Ozone therapy

Ozone therapy is the administration of ozone gas or ozone-treated fluids to the body for claimed therapeutic effects. Its benefits are not established, and some routes can cause serious harm.

Ozone: Ozone is a reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms, occurring naturally in the atmosphere and produced by electrical discharges. Its reactivity is the basis of therapeutic claims and the source of tissue damage.
Ozone sauna: An ozone sauna is an enclosure-based procedure that exposes the body to ozone, often while the head remains outside. It is a marketed whole-body delivery method, not an established treatment.
Evidence-based medicine: Evidence-based medicine integrates research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values in healthcare decisions. Ozone therapy lacks reliable evidence of benefit for most promoted conditions.
Gas embolism: A gas embolism occurs when gas bubbles obstruct blood vessels and impair blood flow. Accidental entry of injected gas into circulation can cause life-threatening harm.
Oxidative stress: Oxidative stress occurs when reactive molecules overwhelm biological systems that control or repair their effects. Ozone exposure can impose oxidative stress rather than selectively targeting disease.
Rectal insufflation: Rectal insufflation is the introduction of gas into the rectum through a tube. Ozone practitioners use this route despite limited evidence supporting its claimed benefits.
Placebo effect: The placebo effect is a measurable change in symptoms or outcomes associated with treatment expectations and context. Reported improvement after ozone procedures does not by itself establish a specific ozone effect.
Pulmonary edema: Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs that impairs breathing and oxygen exchange. Inhaling ozone can injure the lungs and contribute to severe respiratory effects.
Reactive oxygen species: Reactive oxygen species are oxygen-containing molecules that readily react with cellular components. Ozone reacts in tissues to generate oxidizing products that drive proposed mechanisms and injury.
Dental ozone therapy: Dental ozone therapy applies ozone gas or ozonated liquids to teeth or oral tissues. This narrower use is promoted for oral disease, but clinical benefits remain uncertain.

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Allotropes of oxygenRelated: It illustrates how ozone’s strong reactivity becomes a claimed medical application.