Ozone therapy has boomed in popularity in recent years, but is it worth the hype? Forget the hype; what even is ozone therapy? Understanding the benefits and potential setbacks of functional medicine options can help you find the treatment option that best fits your individual needs. Today, the team here at Today’s Integrative Health will go over the benefits of ozone therapy and how it may help you.
What is Ozone Therapy?
First and foremost, we need to get to the bottom of the big question you’re probably thinking; “what exactly is ozone therapy?” With so many different functional treatment options, it’s easy to lose track of which one is which. Ozone therapy involves carefully administering ozone gas into your body to treat a disease or wound.
Chances are you have heard of ozone gas, and chances are, you’re aware that this gas makes up a layer in our atmosphere that protects us from the sun’s UV radiation. While the gas may be helpful in the atmosphere, it’s considered a harmful air pollutant on ground level. In fact, the gas can be harmful if a human inhales it, which makes careful application incredibly important.
How Is it Administered?
We’ve established that ozone gas can be harmful to humans, so how is it applied safely in a medical setting? Since it can irritate the airways, a patient should never inhale it. Instead, a functional medicine practitioner will apply it to the skin, use ozonated water, blow the gas into the body, or use an ozone sauna.
Since you must handle ozone gas with care, a professional, trained, and experienced medical practitioner should be the only person to handle it. Trying to apply ozone treatment options on your own can be harmful. If you are interested in ozone therapy, contact a professional medical practitioner.
Three Forms of Treatment
The type of ozone treatment best for you will depend on the medical ailment you’re looking to treat. A professional – again, we can’t stress enough how important it is to seek professional help – will assess your situation and determine the best treatment method possible! The three main forms of ozone treatment include:
- Directly to the area – Ozone gas will be applied directly to the wound or trouble spot using a protective covering
- Intravenously – Through this method, ozone gas is placed in blood taken from you and injected back into your bloodstream through an IV
- Intramuscular – Through this method, ozone gas is mixed with oxygen and injected into your body
Are you confident in your ability to successfully dissolve ozone gas into your blood and inject it back into your body? Unless you’re a trained and experienced professional, the answer is more than likely, no. Therefore, reach out to a professional!
What is Ozone Therapy Used For?
Ozone therapy is a popular functional medicine treatment for a reason. It can help with a wide range of ailments. While further research is required, the evidence we do have suggests that ozone therapy can help with:
- Cardiac events – Ozone therapy can help improve heart health, decreasing the risk of heart attacks or strokes
- Chronic pain – Chronic pain is often debilitating. By applying ozone therapy directly to the affected area, it can help with the pain
- Immune system disorders – Immune system disorders are shockingly common in the United States. Ozone therapy can help relieve the pain that often comes with immune system disorders
- Tissue damage – Direct application of ozone gas to areas affected by tissue damage can help promote healthy tissue function
- Neurological disorders – Research shows ozone therapy can help brain cells fight degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer – While Americans view ozone therapy as an alternative treatment option, it’s a standard approach to cancer care elsewhere in the world
While early research does point towards the benefits of ozone therapy, further research is required.
Does it Work?
Knowing what ozone therapy is, is great and all. But does it work? It’s important to note, yet again, that research regarding ozone therapy is still in its infancy. While research shows mixed outcomes, experts find the results promising.
For example, a study from 2018 found that ozone therapy can help with knee osteoarthritis by improving range of motion and delaying decline. Another recent study found that ozonated water can be an effective disinfectant during root canals. While there are products on the market that claim the same benefits of ozone therapy, these products have not proven to be effective.
Side Effects
Remember, ozone gas can be dangerous, especially if mismanaged. This is because ozone gas has an odd number of atoms, making the gas unstable. Since it’s insatiable, it can be quite unpredictable. That’s why we have stressed the importance of seeking professional help when looking for ozone therapy.
It is significantly dangerous to inhale ozone, as it can irritate the lungs and cause fluid buildup, making it difficult to breathe. Using ozone gas intravenously, especially at a high dose, can also be dangerous. Before starting ozone therapy, it’s important to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor.
We’re Ready to Help
If you’re looking for ozone therapy in the Rockville, Maryland area, our team here at Today’s Integrative Health is here to help. We offer a wide range of functional medicine treatment options, including ozone therapy. Contact our team today to find out what it is we can do for you!
