzle — objective information about ozone therapy.  

Ozone therapy is used in four primary areas:

1. Medical applications for chronic disease, preventative, and optimization
2. Dental administration for oral health
3. Joint injections for pain and regeneration
4. Cosmetic injections for beauty, scars, and regeneration

For the purposes of this article, we are focusing on the medical applications of ozone therapy.  We have other articles on joint, cosmetic, and dental applications.

Ozone therapy is not FDA approved and the funds haven’t yet been raised to start clinical trials in the USA, although they exist in more than 20 other countries.   None of the information outlined on this website or article is intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any condition.  ozoneinfo.org exists for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always consult your medical practitioner. 

Download the definitive guide to ozone therapy.

Overview of Ozone Therapy

Ozone Gas for Ozone Therapy

Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms (O3), a close relationship to oxygen (O2).  Unlike oxygen, ozone is extremely unstable because that extra oxygen atom wants to break off and combine with other molecules; a process called oxidation.

Most people only know about ozone because of pollution or the ozone layer.  The ozone layer is a layer of ozone gas in the atmosphere that protects us from harmful ultraviolet rays.  Ground level ozone is created during a chemical reaction from pollution and is harmful to breathe (more on that later).  

While ozone is harmful to the lungs, scientists have found that pure, medical grade ozone gas can be applied in many beneficial ways.

Industrial vs. Medical Ozone

Ozone is commonly used in industrial applications such as: 

• Air purification and mold remediation
• Water purification by cities and municipalities
• Laundry
• Wine making
• Bottled water
• Food sterilization

But the use of ozone in industrial applications is not the same as in medical applications. Here are some very important differences. 

Industrial grade ozone utilizes an impure form of ozone. This is largely because the generators use ambient air which has an oxygen content of just 21%. The result is an impure gas mixture.  Industrial ozone generators also use materials that are not 100% resistant to ozone, so they break down to produce contaminants in the gas. While this is still effective for these industrial applications, it’s definitely not the quality you want for your body.

Medical grade ozone gas is exclusively an ozone-oxygen mixture.  To create this, an oxygen tank of 99.9% oxygen is connected to a medical grade ozone generator made of 100% ozone resistant materials.  It produces a gas mixture that is about 2-5% ozone gas and 95-98% oxygen. This is the pure gas and high-quality material used for medical ozone therapy. 

History of Ozone Therapy

Ozone as a medical treatment has a history dating back to 1871.  In WWI ozone was used to treat infections from wounds, but in the 1960’s ozone started to be scientifically studied, namely by Dr. Velio Bocci (Italy) and Dr. Hansler (Germany).  

In the past twenty years ozone therapy has started to make serious scientific leaps with an increasing amount of data and scientists involved in its study.  Today, over 50,000 practitioners around the world practice ozone therapy on a daily basis.  

Two of the first documents detailing the medical use of ozone:  

Safety of Ozone Therapy

Don’t Breathe Ozone

Breathing ozone is not safe because it will irritate the lungs.  There are no antioxidant defenses in the lungs which make them vulnerable to oxidants like ozone.

However, other parts of the body have antioxidants and may produce a beneficial effect when exposed to ozone.  Scientists have gone to great lengths to explain their claims about the safety of ozone.  

We have also written an in-depth article explaining resources surrounding ozone safety. 

Smelling small amounts of ozone is ok according to OSHA, who outlines safe levels of ozone in the air.  When you do ozone therapy, you may smell small amounts of ozone.

Ozone is detectable by smell at 0.005 parts per million, making it one of the most distinct molecules to exist.  You can smell ozone far before it exceeds the OSHA standard of safety.  But some people still wear a mask like this or only operate in a well ventilated room. 

The Data

The International Scientific Committee of Ozone Therapy (ISCO3) claims ozone therapy has a higher safety record than aspirin.  They attribute most of the negative side effects to misuse by the practitioner and lacking proper protocol.  

According to their data, only 6 out of 100,000 ozone therapy sessions have a negative side effect. However, they still have not publicly released the original data yet.

Nonetheless, there are still lots of case studies and reports making similar observations to ISCO3 - very few negative side effects. 

A leading scientist, Dr. Velio Bocci put together a well researched paper on the safety of ozone therapy.  

Too Much Ozone and Herxheimer

Some people want to increase the doses outlined in the protocols to get better results.  But when it comes to ozone therapy, more is not better.  Most practitioners recommend to start with a lower dose and slowly increase within the confines of the protocol.  

