What is "ozone therapy", which is more often applied as a complementary treatment? How and to whom is it applied? Dr. Berna Atay Çetinçelik, Supervisor of Yeditepe University Complementary Medicine Center, answered the questions about "ozone therapy", which we hear more frequently every day.

• What is ozone therapy and for what is it used?

The name ozone is derived from the Greek word "ozein", which means "smell emitter". Ozone is a high-energy form of 2-atom oxygen consisting of 3 oxygen atoms and is an unstable, pungent, heavier-than-air, irritant gas. It is the third strongest oxidant agent among the oxidant agents in nature. The ozone used in medical treatment is called "Medical Ozone". Medical Ozone is obtained from devices called "Medical Ozone Generators" by exposing a certain current rate and 0 pure medical oxygen to high electrical voltage. Because ozone is a reactive molecule, it is used for medical purposes as an oxygen-gas mixture. According to the patient's complaint, ozone gas is produced from the device and given to the blood in the appropriate dose, and blood is ozonated in the serum set, but it turns into oxygen very quickly and is given back to the patient. It is used safely in arterial circulatory disorders, angiopathy, vasculitis, viral and bacterial infections, general immunodeficiency and general protection-immunity strengthening, complementary in oncology, chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and lung diseases.

• Is ozone therapy really a supportive method for diseases involving the immune system?

Yes, that is right. It is an effective treatment method since it increases oxygenation and removes pathogenic microorganisms from the body. Our immune system becomes susceptible to opportunistic infections when our resistance drops. Ozone acts on these microbes like natural antibiotics and natural antiviral drugs with its powerful antioxidant properties.

• What are the benefits of ozone therapy?

First of all, the place of ozone therapy in complementary and preventive medicine is very special. Taking ozone cures at regular intervals as a prophylactic (preventive) before the disease knocks on our door plays an important role in preventing future diseases. This is the most important advantage.

• How is ozone therapy applied to the patient? How many sessions?

Ozone therapy is administered parenterally (intravenously), intramuscularly (intramuscularly), intra-discalally, and locally (nasal, oral vaginally, colorectal) according to the patient's complaints and needs. 1 cure: 12-15 sessions. Depending on the person's needs, this number of sessions may be extended. Then, maintenance treatment continues once every 3 weeks or once a month.

• How long does the applied ozone therapy take to show its effect? Do I have to repeat it? If so, how often should it be repeated?

If the patient wants to benefit from its completely protective feature, he/she feels more energetic in a very short time (1-3 sessions). If you have a chronic illness, it may take a little longer. For instance, a good return occurs after the 6th, and 7th sessions. After completing 1 cure (12-15 sessions), maintenance treatment is started with 1 per month.

•  Does ozone therapy have any side effects or effects that may be harmful to your body in the short or long term?

Ozone therapy is definitely a safe treatment method. There are no side effects in meritorious and expert hands. It is important to observe the patient very well during the session. If applied in the right indications, there is no serious side effect, but in rare cases, hemolysis and gas embolization may occur. 

•  To whom can ozone therapy be applied and to whom can it not be applied?

Ozone therapy contraindications: 

• Definite contraindications: (Conditions that should definitely not be used)
• Those with glucose-phosphate-dehydrogenase enzyme deficiency ( Favism),
• Those with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism,
• Patients with leukemia,

Relative contraindications (Conditions that should not be used according to the patient's condition)

• Acute bleeding diseases (MI, SVA bleeding in the first 21 days),
• Pregnancy (especially in the first three months),
• People with bleeding disorders, thrombocytopenia,
• Those with uncontrolled cardiovascular disease,
• In patients with weakened total antioxidant capacity,
• Patients who have undergone organ transplants. 

It should also be noted that ozone therapy does not have an absolute contraindication if controlled administration is performed. All cases with currently reported complications are the result of malpractice. 
A personalized dosage adjustment should be made. It is absolutely necessary to pay attention to the rules of asepsis, and appropriate choices should be made in dose and administration routes. 
It should be kept in mind that patients should take the drugs they are using during ozone therapy within the control and knowledge of their physicians and that the acupuncture and other complementary natural medicine methods we are applying are helpful and naturally supportive for your current condition.
 

• It is suggested that ozone therapy may be useful for the Kovit 19 epidemic, can you enlighten us about this?

Yes, there are published studies on this. We are also witnessing this in our practice. Our patients who had regular ozone treatment either never had covid or got over it quite lightly. It is possible to say that it is effective in strengthening our immune system and relieving post covid symptoms. 

•  It is said that ozone therapy can be applied for really different diseases such as tinnitus, dental diseases, and even cancer, is this true? How seriously should we take it?

Yes, it is possible to say gratifying feedback about this in our practice and on the scientific sites we follow. In our practice, we do not treat patients who are already receiving cancer treatment, but ozone therapy to make them feel more energetic and strengthen their immune systems and benefit them in a protective sense after a while with the permission of their doctors. We see that it is useful in tinnitus.
You do not have to wait to get sick to cure OZONE. Anyone who wants to feel more energetic, fit, young, and healthy will understand what I mean only when they experience ozone, one of the most natural treatment methods of this preventive medicine. 

Press Coverage:  indyturk.com