(Dr. Chow practices in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and has used Ozone
in her practice for many years.)
Healthy cells need oxygen. Most infections occur because of
the invasion of anaerobes that do not thrive in an oxygen-rich
environment.
Deprivation of oxygen to the body, for example through polluted
air, sedentary lifestyle or junk food diet which require a
lot of oxygenation for elimination, encourages anaerobic microbes
to proliferate. Over-growth of harmful microbes will lead to
breakdown of enzymatic reactions, overload of metabolic wastes
and ultimately cell death.
Under similar anaerobic conditions, cells tend to mutate to
more primitive life forms, turning from aerobic to anaerobic
respiration for energy synthesis. Nobel prize winner Dr. Otto
Warburg in 1928 demonstrated that the primary cause of cancer
is the replacement of oxygen in the respiratory chemistry of
normal cells by the fermentation of sugar. The growth of cancer
cells is a fermentation process which can be initiated only in
the relative absence of oxygen.
Ozone is one of nature's most powerful oxidants. It is used
in water purification and sewage treatment and is now being applied
medically in Europe to treat everything from wounds and colitis
to cancer, stroke and AIDS. Yes, the same ozone in the atmospheric
layer that is responsible for shielding off ultra-violet light
from the sun and oxidizing the pollutants in the air can be produced
from medical oxygen via electrical discharge. It is administered
as an ozone/oxygen (03/02) gas mixture. According to the dosage
and concentration range, medical ozone is a pharmaceutical agent
that exerts specific properties and a well-defined range of efficacy.
Properties of Medical Ozone
At the higher range of concentration (three and a half to five
per cent ozone in one/oxygen mixture) ozone exhibits a strong
germicidal effect by oxidative destruction. The oxidative power
of ozone has proven to be effective in destroying lipid-enveloped
viruses such as Epstein Barr, herpes, cytomegalovirus and viruses
that cause hepatitis. One recent study indicates that ozone
treatment was 97 to 100 per cent effective in destroying HIV
in vitro.(Journal of American Society of Hematology, October
1, 1992)
At concentrations below approximately three and a half per cent,
the three main restitutional properties of ozone can be observed
by its oxidative influence on the oxygen metabolism, the induction
of specific enzymes and the activation of immunocompetent cells.
It is these systemic influences of ozone that cause it to be
such a potent therapeutic tool, because most of the disease affecting
humans today can be traced to diminishing levels of oxygen and
a compromised immune system.
Ozone Improves Oxygen Metabolism
Ozone improves the delivery of oxygen to hypoxic tissues, as
well as reactivating the oxygen metabolism of cells. The mechanisms
of these systemic actions involve both direct and indirect
processes.
Ozone directly changes the electric charges of the erythrocyte
membranes increasing the flexibility and plasticity of the erythrocytes,
thus enhancing the flow properties of the blood and the transport
of oxygen to the cells and tissues. This is especially applicable
in
arterial occlusion disease whereby "pile of coins" erythrocyte
formation is typical. The indirect mechanism consists of ozonolysis,
i.e. the ionizing reaction of ozone with the unsaturated fatty
acids in the cellular membrane producing peroxides.
It must be pointed out that ozone behave as an ion, not a free
radical under normal physiological blood pH and therefore no
radical chain reaction occurs to cause oxidative damages. The
reaction activates the enzyme 2,3 Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG)
in hemoglobin to release oxygen. This is of particular importance
to diabetics in which 2,3-DPG is depressed.
Ozone Induces Specific Enzymes
The formation of short-lived peroxides at the membrane are injected
into the cell and are removed by the enzyme glutathione peroxidase.
Therefore, it is recommended to supplement with vitamin E,
N-acetyl-systeine and selenium during ozone therapy to support
the glutathione detoxification system. In addition, the enhancement
of the glycolysis enzymatic pathway results in an increase
in adenosine triphosphate production (energy currency of the
cells).
This is significant in the management of stroke and burns. The
elevation of adenosine triphosphate synthesis will decrease perifocal
edema formed in the injured site minimizing tissue necrosis and
subsequent scarring. But this is effective only when ozone is
administered within the first 24 to 48 hours. In Germany, many
ambulances are equipped with ozone an it is injected intravenously
in patients who have just suffered a stroke.
Ozone Activates Immune System
It is well documented that ozone can activate monocyte and lymphcocytes
and induced the production of an array of cytokines such as
interleukin, interferon, tumor-necrosis factor. (The Journal
of International Medical Research 1994) Its ability to elicit
endogenous production of cytokines and its lack of toxicity
make ozone an indispensable therapeutic modality since today's
most devastating diseases are characterized by immune depression
such as chronic viral diseases, cancer and AIDS. Of course
restoration of the immune system depends on a total approach
of detoxification, lifestyle modification and supportive therapies.
Route of Administration
The are several ways to administer ozone, depending upon the
condition being treated. Autohemotherapy, which involves bland
treatment exvivo of blood with ozone and prompt reinfusion
into the donor is the most popular procedure among German physicians.
Other methods include direct infusion of a gaseous ozone/oxygen
mixture either intravenously, or intra-arterially (particularly
in critical limbs ischemia).
It has been proven that even direct delivery of ozone into the
blood vessels has very low risk factors. No air which contains
nitrogen ever enters the body, so an air embolus cannot occur.
Colorectal insufflation of ozone/oxygen, much like an enema,
has been used to treat colitis, fistula and colon cancer. Ozone
is also excellent for topical treatment of infected wounds, ulcers
and burns, especially those that are difficult to heal.
Therapeutic Indication
The modern development of ozone application in medicine began
in the 1950s in Europe and gradually spread throughout Europe
to Australia, Israel, Cuba, Brazil an Columbia. As far back
as World War 1, ozone was used medically to treat wounds and
other infections. Over 5000 physicians worldwide routinely
use ozone in their medical practice. I have personally used
ozone in my own practice and found it to be an effective therapy.
When it is incorporated into a holistic approach of cleansing
there is virtually no known side effect of ozone treatment
if it is applied properly. However, since ozone therapy is
dose-dependant, it should be administered with supervision.
Specific therapeutic applications of ozone include the treatment
of vascular disease such as stroke, obstructive arteriopathy,
venous insufficiency, cancer, acute and chronic viral diseases,
ulcers, infected wounds, gangrenes, burns, inflammatory bowel
disease such as Crohn' disease, ulcerative colitis and spinal
disc problems. It is also used in dentistry as a disinfectant
and in pediatrics for the treatment of viral and bacterial infections
of the intestines. In geriatrics, its principal indication is
in circulatory disorders. In particular the increase of oxygen
supply to the brain is of great benefit.
Ozone, with all its miraculous properties and accompanied by
its lack of toxicity, is undoubtedly an important tool in medicine.
It is an unusual double-edged sword. It defends the body via
stimulation of the immune system and at the same time it improves
oxygenation and metabolism. I do believe that ozone deserves
a place in the management of health and disease. It is up to
us, patients and physicians, to demand access to this wonderful
healing substances.
