Suitability and Safety in Ozone Therapy: Who Is It Not Suitable For and What Are the Risks?
Ozone applications are one of the frequently wondered methods in the supportive processes of various health conditions today. Correct patient selection, appropriate dosage, and physician control are of vital importance for this application, which is based on the principle of administering a medical-grade ozone-oxygen mixture to the body, to be performed safely. This article examines what ozone therapy is, how it creates a mechanism of action in the body, its potential risks, and which patient groups require caution.
What is Medical Ozone and How Does It Work in the Body?
Pure medical ozone used in ozone therapy is a special mixture containing a high rate of oxygen and a low rate of ozone. Although the content of this mixture depends on the application dosage, it generally contains at least 95% oxygen (O2) and at most 5% ozone (O3). In this structure, while oxygen provides a carrier medium, ozone is the main component that exhibits the therapeutic (healing) effect and works by interacting with body fluids.
When medical ozone enters biological environments, it rapidly turns into molecular oxygen and oxygen radicals. This transformation creates a "controlled oxidative stress" in the body. This intended oxidative stress enables the enzymes involved in antioxidant defense systems to become active. Ozone dissolved in body fluids rapidly reacts with antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids to form reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidation products (LPO). These components spread into the cell cytoplasm and play a triggering role.
The Importance of Dosage and Oxidative Stress Balancing
The basic condition for safety in ozone therapy is the correct adjustment of the dose. The ozone dose creates only a placebo effect when given low, while it can lead to toxicity (a state of poisoning) when given higher than necessary.
A controlled and moderate level of oxidative stress activates a system called NRF-2 (Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor-2) in cells, which triggers a protective antioxidant response. However, in the event of an overdose or severe oxidative stress, NF-κB (Nuclear Factor Kappa B), which initiates an inflammatory response, becomes activated. This can increase the production of cytokines and other molecules, laying the groundwork for undesired tissue damage. This fine line clearly shows why ozone therapy must be performed by expert practitioners.
Who Is Ozone Therapy Not Suitable For and Conditions That Require Attention
As with any medical application, there are situations where ozone therapy is not suitable or requires extra caution. It is mandatory to provide a comprehensive medical history (anamnesis) to the physician prior to the application.
Pregnancy, Menstruation, and Special Conditions
Ozone applications may pose a risk in certain situations. Especially in female patients; the practitioner physician must be informed about pregnancy status, suspected pregnancy, or the menstruation (period) cycle. Since the physiological balance of the body differs during these processes, the decision for application is specially evaluated by the physician.
G6PD Deficiency (Favism) Condition
One of the frequently wondered topics is the status of ozone application in people with "Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency", commonly known as favism. In current official health and CAMS (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) guideline texts, there is no direct specific information or contraindication (absolute non-application) data regarding the effects of ozone application in patients with G6PD deficiency. However, considering that the mechanism of action of medical ozone is directly based on oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidant response, the condition of patients with genetic enzyme deficiencies is quite sensitive. In such systemic and genetic enzyme disorders, detailed evaluation and approval by relevant specialist physicians (Hematology, Internal Medicine, etc.) is essential before starting any application.
What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Ozone Therapy?
Even if ozone therapy is performed under appropriate conditions, it harbors various side effect potentials depending on individual differences.
Common Undesirable Conditions:
Side effects that may be frequently encountered depending on the general condition of the patient during the application process are:
Tachycardia (palpitations or increased heart rate)
Dizziness
Hot flashes
Formation of severe, hard adhesions, especially in intradiscal or intraforaminal (spine region) applications
Rare Serious Side Effects:
Although much rarer, ozone therapy also carries the risk of leading to serious medical complications. Informing patients about these risks is a legal and ethical obligation. Rare risks include:
Air embolism (escape of air or gas into a blood vessel)
Cardiac arrest
Vertebrobasilar stroke (brainstem stroke)
Vitreoretinal hemorrhage (intraocular bleeding)
Septic arthritis (joint inflammation) and paravertebral abscess (inflammation around the spine)
Pneumocephalus (accumulation of air in the intracranial space) and transient encephalopathy
Transient cortical blindness
Damage to the ventral and dorsal root ganglion (nerve nodes)
Massive emphysema and pneumomediastinum
Due to the presence of these risks, ozone therapy should be performed in well-equipped healthcare facilities where potential complications can be intervened.
By Which Methods Is Ozone Therapy Performed?
Ozone therapy is gathered under two main method headings according to the patient's need and medical condition:
- Systemic Methods: These are applications aimed at affecting the whole body. Major autohemotherapy (reinfusion of ozonated blood), minor autohemotherapy, rectal insufflation (administration of gas via the intestinal route), and vaginal insufflation fall into this group.
- Local Methods: These are applications directed at a specific region. They can be performed as the bagging method, cupping method, musculoskeletal applications, intradiscal (spine) application, and ozonation of electrolyte fluids.
Conclusion and Warnings
Ozone therapy is a supportive method aimed at increasing the nourishment of cells. However, every individual's body dynamics, existing ailments, and genetic makeup are different. Caution should be exercised in special situations such as suspected pregnancy, and the risk of side effects should always be kept in mind.
Important Note: This article is for informational purposes only; it does not constitute a medical diagnosis or treatment. Ozone applications or other CAMS (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) methods do not replace the standard treatment protocols of modern medicine. Be sure to consult the relevant specialist physicians to determine methods suitable for your own health status and to evaluate your personal risks.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.