An important benefit of ozone is that it increases the effectiveness of the antioxidant enzyme system, which scavenges excess free radicals in the body. Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons on their outer ring. Their structure enables them to latch onto other molecules and damage cells, tissues, and organs. Once this occurs, they weaken physical vitality and can damage body systems, including the neurological, cardiovascular and immune systems.

The idea of biochemical invaders impairing immunity and overall health is difficult to grasp, since they are part of the system and not directly visible. By contrast, the impact of outside invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, is easier to understand, as their damage is more visible. It cannot compare, however, to the destruction caused by free radicals. Nothing kills more certainly.

Unlike bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can coexist with the body, free radicals are not friendly coexisters. These have one tendency--to cause havoc in the system. Free radical damage results in a variety of symptoms and degenerative conditions. According to Dr. Lamar Rosquist, free radicals contribute to over 60 diseases or health-related symptoms, 22 ranging from aging of the skin to chronic fatigue to damage to cell membranes, leading to cell destruction, to damage to DNA, which can cause precancerous conditions.

New theories link the progression of HIV symptomatology to free radicals. HIV Treatment News reports that "HIV, by its unique molecular structure, may produce large amounts of free radicals through a chain reaction process .... Free radicals may have a major role to play in gastrointestinal problems in AIDS, including colon inflammation, malabsorption syndrome and wasting syndrome." 22

Antioxidants protect cell membranes from free radicals. These oxygen modulators are believed to destroy free radicals by feeding them electrons which change their chemical structure into more stable compounds, like H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), that actually enhance the oxidation process by creating more cellular energy. 22 Dr. Beyerle explains how cellular energy is increased with ozone:

"Once in the blood, ozone reacts with fatty acids and the cell membranes of erythrocytes. Ozone's reaction at the membrane starts glycolysis, the breakdown of fats. This increases ATP, which is the energy system in the body. This, in turn, carries and releases oxygen molecules. More oxygen in the system enables the organism to do a variety of things, since the body thrives on oxygen.

"Most microbes are anaerobic; they thrive without oxygen, and cannot live in the presence of added oxygen in the bloodstream. The ozone and the fatty acid cell membrane then do a reaction that occurs at that membrane which creates peroxide. A lot of destructive processes that go on are due to an accumulation of peroxide. That's why antioxidants are so important, in not only ozone treatment but in day-to-day living, because of all the environmental pollution that occurs. When that happens, it creates an increase in peroxides that go unchecked. What happens is that when these peroxides accumulate within the cell, there's an increased production of a specific biochemical called 23DPG diphosphoglycerate, which enables oxygen to be released from the hemoglobin molecule.

"Now all of a sudden we're freeing up more oxygen from the hemoglobin molecule. Hemoglobin carries oxygen. Now, we've got all this oxygen released going throughout our vascular system and it has antimicrobial, antiviral activity. This is the latest German research." 11

Antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene, also act as free radical scavengers. They help remove free radicals from the body after trapping them in what is called the highly reactive singlet oxygen, and they prevent new free radicals from being formed. In essence, they absorb the molecule's altered energy state and return it to a normal state without hamming the system.

In short, oxygen helps to protect cell membranes from free radical damage and thus prevents premature aging, cancer, heart disease, and many other degenerative conditions. Every second, oxygen fights on behalf of every cell in the body. Oxygen, ozone, and substantial quantities of various nutrients, including beta carotene, vitamins C, E, B6, zinc, selenium, glutathione, pygnogenol, and quercetin, help the body to better utilize oxygen. Combining the right amount of vitamins with a live foods diet, and adjunctive therapies as needed, prevents premature sickness and aging.

Some doctors envision ozone being used by the general population for its rejuvenating effects. One, a doctor from a state in which ozone use is not approved, says that, in fact: "This is the main application I would like to use it for in the future--to get people younger and have them live almost as long as they want to."

The doctor goes on to explain his enthusiasm for ozone as an anti-aging factor: "Ozone, first of all, has what I have called the homeopathic ozone effect. This reverses most latent overt aging factors and disease processes that happen in the body that you don't even know about. In a six-month period, after just one ozone application, virtually every single person tells me of dramatic improvements.

"The second thing is the immune-modulating effect of ozone and the reduction of allergic factors. An allergy is an accumulation of fluid. It prevents you from absorbing nutrients and causes other symptoms. Any person who has significant allergies is in a constant state of nutritional deficiency.

"Third, it reverses the cross-linking of the collagen and reduces the aging pigment ... By reversing those things, it will restore the elasticity in all tissues.