Higher doses of ozone can cause a die off (Herxheimer) reaction which can give you flu-like symptoms.  Or it may just cause irritation, discomfort, or itching.  To avoid severe Herxheimer reactions, it’s common for doctors to start with a lower dose and work people up as they tolerate it.  

It’s recommended you speak to a doctor about ozone therapy.  

Or if you’re a doctor, we have live training available.

Contraindications (reasons to avoid ozone therapy)

• Pregnancy
• Blood clotting issues
• Anemia
• Ozone Allergy

Side Effects

We don’t list all the potential side effects here but have listed the most common.  The reason is because there are many routes of applications and most of them have inconsequential effects, such as discomfort from inserting a needle into the arm or cramping from too much gas during a rectal insufflation. 

These are potential negative side effects of ozone therapy:

• Herxheimer reaction - Nausea and flu-like symptoms from activating the immune system and endotoxin release from a lot of pathogens being killed quickly
• Coughing and chest discomfort if too much ozone is accidentally inhaled
• Cramps from rectal insufflation, usually too much gas or too strong
• Rash due to an ozone allergy or detox reaction (you know the difference because an ozone allergy, although rare, will show itself on small exposure to ozone)
• Itching, dryness, and discomfort during ear insufflation

Benefits of Ozone Therapy

Systemic Treatment Benefits:

• May improve oxygenation (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
• May mediate oxidative stress, a leading cause of aging and disease  (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
• May modulate the immune system, improves an underperforming immune system and rebalances an autoimmune issue (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
• Improves blood flow and microcirculation (25, 26, 27)

What people experience:

• Increased energy
• Sense of wellbeing
• Increased endurance 
• Improved cognitive function/decreased brain fog
• Reduced Pain

Diseases Treated and Uses

The therapeutic properties of ozone may positively impact a wide variety of diseases, conditions, and injuries. As an alternative medicine, ozone therapy is often used alongside other treatments or as a preventative practice.  It’s rarely administered as the sole treatment for an ailment but is synergistic with many therapies — even invasive ones like chemotherapy.  

A popular saying for ozone therapy is, “Ozone treats many things but cures nothing.”  Due to the benefits described above, it has a fundamental approach to helping the body rebalance and heal itself.  

In this article we will not be covering all the diseases that are commonly treated with ozone. If you would like to see a more in depth list, you can click here.  

People with these diseases are commonly treated with ozone therapy: 

• Mold toxicity
• Cancer
• Autoimmune Disease
• Lyme Disease
• Infections
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Chronic Fatigue
• Ear Infections
• Heart Disease
• Post Viral Infections Long Term Symptoms
• Crohn’s
• IBS
• Candida overgrowth
• Dysbiosis
• Leaky Gut

Use in Athletics

Cristiano Ronaldo, Ion Cutelaba, and Adrian Peterson have openly used ozone therapy to improve their athletic performance.  

Doctors claim that ozone therapy is able to improve oxygen metabolism and reduce muscular fatigue.  

Ozone therapy is commonly used among professional sports including soccer, NFL, NBA, CrossFit, UFC, cycling, and more.  It is said to increase stamina and endurance. 

Preventative Care and Biohacking

Ozone therapy is used as a method to improve overall quality of life. In addition to treating medical issues and enhancing athletic performance, people often use it to help mediate oxidative stress — which may be helpful in preventing disease and improving cognitive function. We have another full page on biohacking and preventative care with ozone therapy. 

How Ozone Therapy is Administered

Systemic vs. Local Treatments

There are two basic categories to all ozone therapy treatments.  Some are systemic, meaning they may benefit the entire body and bring numerous benefits by stimulating homeostasis (self-balancing).  An example of a systemic treatment would be rectal insufflation.

According to scientists, ozone therapy stimulates the same pathway as exercise and intermittent fasting!

Others are considered local, meaning that they only treat a particular area, like swishing ozone water for the mouth, ozone limb bagging for the foot, or vaginal insufflation for the vagina. 

Systemic treatments

Commonly used for: 

• Athletics
• Cancer
• Infections
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Gut Diseases like IBS
• Anti-Aging and Longevity
• Biohacking
• Mold Toxicity
• Lyme

Local treatments

Specific regions like the mouth, hand, or vagina may benefit from local ozone therapy treatments.  

