BENEFITS AND HARMS OF OZONE THERAPY: WE WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS

Do you remember that special smell of freshness that lingers in the air after a thunderstorm?
This is what ozone smells like, a gas that is released from oxygen under the influence of ultraviolet rays and electrical discharges from lightning. Today, ozone is widely used in medicine. However, despite the popularity of this method, the benefits of ozone therapy for human health have not yet been proven. Therefore, it is up to you to decide whether to agree to this procedure or not.

Our information:

Ozone therapy is a type of physiotherapeutic treatment in alternative and aesthetic medicine, which involves administering an ozone-oxygen mixture to the patient in one of three existing ways:

• externally;
• intravenously;
• subcutaneously

What is ozone therapy method?

Western doctors have been using ozone therapy for more than a century and believe that this is one of the most effective methods. The CIS countries have been using it for almost fifty years. Ozone therapy has successfully passed all tests in research institutes.

Ozone is a colorless gas consisting of three oxygen atoms and has a specific odor. Since it is a strong oxidizing agent, it disinfects water, food, medical and household appliances, destroying harmful microorganisms. When air is ozonized, our body copes with bacteria faster and becomes more resistant to harmful environmental factors. In medicine, it is not pure ozone that is used, but its mixture with oxygen. It is added to physiological solutions and distilled water - as a result, the healing properties of ozone are preserved, and its toxicity is reduced.

Ozone began to be used as a disinfectant at the end of the nineteenth century. It is still used for the same purposes today. During the First World War they used it to treat the wounds of soldiers. And in the 1920s, an experiment was conducted where this gas and hydrogen peroxide were used to treat the flu. Ozone was also popular in European countries, especially in alternative medicine. Doctor Albert Wolf contributed to the widespread use of ozone to treat various diseases, for example, rectal cancer, and used it in gynecological oncology. Another doctor, Joachim Hansler, was the first to create a therapeutic ozonator in the mid-twentieth century. He used plastic bags to isolate the gassing object from the environment, in order to apply high concentrations of ozone. Italian ozone therapists have achieved great success in cosmetology.

Despite all the advances, the use of ozone for treatment remains a controversial issue, since this gas has both medicinal and toxic properties. In some European countries, ozone therapy is officially recognized as a medical procedure. Ozone therapeutic medical societies have even been created in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that autohemotherapy with ozone should only be carried out by professional doctors. In some countries, ozone therapy is used by naturopaths.

You should not take medications during ozone therapy. A mixture of ozone and oxygen restores metabolism, slows down aging, fills the blood with oxygen, destroys bacteria and viruses, increases vascular tone, improves immunity and blood circulation. Side effects are excluded.

General requirements for medical ozonation units

The above information about the properties of ozone indicates the need for careful handling. Ozone should not leak in areas where people work. Its content in the air should not exceed the maximum permissible concentration - 0.1 mg/m3.

A medical ozonator installation must include an air-cooled ozonizer and a system that opens, regulates the speed and shuts off the gas flow. Measuring the flow rate is desirable, although not a mandatory requirement, but in any case, a flow indicator is required, which informs the doctor about the normal operation of the gas tract. The concentration of ozone in the gas mixture at the outlet of the ozonator should vary in a wide range from several units to a maximum - not lower than 70-80 mg/l. Moreover, the ozone concentration should be smoothly regulated and measured throughout this range. Only in this case can the installation ensure the use of all known methods of ozone therapy.

In Russia, the production of high-quality ozonation units is now being actively developed, which significantly facilitates the implementation of the technique, since due to low-quality devices, ozone has not been used for medical purposes.

Types of ozone therapy

There are general (restores the body as a whole) and local (affects specific organs) types of ozone therapy. Next, we will consider private methods. Tissues become saturated with gas in the following cases:

• Ozone enters the blood and mixes with it;
• Enema with ozone composition;
• When using massage oils saturated with ozone;
• When using ozonated solutions and droppers;
• Injection of ozone under the skin.

The gas promotes rapid healing. Mixtures containing ozone treat inflammation and also have a softening effect on the human central nervous system.

Ozone therapy and its benefits for the body

Ozone can be used in large and small concentrations, depending on the purpose of its use. In large quantities, this gas is poisonous, and therefore it instantly destroys microorganisms, thereby disinfecting burns and wounds. A small amount of ozone is used mixed with oxygen. It is medicinal and non-toxic to humans. The dosage of the gas, the frequency and duration of its effect on the body depend on the disease for which it is used to treat.

Of course, ozone therapy has healing properties, but some patients experience side effects, including weakness, changes in blood pressure, malaise, changes in body temperature, allergies, and dizziness. If you notice any of the above effects, stop using ozone treatment.

