TREATMENTS
A look at the potential uses of
oxygen-ozone therapy
Aysha Mendes
Freelance journalist, specialising in healthcare and psychology
[email protected] O zone (O3) therapy has been studied for more
than a century and has been well established as an
effective method to disinfect surfaces and liquids
treat disease (Juchniewicz and Lubkowska, 2020). O3 therapy,
sometimes referred to as oxygen-ozone therapy involves the
such as age, body mass index, fitness, health and respiratory
conditions can all play a role in how much of an irritant O3
can be to a person (Juchniewicz and Lubkowska, 2020).When
pollutants and nitrous oxides break apart producing O3, it is an
irritant to the eyes and lungs, and repeated exposure to low
administration of a mixture of oxygen and ozone (Alberto- doses of O3 is dangerous and can increase cardiovascular and
Hernández et al, 2020).While ozone is a molecule consisting respiratory mortality (Bell et al, 2004). However, O3 therapy is
of three oxygen atoms, two of these three make up a stable pair based on high doses in order to stimulate the immune system
(O2), which is accompanied by a third unstable atom, which (Juchniewicz and Lubkowska, 2020).
gives the therapy its beneficial effects (Alberto-Hernández As is importantly pointed out by Elvis and Ekta (2011),
et al, 2020). ozone toxicity does not apply to the controlled and proper
administration of medical ozone. The level at which ozone
Why the ambivalence? occurs at the earth’s surface is safe for humans, as is O3 therapy,
Despite O3 therapy having been around for more than the effects of which are consistent and without side effects
150 years, more than a century of study and evidence of its (Juchniewicz and Lubkowska, 2020).
benefits, opinions are still divided over its use (Juchniewicz
and Lubkowska, 2020). The reason for this may well be the Potential benefits
potential toxicity of O3 (Juchniewicz and Lubkowska, 2020) In 1929, a book entitled Ozone and its therapeutic actions
and controversial study findings regarding its safety and was published, detailing more than 100 diseases that could
efficacy (Di Mauro et al, 2019). be treated by O3 therapy (Juchniewicz and Lubkowska,
There is considerable variability among individual sensitivity 2020), and our knowledge of its uses in healthcare has been
to O3 exposure, so it is difficult to establish its precise toxicity gradually increasing ever since. Diseases or conditions that
level (Swanson and Chapman, 2020). For example, factors may benefit from treatment with ozone therapy are infected
wounds, circulatory disorders, geriatric conditions, macular
degeneration, viral diseases, rheumatism/arthritis, cancer,
AdobeStock/designua
severe acute respiratory syndrome and AIDS (Elvis and
Ekta, 2011).
Medical use of ozone initially started with the treatment of
wounds and infections, and it has been shown to be effective
in treating bacterial infections of the skin (Juchniewicz and
Lubkowska, 2020). However, in vitro, animal and clinical trials
have shown various other benefits and potential benefits.The
O3 compound has haemodynamic and anti-inflammatory
properties and has the ability to decrease cholesterol,
improve glycaemic index and stimulate antioxidant defence
(Juchniewicz and Lubkowska, 2020). It has also been proposed
to result in benefits related to both health and quality of life
for people with hypoxic syndromes, diabetes mellitus and
peripheral arterial disease, particularly older people and those
© 2020 MA Healthcare Ltd
who are not eligible for standard revascularisation (Juchniewicz
and Lubkowska, 2020).