"It removes the arterial plaque the same way it removes plaque in the pipes of heating/air-conditioning systems. It also removes the fibrin in the veins by breaking it down to pieces that are recognized by the macrophages and then scavenged away. Indirectly, it works like a rotor-rooter by changing unnecessary fibrin deposits or arterial plaque to a point from which both the arteries and veins are cleaned out. Obviously, if you have more circulation to all parts of your body, all toxins can be removed and every cell of the body functions better.

"... As far as immune modulation is concerned ... many researchers say that a person is as old as the immune system. If you can have a perfectly young immune system, the rest of the body will follow suit and you will be as young as your immune system again."

One Part of the Therapeutic Picture

Clinicians usually recommend ozone as part of a larger holistic protocol in the treatment of seriously ill patients. It's thus a supplemental therapy used in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Dr. John Pittman explains:

"I rarely give ozone treatments unless they are combined with some other supportive therapy. Admittedly, the shortcoming of doing this is that you don't always know which component is most beneficial. But I certainly know from experience which things generally help the most. Combining ozone with proper dietary therapies and addressing other cofactors, particularly in the GI tract, you can see tremendous changes in a person's constitution. Their blood work can turn around, and it definitely can improve the quality of life of an individual as well as the length of their life.

"We have a program... set up for patients who come from all around the country and stay from three to four weeks undergoing daily treatment, six days a week. It includes daily ozone therapy as well as IV infusions, such as vitamin C, three times a week, and also EDTA chelation. Chelation therapy is primarily for opening up capillaries and increasing the ability of the oxygen and ozone to permeate the tissues." 1

It's Pittman's observation that the best benefits occur when ozone is taken on a daily basis: "The halflife of ozone is 45 minutes. After that time, it breaks down into oxygen. In the meantime, what it's really doing is transferring its high-energy electron to other elements in the blood and producing various peroxide formations that are continuing this oxidative effect. The powerful oxidative effect appears to last 24 hours, making a daily treatment the most effective way of using ozone."

According to a doctor who, because of state regulations, must remain nameless, ozone treatment is a recommended first step for all patients. It reduces the toxic load due to infections, allergies, and other conditions, and it may even make further treatment unnecessary. "It's just a basic therapy that will enhance every treatment mode afterwards."

This physician does stress that ozone is not an end-all in itself, but rather one modality in a holistic program: "I always say, first you have to restore the nutrition. Then you have to restore the mind-set. After that, you can go into specific programs for specific conditions, which include ozone. I give ozone to virtually all of my patients as a basis of therapy because sometimes just one ozone treatment resolves their problem. Then they don't need anything else. Obviously, if they have a serious degenerative disease, like cancer or cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or infectious diseases of any kind, they need more intensive treatment. We like to give ozone in cancers and AIDS, for instance, for 12 days. For hepatitis, it's usually just for eight days. Most allergies respond to four-day treatments. For acute infections, including pneumonia, usually one single ozone application does the trick. Then if this person is in a relatively good nutritional state, this is all it takes and the body takes care of itself from there on out. It's very important to understand that with all degenerative diseases, a combination approach is necessary."

Obstacles to Ozone's Use

While ozone is without doubt a wide-spectrum healing modality, it's also, in this country, one that's widely ignored, and even suppressed. Nathaniel Altman surmises that "because these elements are very available and also nonpatented, the pharmaceutical industry has not been very happy with them." 5 The profit motive isn't there with ozone as it is with patentable drugs, so there hasn't been the impetus for private companies to do expensive studies of this modality. The unfortunate result: medical ozone has been, in more ways than one, an invisible healer. The general public is simply unaware of it as an option. In fact, most states prohibit the use of ozone therapy, the rationale being that American researchers must first prove that the process will not harm people. That it has been used safely in Europe for decades doesn't seem to count.

In a situation frustrating to those familiar with ozone's potential, funding for research is continually denied by the National Institutes for Health, while exorbitant sums are earmarked for less effective, but more conventional, treatments. The situation doesn't seem to make sense. For instance, State University of New York virologist Bernard Poeisz has found that ozone could be used for "almost seemingly complete destruction" of HIV without affecting blood protein, and yet the NIH has refused funding, saying it was not a priority. Dr. Kwaku Ohene-Frempon, head of Children's Hospital Sickle Cell Center, says that "ozone kills bacteria" and "supplies a lot of oxygen to tissues that need to be repaired." Seventy-two thousand people in the U.S. suffer from sickle cell anemia and the NIH spends about $70 million a year to try to alleviate the disease. However, they will not fund ozone research, even though Cuban doctors find that ozone cuts the length and severity of painful sickle-cell episodes in half. 24 Nor will research on ozone for diabetic conditions be funded, despite the fact that Germany has been healing diabetic wounds with ozone for quite some time.

