By Mark James Bartiss, M.D.
Forever Health Network Practitioner
If you knew of a cure that could change the lives of millions of people, would you share? Of course, you would, and so will I! From pacemakers to artificial hearts and limbs, to stem cells, America has always been an innovator of medical technology.
Unfortunately, the cost of these interventions — and most non-mainstream, proven safe and effective medical therapies — prohibits those who would benefit most from obtaining them. This is just one of many factors that places America approximately 39th in rankings of health care systems throughout the world.
But what would you say to the idea of steering away from conventional medical thinking and opening your eyes and mind to therapies that are considered “alternative” or “outside the box”? You know, medical modalities that offer a cure for an underlying condition rather than a Band-Aid that masks the symptoms of disease. I am specifically referring to the use of ozone to promote health and enhance longevity.
Ozone: Good or Bad?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies ground ozone as air pollution, yet without it, life on earth would be impossible. A fragile layer of ozone 25 km above the Earth's surface is all that stands between the Earth’s surface and some of the harshest ultraviolet rays from the sun.
The ozone molecule (03) blocks radiation that would otherwise burn our skin and cause cancer. The bottom line is ozone high in the sky is essential while ozone low to the ground is deadly. But … medical ozone is truly medicine’s best kept secret!
What Is Medical Ozone?
A highly reactive form of pure oxygen, medical grade ozone is utilized in ozone therapy to create a healing response within the body. The body has the potential to renew and regenerate itself. Proponents of ozone medicine believe that we become sick as a result of this potential being blocked.
The reactive properties of ozone stimulate the body to remove many of these impediments thus allowing the body to do what it does best — heal itself. By various mechanisms of action, ozone destroys abnormal cells and foreign invaders (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.).1
Why Haven’t We Heard About Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy has been used in European clinics and hospitals for the past 75 years. As with most medical therapies, however, America lags behind. The reason: Big Pharma. Ozone, like anything that occurs naturally, can’t be patented.
Ozone has been utilized in the United States in limited capacity, such as in water purifying plants, dating back to the early part of the 20th century. Its medicinal use in the U.S. came about only during the last few decades. Yet professional medical ozone therapy societies exist in more than 10 countries worldwide.
Recently, the International Scientific Committee of Ozone Therapy (ISCO3) was formed to help establish standardized scientific principles for ozone therapy.
In the U.S., the majority of ozone practitioners have been trained and/or are certified through the rapidly growing American Academy of Ozonotherapy (AAO). This is an excellent reference for acquiring more information and finding a physician.
How Does Ozone Therapy Work?2-5
1. Stimulates the production of white blood cells.
2. May have anti-viral properties.
3. Increases the delivery of oxygen from the blood to the cells.
4. May help to maintain healthy cell growth.
5. Oxidizes and degrades petrochemicals.
6. Increases red blood cell membrane fluidity.
7. Increases the production of interferon and tumor necrosis factor.
8. Increases the efficiency of the antioxidant enzyme system, which scavenges excess free radicals in the body.
9. Accelerates the citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, which is the main source of liberation of energy from sugars.
10. Increases tissue oxygenation, thus bringing about patient improvement and optimal health.
Is Ozone Therapy Safe?
Literally millions of ozone therapies have been administered worldwide by tens of thousands of medical practitioners with the safety and efficacy of ozone therapy documented again and again.
The most commonly prescribed form of ozone therapy known as Major Auto-Hemotherapy (MAH) was evaluated for safety in a German study in 1980. After 5,579,238 MAH treatments conducted by 644 therapists on 384,775 patients, only 40 patients complained of side effects.6
How Is Ozone Therapy Administered?
Ozone therapy may be administered via several different vehicles, each with its respective indications, advantages, and limitations.