Local treatments are typically used for infections and speeding the healing process.  An example would be washing an infection on the skin with ozone water.
Local treatments are commonly used for:

• Infections (29) 
• Non-healing wounds (30)
• Ulcers (31)
• Cavitations/Oral Infections (32)

Methods of Administration

In order to inform you on all the applications of ozone therapy, we have included some therapies that are not recommended by the International Scientific Committee of Ozone Therapy (ISCO3), the most credible scientific organization for ozone therapy.  The non-recommended therapies will be marked with an asterisk (*).  

Ozone therapy is primarily administered either by mixing blood with ozone or pushing ozone into a body cavity, such as the ears, vagina, or rectum.  However, there are many different protocols and nuances to how it is done, which brings a variety of administration methods to the table.  Below we outline the majority of ozone therapy administration methods.    

We are not making recommendations for ozone therapy or its application, merely observing the different methods of administration.  You can click treatments highlighted blue to see examples. 

At Home or the Medical Clinic

These therapies are commonly applied either at one's residence under the direction of a medical practitioner or in a medical clinic.  We have put together a full comparison of all home therapies here.

Essentially, either rectal or vaginal ozone therapy are the best overall at home. 

Each method below has links to the detailed page with protocols and instructions.

• Systemic - Rectal Insufflation Ozone Therapy
• Systemic - Ear Insufflation Ozone Therapy
• Systemic - Vaginal Insufflation Ozone Therapy
• Systemic - Ozone Sauna Therapy
• Nasal Insufflation Ozone Therapy
• Breathing Ozonides Bubbled Through Olive Oil
• Limb Bagging and Cupping
• Ozone Water for Drinking
• Ozone Water for Lavaging of Wounds and Infections
• Ozone Oil for the Skin and Mouth

Patients at home usually get their equipment in the form of a kit because it usually comes with the trifecta of ozone therapy - rectal, ear, and ozone water.  Between those three, you can cover the majority of bases.  So it’s the biggest bang for your buck.

Only in the Medical Clinic

These therapies are exclusively administered in a medical clinic by a medical practitioner.  We have put together a full comparison of IV ozone therapies.

Essentially, major autohemotherapy (MaH) is the best overall with the most research behind it.  This is what most doctors apply.  However, there are nuances to the protocol we have in each article that detail out the most scientifically sound way to apply ozone therapy.  
People have created different approaches to ozone therapy IV, but many are not scientifically based and created from a practical or monetary standpoint - especially high dose therapies (10 Pass, HiDose, and EBOO).

Including intravenous methods (in the vein):

• Major Autohemotherapy Ozone Therapy (MaH)
• Minor Autohemotherapy Ozone Therapy (mah)
• Direct Intravenous Ozone Therapy (DIV)*** Beyond non-recommended by ISCO3, this is a condemned practice.  Read more in this article.  
• Extracorporeal Blood Oxygenation and Ozonation (EBOO)
• Ozonated Saline Intravenous
• 10 Pass Ozone Therapy AKA Hyperbaric Ozone Therapy
• HiDose Ozone Therapy

Not including blood:

• Bladder Insufflation Ozone Therapy
• Intraperitoneal Ozone Injection Therapy
• Skin Injections Ozone Therapy (infections, non-healing wounds, ulcers)
• Ozonated Eye Drops

Clinics usually start with Major Autohemotherapy and go to a higher dose protocol once they have more experience. 

How Much Does Ozone Therapy Cost?

IV treatments at the clinic will range between $200 - $1,500, depending on the location and type of IV therapy being administered.  For instance, EBOO (a higher dose) is typically more expensive than the standard IV. 

A home setup can be purchased for under $1,600.  It will last indefinitely and can be done in under a few minutes per day for most treatments.

How Long Does it Take for Results?

We can’t say for certain because it depends on many factors.

However, many people experience more energy and reduced brain fog after 4-6 IV ozone treatments or 3 weeks of home ozone therapies.

How to Get Started with Ozone Therapy

Clinics can go through  online course or virtual training.

• How to train staff
• How to market ozone therapy
• How to profit with ozone therapy
• How to integrate it with your current protocols without changing anything
• How to get equipment and start using it

Home users can just need to do a little research and figure out: 

• How to choose the right equipment and buy online
• How to make sure it works for what you need
• How to get oxygen
• How to administer and optimal protocols

We always recommend going through a consultation with a doctor prior to starting.

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