Dr. Beyerle expresses the sentiments of the frustrated practitioners. "Extensive studies have been done in other countries," he points out. "It amazes me to see the literature that is being published and utilized in Germany and Europe but has failed to appear in literature or clinics in this country."

Beyerle goes on to explore the reasons for this: "In my opinion, it's all politics. It starts at the beginning with our FDA, which is tremendously influenced by our drug companies. Drug companies give almost 80 to 90 percent of funding for medical schools. That's a fact. If drug companies have an influence on medical schools and medical research, then this information will never get there. Ozone's cheap. All you need is pure oxygen, an ozone generator, and the proper training. I just recently met with two professors from Frankfurt working using ozone with cancer for over 15 years, and having spectacular results. Why isn't it here? We have a medical mafia. There's too much money being made in medicine for certain companies to allow something so inexpensive and so worthwhile to be introduced in our country that's not a money-maker." 11

Ozone Overseas

Overseas, the picture is different. Medical ozone is used in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, and Cuba; and England and France, while they don't use ozone medically, do treat drinking water with it. 24

Recently, the Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association was held in Lille, France. It was well attended by researchers from around the world, some of whom are at a loss to under stand America's seeming domination by an FDA out of step with the latest in research, and out of control.

The papers presented at the Lille meeting covered a whole gamut of areas in which medical ozone has proven of value. Heart disease was one; ozone treatment was shown to improve the status of patients with ischemic cardiopathy, fostering diminution or disappearance of irregular heart rhythms, decreases in coronary failure, and increased fitness levels.25 When used in the treatment of early-stage stroke, ozone also demonstrated benefits, according to a German study. 26 Glaucoma was another condition for which scientists reported ozone's benefits, 27 and central nervous system disorders were also shown to be helped.28

In orthopedics, ozone has a significant contribution to make, as reported by C.H. Siemsen, of Buxtehude, Germany.29 He stated that "The application of medical ozone in acute and chronic painful diseases of the joints is an alternative method of treatment for obtaining rapid pain relief, decongestion, subsidence of effusion, a reduction in temperature, and an increase in motility." Siemsen reported that a number of therapy-resistant painful joint conditions were recently treated with ozone for the first time, noting that the treatment is a low-risk one.

The Cubans, in particular, seem to be keeping abreast of ozone's possibilities. Cuba's Ozone Research Center, at Havana's National Center for Scientific Research, recently investigated the cholesterol-lowering effect of the substance. F. Femandez and others reported on a positive effect found for ozone in cholesterol metabolism, as well as in the stimulation of the antioxidative defense system. 30 Other researchers from Cuba reported on clinical improvements in humoral immunity for children who received ozone treatments.31

Children with hearing loss benefited from ozone too, according to Cuban researcher E. Basabe and his colleagues.32 In a double-blind study with 34 children, hearing loss was reduced in the ozone-treated group. Ozonized oils were used in still other Cuban studies to successfully treat candidiasis 33 and giardiasis, a parasitic condition.34 In yet another area, a report on the influence of ozone treatment in sports medicine gave details on improved aerobic performance in individuals receiving blood treatment and rectal insufflation of ozone.35 The allotrope's effects on intracellular metabolism and utilization of free fatty acids were credited here. An Italian paper seemed to back this up. E. Riva Sanseverino and P. Catellacci of the University of Bologna's Institute of Human Physiology summarized their findings thus: 38

"On the basis of the circulatory and biochemical positive effects of ... oxygen-ozone therapy, a study was programmed in order to check if physical activity in humans is improved by treatment with medical ozone administered by means of ... AHT. Preliminary observations indicate that physical activity, performed 12-24 hours after one or several administrations of medical ozone, is improved by 8-12 percent."

Other reports at Lille concerned dermatology in Russia, and how ozone is being successfully used there37; and ozone's disinfectant uses in oral surgery. 38, 39 So the wide-spectrum applicability of ozone therapy was certainly in evidence at the meeting.

This is not to say that ozone's problems with acceptability by the mainstream were ignored at the Lille symposium. V. Bocci, of Italy's University of Siena Institute of General Physiology, acknowledged these in a general talk on ozone therapy. This modality is still only used legally in a handful of countries and American states, and Bocci, in a realistic overview of the therapy's status today, suggested some reasons why.24

First, Bocci feels, the biological basis for ozone's therapeutic effectiveness needs to be further clarified. More study is definitely needed, but with a lack of support from the pharmaceutical industry, there's the ever-present funding problem. Bocci acknowledged too that reports of ozone's benefits have at times tended toward the subjective and anecdotal; this is a consequence of the fact that clinical experience with ozone, although vast, has remained limited to private practice. Bocci also acknowledges two other factors that have not worked in medical ozone's favor--unfortunately, some practitioners have used this modality improperly; and people are prejudiced against the concept of ozone because they have in mind the pollutant type.