Below is a list of several of the most commonly prescribed ozone modalities used in the U.S. today:
Major AHT = MAH: Bladder Insufflation
minor AHT = mAH: Ear Insufflation
Chelozone: Vaginal Insufflation
Rectal Insufflation: Ozonated Oil
Limb Bagging: Ozonated Water
Prolozone: Isode Injections
IV Ozonated Saline: Intravenous Direct
Intra-arterial: Sauna (Steam and Infrared)
Inhalation Therapy: OHT (new since Sept. 2015)
MAH is currently the most widely used vehicle to administer ozone therapy to patients.
Major Auto-Hemotherapy
Major Auto-Hemotherapy (MAH) involves the injection of medical grade ozone gas into blood drawn from a person. The ozone is allowed to mix with the blood for a period of time.
The ozonated blood is then intravenously infused back into the same person. The ozonated blood will be a much brighter red color than the drawn blood. This is because the blood has been oxygenated.
It appears that when ozone is injected into the treated sample of blood, it destroys any pathogens, and when it is injected back into the person, it may have the effect of an autogenous (self-generated) vaccine although more research is necessary to better understand this potential effect.7,8
MAH is a specific, medical procedure that must be performed by properly trained, medical professionals in accordance with strict protocols.
When properly performed, MAH is comfortable, safe, and effective. It has a cumulative effect so that each treatment builds on and enhances the effects of previous treatments.
Contraindications and Side Effects of Ozone Therapy
Contraindications for ozone therapy include acute alcohol intoxication, recent MI, early pregnancy, active bleeding, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, thrombocytopenia, ozone allergy, and patients with a rare condition known as G6PD.9
Side effects are rare but include flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, headache, and sneezing. Some practitioners believe that the side effects might actually be the result of the “healing response” and not even related to ozone itself.
These practitioners reference the Herxheimer Reaction — commonly seen in Lyme disease patients receiving antibiotics. Symptoms develop from the toxins released from dying organisms. It’s been postulated that this is what happens with ozone patients who complain of symptoms.
The Future of Ozone in Medicine
The future is in the hands of open-minded physicians and you as patients seeking options and answers for your healthcare needs. There is strength in numbers and unity builds both.
I ask that all interested parties enlist in AAOT (Advocates for the Advancement of Ozone Therapy). The AAO website can help direct you in finding the answers you are seeking and serve as conduit to allow for suggestions, testimonials, concerns, and ideas in bringing awareness to ozone therapy as a mainstream protocol for appropriate medical conditions.
For More Information and How to Find a Doctor:
- As a reference, use Madrid Declaration Of Ozone Therapy (2nd ed.) Official Document of ISCO3: www.isco3.org or info@isco3.org
- American Academy of Ozonotherapy: www.aaot.us
- www.acam.org
- www.icimed.com
References:
- Sweet, F, Kao MS, Lee SC, et al. Ozone selectively inhibits growth of human cancer cells. Science. 1980 Aug 22; 209(4459):931-3.
- Greenberg, J. An electron microscopical examination of cellular constituents of human whole blood after in-vitro exposure to ozone gas. The Kief Clinic. Ludwigshafen, Germany. Circa 1985.
- Fahmy, Z. Immunological effect of ozone (O3/02) in rheumatic diseases. Augusta-Klinik. 6550 Bad Kreuznach, Germany.
- Masaru, S. Tsukuba Institute for Healthy-Life, Higashi Hiratsuka 586-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
- Bocci, V. Department of Physiology, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, University of Siena, Italy.
- Viebahn, R. The Use of Ozone in Medicine. 2nd ed. Heidelberg: Karl F. Haug Publisher; 1994.
- Bocci, VA. Scientific and medical aspects of ozone therapy. State of the art. Arch Med Res. 2006 May;37(4):425–35.
- Rogers, G. Ozone and the Politics of Medicine: The True Story of a Medical Breakthrough [VHS]. Canada: Threshold Film; 1993.
- Ozone Therapy (O3X) Basic Principles, Contraindications. In: Madrid Declaration on Ozone Therapy. 2nd ed. Madrid: International Scientific Committee of Ozone Therapy; 2015: 15.
Note: Edited by Forever Health