Oxygen, as we all know, is an element essential to life itself and the oxygen we breathe usually comes in pairs of atoms, or O2. Under certain conditions, some pairs of oxygen break apart, and each atom joins another pair to make ozone, O3.
When found naturally in the lower atmosphere, ozone can be best described as a travelling pollutant. This ozone is found closest to earth and is man-made, an indirect result of air pollution created by automobile exhaust and emissions from factories and power plants. It is commonly known as smog and in certain areas of the US such a big cities, the smog is so bad that pollution levels routinely exceed safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
People who inhale ozone during repeated exposure may permanently damage their lungs or suffer from respiratory infections. Ozone exposure may reduce lung function or aggravate existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis. Ozone may also cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation or congestion.
Ozone for Medical Use
Ozone in medical use is a story with a very different ending. Made by passing pure oxygen through an electric coil which gives it three atoms, instead of two, the addition of the third oxygen atom makes ozone “supercharged” oxygen, and gives it all of its remarkable medical properties.
How Does Ozone Work in the Body?
Ozone increases the amount of oxygen in the body, which may help the body to heal by:
- reducing the clogging of blood cells
- detoxifying the liver
- decreasing uric acid in the body
- improving circulation and oxygen supply
- decreasing fat (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- killing viruses, bacteria and fungus
- improving the activity of the white blood cells
- improving the metabolism of cells
- slowing down the aging process
Ozone therapy can be used to treat a variety of chronic disease including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Lyme disease, chronic hepatitis, herpes, chronic fatigue states, chemical sensitivity, macular degeneration, chronic bladder conditions, migraine headaches, colitis, auto-immune diseases, and Crohn’s disease.
Ozone Therapies
At LifeWorks Wellness Center, we are having great success treating patients with the ozone therapies we offer.* Here is a description of the different ways we use ozone at our clinic:
Chezone
Chezone is a combination of chelation therapy and ozone therapy. First, the ozone therapy is delivered by Major Autohemotherapy, as described below. This is immediately followed by chelation therapy, which is an intravenous treatment which helps rid the body of heavy metals.
Chezone can also cause the mobilization of the calcium deposits, so it is also used to treat the effects of hardening of the arteries leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Cystozone
Cystozone is used to treat the bladder in cases of interstitial cystitis or acute infection. A urinary catheter is inserted into the bladder and some medication is infused into the bladder. After 20 minutes, ozone is also infused into the bladder, where it remains for a further 20 minutes. In the case of acute infections, this procedure is carried out daily, in chronic inflammation, it is repeated 2-3 times a week until symptoms subside.
Major Autohemotherapy (MAH)
MAH is the most common, and in most cases the most effective way ozone is administered. The patient relaxes in a chair in the IV room and has 100-250ml of blood removed into a sterilized IV bag. Then ozone is injected into the bag, which is gently shaken, allowing the red and white blood cells to take up the ozone. The ozonated blood is then returned to the body via IV drip. The entire procedure takes about 30-60 minutes.
It can be valuable in the treatment of heart disease and circulatory disorders. Chronic infections such as hepatitis-C, herpes, Lyme, and AIDS may also respond very favorably to MAH. It can also very helpful in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.
Otozone
With the Otozone protocol, ozone is infused into the ears and may be particularly successful in treating cases of sinusitis or ear infections. Ozone is run into both ears via a stethoscope for 2 minutes per day to begin with, building up to a maximum of 10 minutes. The procedure is painless and in some cases, may bring almost immediate relief.
Prolozone
Prolozone uses the power of oxygen to cause damaged tissues, joints, ligaments, and tendons to regenerate.
To begin with, a solution called a proliferant (a proliferant is something that makes something grow or expand), is injected directly into the site where the weakened ligament attaches to the bone. Then the area is infiltrated with ozone, giving the tissues what they need to heal. The response to treatment varies from person to person, but most people only need from 3-5 treatments.
Prolozone may work on just about any pain problem you might have, including:
neck pain, degenerated or herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, torn tendons, sciatica, heel spurs, neuromas, knee injuries, and virtually any sports injury. It is can also be effective for severe cases of osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.
Rozone
This therapy is particularly suited to patients who suffer from gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, colitis and Crohn’s disease. A small amount (between 200-500ml) of the ozone is delivered to the intestine via an intestinal catheter which is inserted into the rectum. This does not cause discomfort, and the ozone is absorbed by the intestine.
Topical Ozone
This form of ozone treatment is delivered in a bag, making it a particularly useful way of treating limbs. The hand, arm, foot or leg is put in a plastic bag and the bag is sealed. Ozone is run into the bag via a tube for approximately 15 minutes, and is absorbed through the skin. Ozone has strong disinfectant properties, making this form of treatment particularly useful for treating wounds and skin infections.
These ozone protocols are all available at LifeWorks Wellness Center. For more information call the New Patient Scheduler on (727) 466-6789.
Dr. David Minkoff is co-founder and Medical Director of LifeWorks Wellness Center, one of the foremost alternative health clinics in the US.
Related Therapies