For hypoxic and ischaemic syndromes, the success of
medical ozone therapy has been attributed to its ability to
Physical and chemical factors in zero-gravity environments affect human modulate tissue oxygenation, and it may also be involved in
bodies, medications as well as the interactions between the two recovering metabolism altered by chronic disease (Di Mauro
568 British Journal of Community Nursing October 2020 Vol 25, No 10
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TREATMENTS
et al, 2019). Furthermore, it stimulates arterial blood flow, Elvis AM, Ekta JS. Ozone therapy: a clinical review. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2011;
2(1):66–70. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.82319
especially in older people (Clavo et al, 2004) and can result in
Hernández A,Vinals M, Isidoro T,Vilas F. Potential role of oxygen-ozone
the recovery of motor function in people with acute cerebral therapy in treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. Am J Case Rep. 2020;
infarction (Wu et al, 2013). 21:e925849-1–e925849-6. https://doi.org/10.12659/AJCR.925849
Interestingly, several researchers have even identified O3 Juchniewicz H, Lubkowska A. Oxygen-ozone (O2-O3) therapy in peripheral
therapy as adjuvant for COVID-19 (Marini et al, 2020) and in arterial disease (PAD): a review study. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2020; 16:579–
594. https://doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S255247
the treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia (Alberto- Marini S, Maggiorotti M, Dardes N et al. Oxygen-ozone therapy as adjuvant
Hernández et al, 2020). BJCN in the current emergency in SARS-COV-2 infection: a clinical study. J Biol
Regul Homeost Agents. 2020;34(3). https://doi.org/10.23812/20-250-E-56
Clavo B, Catala L, Perez JL, Rodriguez V, Robaina F. Ozone therapy on cerebral Swanson T, Chapman J. Ozone toxicity. Treasure Island (FL): Statpearls
blood flow: a preliminary report. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Publishing; 2020
2004; 1(3):315–319. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh039
Wu X, Li Z, Liu X et al. Major ozonated autothemotherapy promotes
Di Mauro R, Cantarella G, Bernardini R et al. The biochemical and
pharmacological properties of ozone: the smell of protection in acute and the recovery of upper limb motor function in patients with acute
chronic diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20(3):E634. https://doi.org/10.3390/ cerebral infarction. Neural Regen Res. 2013;8(5):461–468. https://doi.
ijms20030634 org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.05.010
Fundamental Aspects of Community Nursing
Edited by John Fowler &OWLER
About the book
n What does it feel like to be a student on Fundamental Aspects of
Fundamental Aspects of Community Nursing
What does it feel like to be a student on your community
experience?
How do the various nurses who work in the community
organise their
Community Nursing
time and plan their care? What does a practice manager
do? What
your community experience?
does it feel like to be a patient in the community?
This is a text book written by a variety of people who
are delivering
or receiving community nursing. It captures the lived
experience of
community nursing in a way that seamlessly combines
theory and
practice underpinned by a core belief in holistic care.
Edited by John Fowler
n How do the various nurses who work in the
As you read each chapter you cannot fail to be inspired
commitment of the health care professionals and the
that they display to their patients, students and each
by the
quality of care
community organise their time and plan
other.
About the author
their care? Dr John Fowler has a joint appointment as Principal
Lecturer in
Nursing at De Montfort University & Nursing Educational
to Leicester City West PCT. Much of his current work
Consultant
focuses on
helping people learn from their clinical experiences
either through
clinical supervision or independent study.
n What does a practice manager do?
Other titles in the Fundamental Aspects
of Nursing series include:
Adult Nursing Procedures
Caring for the Acutely Ill Adult
n What does it feel like to be a patient in the
Caring for the Person with Dementia
Complementary Therapies for Health Care Professionals
Gynaecology Nursing
community? Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Nursing by
Men’s Health
Tissue Viability Nursing
Palliative Care Nursing
Women’s Heath
This is a text book written by a variety of
people who are delivering or receiving
Edited by John Fowler
community nursing. It captures the lived
Fundamental Aspects of Nursing series
experience of community nursing in a way
that seamlessly combines theory
www.quayboo ks.co.uk and practice
underpinned by a core belief in holistic care.
FA CommNurs cover.indd 1
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ISBN-13: 978-1-85642-302-1; 234 x 156 mm; paperback; 136 pages; publication 2006; £19.99
Order your copies by visiting or call
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BJCN CALL FOR PAPERS ( 020 7501 6780 8 [email protected] @BJCommunityNurs
The British Journal of Community Nursing welcomes unsolicited articles on a range of
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• The journal publishes literature reviews, case studies, review articles and original research
© 2020 MA Healthcare Ltd
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