What the Future Holds

Despite these problems, Bocci's assessment of ozone therapy today was an upbeat one. The general sense of his presentation was that this is a therapy that has already contributed so much, and that in the future will benefit people even more, providing some interesting investigative work along the way. These were some of his final remarks:

"...Ozonated autohemotherapy performed with an optimized procedure represents a powerful therapeutic approach. Its main advantages are the lack of toxicity, often a feeling of well-being, and the equilibrated, although slow, stimulation of cytokine production accompanied by improved oxygenation and metabolism. Both in the treatment of neoplasia, particularly after chemotherapy, and of chronic viral diseases, the frequent report of well-being after treatment is relevant because the quality of life of these patients is generally poor. We are planning to investigate the reason for euphoria and we believe that it may be due to an immune-neuroendocrine response elicited by the ozonated blood.

"On clinical grounds there is also the need to carry out extensive and well-controlled clinical trials in several diseases, including HIV infection. The treatment is simple to execute, safe, far less expensive than comparable procedures, and could be carried out easily... in Third-World countries, where it could be applied also to several parasitic diseases." 24

In short, Bocci is optimistic about the future of ozone. He cites increased precision in ozone dosing, with reproducible delivery systems, as a plus for this healing technique. And he says that ozone is now considered a cytokine inducer, with immunorestoration potential. Indeed, the studies--both his own and those of other researchers--are there to back up this last contention. 16, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46

As the century draws to a close, this modality should become increasingly visible. The public is growing disenchanted with toxic and problematic "magic bullet" remedies, and more interested in holistic and natural approaches to health care. So it's only a matter of time before ozone comes into its own.

SOURCES

1. Gary Null interview with Dr. John Pittman, 2/23/95.

2. Gerard V. Sunnen, M.D., New York University-Bellevue Hospital Medical Center, "Ozone in medicine: Overview and future directions." Journal of Advancement in Medicine, 1988.

3. Gary Null interview with Dr. Stanley Beyerle. 2/23/95.

4. M.S. Harken, "Factors influencing the ozone interaction of enteric viruses in effluent." Ozone: Science and Engineering.1985, 6:235.

5. Gary Null's interview with Nathaniel Altman. 4/13/95.

6. Medical doctors interested in learning the technique can obtain Dr. Frank Shalienberger's video presentation by calling 1-800-468-0464.

7. V, Bocci, "Autohemotherapy after treatment of blood with ozone: a reappraisal." The Journal of International Medical Research. 1994, Vol. 22, pp. 131-144.

8. M. Konlee, "Updated information on ozone," HIV Treatment News, June 27. 1994, Report #6, p. 10.

9. H.G. Knoch, W. Roschke, and W. Klug, "Ozone/oxygen therapy in proctology," OzoNachrichten. 1987, Vol. 6.

10. M. Konlee, op. cit., p. 12.

11. Gary Null's interview with Dr. Stanley Beyerle, 8/29/94.

12. M.T.F. Carpendale, M.D., and J.K. Freeberg, "Ozone inactivates HIV at non-cytotoxic concentration." Journal of Antiviral Research, 1991.

13. Manufactured by Hansler, Iffezheim, Germany.

14. M.T. Carpendale, J. Freeberg, and J.M. Griffiss, "Does ozone alleviate AIDS diarrhea?" Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Sept, 1993, Vol. 17, No.2, pp. 142-5.

15. H. Kief, The treatment of viral diseases with ozone," Ludwugshafen Er fahrungsheilkunde, 1988.

16. V. Bocci, "A reasonable approach for the treatment of HIV infection in the early phase with ozone therapy (autohemotherapy). How 'inflammatory' cytokines may have a therapeutic role," Institute of General Physiology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Siena.- Italy.

17. H. Vetter, naturopathic practitioner, Hohenpdssenberg, Germany, "AlDS--can ozone help?"

18. M. Konlee, "The fax from Houston," HlV Treatment News, June 24, 1994, Report #6, p. 7.

19. M. Konlee, "Updated information on ozone," HIV Treatment News, June 27, 1994, Report #6, p. 13.

20, Ibid., p. 15.

