Ozone Therapy: A Method That Activates The Body’s Own Healing Power
Ozone (O3) is a colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms and has a distinctive sharp odor. Medical ozone, on the other hand, is a gas mixture of pure oxygen blended at specific ratios and is used as a supportive method in the treatment of various diseases. Ozone therapy, one of the oldest known treatment methods, has been used for disinfection since the 19th century and in the medical field since the early 20th century.
Rather than being an alternative method, it is a scientific treatment whose mechanisms of action can be explained by classical biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology.
How Does Ozone Work In The Body?
The effect of ozone therapy occurs not because ozone gas directly enters the body, but through molecules formed when it immediately reacts with body fluids. This process initiates a signaling cascade that triggers the body’s own self-repair mechanisms.
Instant Reaction And Formation Of Messengers:
When ozone gas comes into contact with blood or tissue fluids, it reacts within seconds due to its unstable structure and no longer remains as ozone. As a result of this reaction, two main groups of “messenger molecules” are formed.
- Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): These are short-lived but highly effective molecules, especially hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). They function as “early and short-acting messengers.”
- Lipid Oxidation Products (LOPs): These are longer-lived molecules formed by the reaction of fatty acids with ozone. They act as “late and long-acting messengers,” spreading throughout the body and exerting their effects.
Effects At The Cellular Level:
Increased Oxygenation: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) stimulates the metabolism of red blood cells (erythrocytes). As a result, the level of 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in the cells increases. This molecule enables hemoglobin to release oxygen more easily to tissues, thereby improving oxygenation in poorly perfused (ischemic) areas.
Regulation Of The Immune System (Immunomodulation): ROS and LOPs stimulate immune system cells (leukocytes), triggering the release of immune-regulating proteins such as cytokines and interferons. In this way, the body’s defense against infections is strengthened and the immune system is balanced.
Paradoxical Effect: Strengthening The Antioxidant System:
- Although ozone is an oxidant, when applied at therapeutic doses it creates a controlled and temporary “acute oxidative stress” in the body.
This condition activates the body’s own defense mechanisms and increases the production of antioxidant enzymes (such as SOD, Catalase, and GSH-Px). Thanks to this “preconditioning” effect, the body becomes more resistant to chronic oxidative stress, which is associated with aging and chronic diseases.
