Ozono Therapy

Overview

An investigational therapy called ozono therapy has been tested in clinical trials for the management of persistent back pain. It is a contentious treatment that is not accepted in the US. The benefits and drawbacks of this interventional therapy have started to be studied.

 

Ozone Therapy

When treating medical diseases, medical ozono therapy uses oxygen gas in its unstable O3 state rather than its more stable O2 form. (The oxygen in the air we breathe is in the form of O2). It has been researched for a variety of illnesses, including the treatment and prevention of dental cavities and peripheral artery disease, but it is not the conventional therapy for any medical use.

There are several different ways to administer medical ozone in research investigations. It has been administered intravenously as a gas, topically as a gel, and as a gas bath. The method must correspond to the restrictions imposed by the specific study protocol. Uncertainty surrounds the mechanism through which medical ozono therapy may treat a variety of conditions. Researchers hypothesize that O3 molecules cause a chemical reaction in the scenario of back pain that could lessen pain and inflammation.

 

Ozono Therapy Benefits

There are many ways to treat chronic back pain brought on by problems with the spine (backbone), including physiotherapy, oral medications, and local injections of steroids and nerve blocks. Although surgery is another option for treatment, it is not advised for low back pain with an unclear cause.

People over 65 are more likely to experience painful spine issues, which tend to restrict physical activity. The spinal bones or the cartilaginous discs between the spinal vertebrae frequently compress the spinal nerves and other tissues close to the spine in certain spine diseases, resulting in pain.

Ozone injection has been researched for the treatment of persistent back pain in the context of herniated disks, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine around the spinal cord), and failed back surgery syndrome.

The method is employed in research as a supplement to conventional back pain therapies like steroid or anesthetic injections. The treatment appeared to be safe and may have helped patients with chronic back pain who had a disc herniation, according to the results of a 10-year follow-up study of those patients.

 

Ozono Therapy Actions

Intensive Free Radicals

A situation known as oxidative stress occurs when the body is unable to handle the buildup of free radicals. It causes cell and tissue damage, which in turn causes chronic illnesses like cancer or autoimmune diseases. Ozone works by triggering the innate antioxidant mechanisms that are present in our bodies, allowing for "thorough cleaning" in the form of vigorous sweeping away of accumulated free radicals. As a result, it causes oxidative stress to be lessened.

 

Oxygenation of the Body

Every cell in our body depends on oxygen to function properly. All tissues need blood, the circulatory system, and the respiratory system to be well-oxygenated, and we can assist these systems by engaging in regular physical exercise. However, several disorders cause the body to receive insufficient oxygen. Ozone aids in this situation via means of:

• Microcirculation regulation, or enhancement of the efficiency of the smallest channels through which gas exchange occurs. a critical element in the development of illnesses like diabetes, coronary heart disease, and ischemia of the lower extremities.
• The shift in the oxygen dissociation curve, which refers to hemoglobin's capacity to both receive and supply oxygen. As a result, oxygen saturates the blood more effectively and is delivered to tissues and organs more effectively than it would under normal circumstances.

 

Regulation of Gene Activity and Anti-Inflammatory Effect

Ozone in the blood controls the function of genes in all body cells, including those in charge of regulating cell division (protooncogenes). These genes, when they work improperly, accelerate cell division.

Ozone affects the function of cells with a cell nucleus by controlling the expression of the genes for two nuclear factors, NF-KB and nrf2. Additionally, chronic inflammation is lessened by these two components (because then the so-called vicious circle of inflammation is interrupted, where inflammation is the source of further intensification of inflammation). This is the fundamental mechanism through which we see symptoms linked to persistent inflammation, like joint pain in RA (rheumatoid arthritis), subside.

 

Does Ozono Therapy Work

Ozone therapy is not recommended for treating HIV or other viral disorders, heart problems, malignancies, skin conditions, or a variety of other conditions, claims a 2005 report.

No studies have yet demonstrated the safety or efficacy of ozone in live humans, even though it is effective outside the body against HIV.

According to some research, ozone therapy can treat diseases like cancer by regulating the immune system's reaction and correcting the body's oxygen shortages.

However, according to Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer (CAM-Cancer), there have been relatively few human trials of ozone therapy for any ailment, and no randomized controlled trials in persons with cancer. Ozone use is not permitted by the FDA for any medical condition for which there is insufficient evidence of its safety and efficacy.

This means that numerous additional studies must be conducted before it can be determined how ozone therapy affects the human body and whether it has any therapeutic advantages.

 

Ozono Therapy Procedure

The specifics of the method in a research trial using ozono therapy for back pain would be determined by the study protocol. This covers the inclusion criteria, the pre-testing, the actual injection method, and the evaluation criteria.

The surgical procedure is carried out in a sterile setting, like a surgery room or a procedure suite. Both surgical monitoring and anesthesia are needed. Antiseptic skin cleaning is required right before the surgery.