21. M.-Th. Jacobs. "Untersuchung uber swischenfalle und typische kompiikationen in der ozon-sauerstoff-theraple," OzoNachrlchten, 1986, 1:5.

22. M. Konlee, "Free radicals in HIV progression: Pycnogenol reverses their effects. A prelirninary report," HIV Treatment News, June 24, 1994, #6, p.5.

23. "The wizard of ozone," Welcomat, Jan. 11, 1995, cover story.

24. V, Bocci, Institute of General Physlology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy, "Ozone Therapy," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine --Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15- 18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 13.

25. R. Wong et al., "Ozonetherapy in Ischemic Cardlopathy," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 73.

26. G. Wasser, Medical Association for Use of Ozone in Prevention and Therapy in Germany, "Additional Therapy of Cerebrovascular Disorder (Acute Brain Stroke) by Ozonc Therapy," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 91.

27. S. Menendez, L. Ferrer, and Z. Perez. Ozone Research Center, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba. "Ozone Therapy and Magneto Therapy: New Methods for the Rehabilitation of Patients with Simple Chronic Glaucoma." Proceedings. Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille, France, P. 99.

28. Gomez Moraieda, "Ozone Therapy in the Functional Recovery from Diseases Involving Damage to Central Nervous System Cells," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18. 1995. Lille. France, p. 111.

29. C.H. Siemsen, "The Use of Ozone in Orthopedics," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Liile, France, p. 125.

30. F. Hernandez, S. Menendez, and I. Alvarez, National Center for Scientific Research. Ozone Research Center, Havana. Cuba. "Blood and Tissue Biochemical Study of Normal and Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits Treated with Ozone." Proceedings. Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995. Lille, France. p. 251.

31. O. Menendez et al., Ozone Research Center, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana Central Pediatric Hospital, Havana, Cuba. "Application of Ozone Therapy in Children with Humoral Immunity Deficiency," Proceedings. Ozone in Medicine-- Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15- 18, 1995, Lille. France. p. 271.

32. E. Basabe et al., Ozone Research Center, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba, "Ozone Therapy a Favoring Element in the Rehabilitation of Children with Hearing Loss," Proceedings. Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15- 18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 275.

33. S. Menendez et al., Owne Research Center, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana. Cuba, "Application of Ozonized Oil in the Treatment of Vulvovaginitis Prellminary Study," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995. Lille, France, p. 283.

34. S. Menendez et al., Owne Research Center, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba, "Application of Ozonized Oil in the Treatment of Infantile Giardiasis," Proceedings. Ozone in Medicine--Tweflth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 297.

35. J. Jakl, "Infiuence of Ozone Treatment in Sportsmedicine," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 63.

36. E. Riva Sanseverino and P. Castellacci, Institute of Human Physiology, University of Bologna. Bologna. Italy, "Oxygen-Ozone Therapy and Physical Activity in Humans," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille;France, p. 65.

37. S.L. Krivatkin, A L. Gromov, and E.V. Krivatkina, Sormovo Interdistrict Dispensary, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. "Ozonetherapy in Outpatient Dermatological Practice," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille. France, p. 157.

38. A. Fillippi, "Ozone in Oral Surgery--Current Status and Prospects," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995. Lille, France, P. 169.

39. E.G. Beck, "Ozone in Preventive Medicine," Proceedings, Ozone in Medicine--Twelfth World Congress of the International Ozone Association, May 15-18, 1995, Lille, France, p. 55.

40. L. Paulesu, E. Luzzi. and V. Bocci, "1. Studies on the biological effects of ozone; 2. Induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) on human leucocytes," Lyrnphokine and Cytokine Research 1991, Vol. 10, No. 5, pp. 409-412.

41. J. Washuttl, and D. Rokitansky, Dosis-Wirkungsberelch der Ozontheraple, EKII, 32/1983. 815.

42. V. Bocci, and L. Paulesu, Haematologica, 1990, 75, pp. 510-5.

43. H. Kief, "Der katalytische Effekt der Owntherapie im peripheren Blut," Raum und Zeit. 1984. pp. 84-92.

44. H. Kief, "Derzeitiger Stand der Behandlung von HIV-positiven Patienten mit Ozon," Naturheilpraxis, 1988, pp. 1043- 1049.

45. D. Jon Greenberg, Dr. med., International Society of Ozone Therapy Immunological Aspects of Ozone.

46. R Viebahn-Hansler. "Ozone therapy: the underlying therapeutical concept and models of efficacy," Erfahrungsheilkunde. Apr. 1991. Vol. 40, No. 4.

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