What is ozone therapy?
Ozone therapy is one of the relatively young and promising areas of modern medicine aimed at reducing the pharmacological burden on the patient. Ozone therapy has been used in clinical practice for a little over 100 years and, despite ongoing debates in the medical community regarding the appropriateness of its development, it has gained wide acceptance among patients.
Ozone is an unstable gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It has strong oxidative properties and is highly toxic to living organisms. Its ability to oxidize and destroy organic and inorganic compounds led to its medical use as early as World War I, primarily for disinfecting and antiseptic treatment of wounds.
In modern ozone therapy, ozone–oxygen mixtures with varying ozone concentrations ranging from 1 to 80 mg per liter of oxygen are used. These mixtures are produced from medical oxygen using certified ozone generators and are applied for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes.
Indications for ozone therapy
The range of indications for ozone therapy covers a wide spectrum of conditions in:
- internal medicine,
- pediatrics,
- neurology,
- gynecology,
- urology,
- orthopedics and traumatology,
- cosmetology,
- dermatology,
- infectious diseases,
- treatment of conditions associated with tissue hypoxia and metabolic disorders,
- management of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
Contraindications to ozone therapy
Ozone therapy has a number of contraindications, including:
- blood coagulation disorders, including hemophilia and long-term use of anticoagulants,
- anemia,
- recent bleeding or a tendency to bleeding,
- seizure disorders,
- acute phases of psychiatric illnesses,
- hyperthyroidism,
- decompensated diabetes mellitus,
- terminal conditions,
- individual intolerance to ozone therapy.
What is the mechanism of action of ozone therapy?
The mechanism of action of ozone is based on:
- local effects (bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal), caused by the ability of reactive oxygen species to damage cellular structures,
- systemic effects (immunomodulatory, fibrinolytic, lipolytic, antiaggregant), associated with activation of the body’s own antioxidant and protective systems.
Types of ozone therapy
Depending on the clinical objective, ozone–oxygen mixtures may be applied externally or internally.
External application of ozone–oxygen mixtures includes:
- ozone gas flow exposure (open gas insufflation),
- insufflations,
- irrigation with ozonated saline or distilled water,
- applications of ozonated oils and antiseptic solutions.
Internal application of ozone–oxygen mixtures includes:
- subcutaneous and intradermal injections,
- ozone acupuncture,
- intramuscular injections,
- periarticular and intra-articular injections,
- intravenous infusion of ozonated saline solution,
- oral intake of ozonated water.
In addition, blood components may be treated extracorporeally with ozone–oxygen mixtures and subsequently reinfused into the patient:
- major autohemotherapy,
- minor autohemotherapy,
- ozone plasma lifting.
Currently, several major areas of ozone therapy are distinguished: clinical ozone therapy, ozone reflexotherapy, and ozone therapy in cosmetology. These approaches may be combined during treatment.
Clinical ozone therapy
Ozone therapy as a therapeutic method is most commonly prescribed for the following conditions:
- chronic cerebral hypoxia,
- chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency,
- migraine,
- tension-type headaches,
- vertebrogenic pain syndromes,
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract,
- hepatitis of various etiologies,
- herpes virus infection,
- conditions associated with immunodeficiency,
- HIV infection,
- chronic fatigue syndrome,
- other conditions in the absence of contraindications to ozone therapy.
Ozone reflexotherapy
In ozone reflexotherapy, small volumes of an ozone–oxygen mixture are injected into acupuncture points using fine needles. This produces a synergistic effect combining ozone exposure and reflexotherapy. Indications for this method include:
- pain syndromes of various origins,
- neuralgia and peripheral neuropathies,
- diseases of internal organs, provided there are no contraindications to ozone therapy.
Use of ozone in cosmetology
In cosmetology, ozone therapy is indicated for:
- body contouring,
- treatment of cellulite and localized fat deposits,
- correction of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks,
- removal of telangiectasias,
- skin lifting and correction of age-related changes,
- improvement of skin tone and complexion,
- treatment of acne, furunculosis, and other dermatological conditions.
If you decide to undergo a course of ozone therapy, it is essential to assess blood coagulation parameters, undergo evaluation for endocrine disorders, and consult a qualified ozone therapy specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment program.
In rehabilitation and balneological centers of Belarus, a full range of ozone therapy services is provided at a high professional level.