A needle is used to puncture the skin and release the oxygen gas, which has been pre-ordered from the supplier, in the painful area close to the spine. Real-time imaging, such as computer tomography (CT), is used to guide the injection. The study's instructions allow for a few different injection techniques, but the most typical one includes injecting the gas right into the cartilaginous disk.

The surgical team employs imaging methods both during and right after the treatment to watch the gas move into and around the area where the needle was placed.

You will spend the night in the hospital following the procedure if you're taking part in a research study on ozono therapy. To monitor the health of your spine and spinal nerves and to ensure that any issues, such as infections, are identified as soon as possible, you should undergo routine neurological examinations.

 

Ozono Therapy Recovery and Follow-Up

According to reports, patients in the experimental investigations did not typically have many complications after receiving therapy and leaving the hospital. After one week, they were allowed to resume their activities again, such as returning to work or physiotherapy.

It is not quite understood how long ozono therapy takes to work on the spine or even if it will work at all. It's crucial to remember that back discomfort can go away over time as a result of things like weight changes and altered physical activity. Therefore, specialists are unsure of whether claimed favorable outcomes are a result of treatment or whether they are caused by other factors that frequently reduce back pain.

 

Ozono Therapy Risks

Ozone spine injection is generally safe, according to a few studies, but there are worries about side effects and inconsistent injection procedures. Spine infections, septicemia (a serious blood infection), and spinal abscesses are among the possible side effects of the operation. Additionally, it has been linked to extremely rare adverse effects including pulmonary embolism (PE) and cardiac damage.

 

Regulation

Despite not being accessible to patients outside of research settings, several companies are developing and producing this medication while also researching its outcomes.

The results of numerous ongoing international studies investigating the effects of spinal ozone injection are being published in scholarly journals. It has been suggested as a potential therapy choice in cases where conventional therapies, particularly steroid injections, are inappropriate.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that ozone is a harmful gas with no recognized effective medical use in specific, adjunctive, or preventive therapy. There are some questions about this treatment.

 

Is Ozono Therapy Safe?

Although some sources claim that the positive effects of ozone therapy are reliable and secure, other sources claim that there is insufficient data to determine its true efficacy or safety.

The FDA stated in 2019 opposed the use of ozone as a therapeutic agent. Ozone, they claim, is a harmful gas with no known beneficial uses in curative or preventive medicine.

According to the FDA, ozone must be present in concentrations that are much higher than those that humans and animals can safely tolerate for it to be effective as a germicide. In the past, ozone therapy caused negative side effects, some of which were severe.

Cases have been documented where a direct intravenous infusion of ozone has led to pulmonary embolism and death, according to CAM-Cancer.

There are some case reports of ozone use leading to air embolism, bloodborne infections, and bilateral visual field defects after receiving ozone therapy, according to the 2005 report.

The ozone gas itself is toxic to people. Ozone exposure is linked to a considerable increase in the likelihood of death from respiratory disorders, and when combined with nitrogen dioxide in smog, it is known to be hazardous to people's lungs.

Ozone can irritate the lungs and throat in even modest doses, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and lung tissue damage.

 

Other Uses of Ozono Therapy

Three oxygen atoms (O) make up the chemical molecule (gas) known as ozone. It is the most potent oxidizing agent that inhibits viruses and bacteria. Ozone causes the pores to open up, which favors the removal of chemicals that prevent the skin from breathing, allowing the cells to take in only pure oxygen. Other clinical applications for ozono therapy include:

• Combat viruses, fungi, and bacteria.
• Oxygen nourishes the skin, giving it a supple and delicate texture.
• Cleanses and stimulates the skin.
• Stimulates the flow of blood.
• Provides stressed-out organisms with energy.
• Decreases headache and migraine attacks.

Ozono therapy is completely safe and adheres to both American and European Union standards (FDA). Ozono therapy frequently proves to be a notable advancement in clinical practice. essential for disinfecting water because it prevents allergic reactions. By increasing the amount of oxygen reaching the cells, ozone kills the germs and viruses in the blood.

Ozone exposure causes the body's pores to open, which increases oxygen levels and stimulates blood flow. By doing so, the contaminants are removed and the chance of skin cell damage is decreased. Skin regenerates, boosts microcirculation, forms new blood vessels, and promotes cellular renewal.

 

Conclusion

Ozone injections are not a therapeutic method that is recognized in the United States for the treatment of back pain. However, numerous international studies are looking at the effectiveness of this treatment, and companies are researching and developing it. Although the findings and the treatment's underlying premise are interesting, some issues remain unresolved.

It's crucial to seek medical attention if you experience persistent back pain and to work with your doctor to identify the most effective treatments to reduce your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. Before you consent to participate in the study, understand as much as you can about the risks involved if you and your healthcare provider decide that you should seek experimental treatment.