Ozone in medicine

Ozone therapy has been used as a complementary medical approach for half a century but it has encountered skepticism by orthodox medicine because, particularly in the past, it has been used by practitioners and others without a rational basis and appropriate controls. With the advent of modern medical ozone generators incorporating a photometer, it has become possible to obtain precise ozone concentrations and to evaluate some mechanisms of action and possible toxicity. In contrast with the respiratory tract, human blood exposed to appropriate ozone concentrations is able to tame its strong oxidant properties and neither acute, nor chronic side effects have ensued in millions of patients treated with ozonated autohaemotherapy (O-3-AHT). This review summarizes our studies aimed at clarifying biological effects, defining any possible damage, the therapeutic window and suitable doses able to express a therapeutic activity. A very interesting and promising aspect is the induction of the so-called heat stress proteins (HSP) leading to adaptation to a chronic oxidative stress. The use of atone in human therapy has been reviewed but so far very few controlled clinical studies have been reported. Mostly on the basis of anecdotal results, ozone therapy appears useful in infectious diseases, immune depression, vascular disorders, degenerative diseases and orthopedics.