Ozone therapy is a controversial alternative medical method that utilizes the gas ozone to fight off diseases.
Ozone is a kind of oxygen. Alternative medicine the practitioners of ozone therapy employ liquid or gas-based forms of ozone for treating medical conditions as well as for topical disinfection.
Ozone therapy has been used in medical contexts for a number of years. However the use of ozone therapy is becoming debated due to the safety issues.
In the year 2019, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised against the use of the ozone therapy. This is due to the fact that there’s not enough evidence to prove that it’s effective or safe for use in medical settings.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the ozone therapy including its potential uses, advantages, and potential negative side effects and risks.
Ozone therapy is a term used to describe medical procedures that make use of the gas ozone.
Ozone gas is a type of oxygen. The colorless gas is made from 3 oxygen molecules. At the top of the atmosphere the ozone gas shields the earth from sun’s ultraviolet radiation. On the ground however, ozone is “a dangerous pollution of the air.”
Ozone gas can be harmful when inhaled by a person that causes irritation of the throat and lung coughing, as well as worsening asthma symptoms. Excessive exposure can lead to lung damage, and could cause death.
Some researchers think that ozone may have beneficial effects for medical purposes. One example is that a review from 2011 states that ozone therapy has several uses.
Treatment of arthritis
fighting against viral diseases, including HIV and SARS
Cleansing wounds
activating the immune system.
treating ischemic heart disease
treating macular degeneration
treatment of cancer
Researchers are currently studying how ozone treatment affects for the human body to discover possible benefits for healing.
However, to date there has been very little studies on the efficacy and safety of treatment with ozone. Therefore, the authorities do not currently endorse its use.
According to a 2005 study the evidence isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest the use of ozone in the treatment of HIV or other infections such as heart disease, cancers and skin conditions and a myriad of other diseases.
While ozone has demonstrated success against the virus responsible for HIV in the outside of the body, yet no studies have proved its effectiveness or safety in living humans.
A few studies suggest that the ozone treatment can combat diseases like cancer through modulating the immune response and correcting oxygen deficiencies within the body.
But, Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer (CAM Cancer) state that there are no randomized controlled trials for patients who suffer from cancer. There are also a small number of studies on humans using the use of ozone for treating any illness.
The FDA doesn’t permit the use of the ozone “[i]n any medical health condition that has no evidence of safety and effectiveness.”
Researchers will need to conduct many more tests to determine the real effect of the ozone treatment for the human body, and whether it offers any beneficial effects on health.
While some studies suggest positive effects from Ozone therapy are constant and safe, others affirm that there isn’t enough evidence to prove the extent of its effectiveness or its safety.
In the year 2019 the FDA issued a statement in opposition to the use of ozone in medical treatment. The FDA states that ozone can be a harmful gas and is not used in any clinically proven way for preventive or supportive medical treatment.
Concerning its disinfectant capabilities for disinfecting, the FDA states the following “[i]n order for ozone to work as an anti-microbial agent, it must be present at a level much higher than the amount that can be tolerated safely by both animals and humans.”
Ozone therapy has caused adverse results in the past, some of them severe.
According to the CAM Cancer states, “Cases have been reported where the infusion of oxygen intravenously caused the death of a pulmonary embolism or even death.”
According to the report of 2005, “There are some case reports on the use of Ozone that resulted in blood borne infections and visual field loss bilaterally following the treatment with ozone.”
Ozone gas in itself is harmful to human beings. Ozone exposure is associated in “a significantly increased chance of dying from respiratory illnesses,” and it has known toxic effects on human respiratory tracts when in contact alongside nitrogen dioxide the smog.
Ozone in small quantities can cause irritation to the lungs and throat, causing shortness of breath, coughing and even the destruction of lung tissue.
Ozone is a gas that is naturally present. To make use of it as a remedy one can apply it on the skin, drink Ozonated water, inhale the gas into their body, or take an ozone sauna where an area of the body is sealed and exposed to Ozone gas.
Because ozone causes irritation to the airways, it’s essential that people ensure that they do not breathe in the gas.
For certain procedures, doctors may mix blood of a patient with oxygen and inject it. This is a procedure called autohemotherapy. Studies conducted by scientists have not proved the efficacy of this procedure.
The adverse effects of ozone therapy may differ depending on the kind of treatment the patient receives.
The human body is not designed to breathe in Ozone. If it gets into the nose, mouth, and eyes, it could cause burning and nausea, coughing, vomiting or headaches. A prolonged exposure could result in respiratory issues.
Patients who receive ozone therapy may experience Herxheimer reaction. The patient may suffer from flu-like symptoms, and result in a worsening of symptoms in the short term.
Certain procedures for ozone therapy require blowing gas into the body. If someone is treated with ozone through the rectum area there may be cramping, discomfort, or an urge to expel gas. These effects last for a few days.
Ozone therapy can be described as an alternative medical practice that utilizes Ozone gas. It is controversial because of questions about its efficacy and security.
Researchers are currently studying Ozone therapies’ effects on human body in order to discover possible beneficial effects for therapeutic purposes.
Ozone gas can be harmful to humans and there has been very little studies on the effectiveness of using ozone therapy. Because of this, the organisations that are officially recognized do not recommend the use of ozone gas.
Any person who is unsure regarding ozone therapy or which therapy is best for them, should consult your doctor.