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Complications

Side effects after ozone therapy are rare. Normally, immediately after the procedure there may be redness, slight soreness and swelling at the injection sites, which disappear on their own in a short period of time.

If the manipulation technique is violated or the rules of rehabilitation are not followed, there may be consequences such as the lack of the expected result, the development of allergies, suppuration, acute psychosis, headaches, and decreased vision.

If at least one of the listed conditions occurs, you should immediately seek medical help.

What are the indications for ozone therapy in cosmetology?

Ozone is used in various fields of medicine. However, ozone therapy cannot be considered the main treatment, since it only complements and increases its effectiveness and accelerates recovery. This gas has a negative effect when taking certain medications, so you cannot treat yourself with ozone without permission. It is imperative to consult a specialist.

Indications of ozone therapy in cosmetology:

Ozone therapy and its contraindications

Despite all the advantages, ozone therapy also has contraindications. In such situations, the patient does not have a therapeutic effect, and the disease may also worsen.

Absolute contraindications:

• Some patients cannot tolerate this gas and it causes allergies in them. In this case, ozone therapy should be stopped, since the gas acts as a poison on the body.
• If the patient has poor blood clotting, then ozone therapy cannot be used, as bleeding may occur. Under the influence of gas, the rheological properties of blood change.
• If the patient has experienced a hemorrhagic stroke, then ozone therapy can lead to repeated hemorrhage, since when this gas is used, the vessels become wider and the blood flows faster.
• Seizure syndrome: The gas stimulates the central nervous system, so seizures may occur.
• If the patient is diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, ozone therapy will have to be abandoned. The gas activates the proteolytic enzymes of the pancreas, as a result of which ozone will only accelerate the destruction of this organ, and there will be no therapeutic effect.
• If there is a lot of thyroid hormones in the blood (hyperthyroidism), then gas treatment should not be done, since metabolic processes in the tissues may be disrupted.
• If the patient periodically experiences bleeding or an insufficient number of platelets in the blood, ozone therapy will only do harm, since blood clotting will decrease and its viscosity will change.

Relative contraindications:

• If a person is poisoned, for example, by alcohol or drugs, then ozone therapy can worsen health and increase intoxication, since the gas affects cell metabolism.
• Hypoglycemia: The gas lowers blood glucose levels, so if you are hypoglycemic, you should not treat with ozone.
• You should not rush into ozone therapy if the patient has recently suffered a myocardial infarction. This treatment can be carried out only six months after the attack.

Based on all of the above, before being treated with ozone, take the necessary tests and consult with a specialist.

If you have undergone a preliminary examination and no contraindications have been identified, contact an establishment about which you have heard only positive reviews. Ozone therapy can be harmful if the doctor does not have the necessary qualifications and appropriate skills.

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• Weight correction: everything you need to know about the procedure

In Moscow, you can contact Gorodskoy, whose specialists are well aware of all the intricacies of ozone therapy. They will create an effective schedule and you will achieve the best results.

Veronika Herba professionals will provide you with recommendations on how to care for your body and how to independently improve the effect of ozone therapy.

The main advantages of ozone therapy are excellent tolerability and the absence of side effects. In addition, such treatment is affordable and is carried out both in hospitals and in beauty centers. If you are still in doubt about whether to be treated with ozone therapy, just consult a doctor and get tested. If there are no contraindications, take the course and you will feel the effect of the procedure.

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Price

The cost of therapy depends on the clinic where the procedures will take place, as well as the area being treated. The final price is also influenced by the region. The most expensive therapy will be in clinics in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Before carrying out ozone therapy, it is necessary to undergo examinations and consult with several specialists. Additionally, it is recommended to read the reviews of those who have undergone treatment of facial defects using ozone.

Is ozone therapy possible during pregnancy?

As a rule, doctors prescribe ozone therapy to pregnant women after the twentieth week. How long the courses will last depends on how severe the woman’s condition is. The frequency of courses is selected individually. For prophylaxis, a solution containing gas is administered through droppers five times every other day. It is important to monitor the condition of the fetus every three days using Doppler ultrasound. After 36 weeks, ozone therapy is no longer prescribed.

If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with an infectious disease, hemodynamic disorder or other complications while carrying a child, ozone therapy is prescribed as an auxiliary treatment method. This procedure is popular, but its effect is not completely clear, so the woman herself makes the decision whether to undergo such treatment.

Keep in mind that if you have any contraindications to the use of ozone therapy, they will worsen during pregnancy.

What are the benefits of intravenous ozone therapy?

Ozone therapy is quite effective. When this gas enters the body's cells, biologically active ozonide groups are formed. They have an oxidative effect on the membrane of microorganisms, which ultimately leads to a violation of the integrity of the membrane shells. Therefore, ozone acts as an antiseptic. The cells of the body themselves are not damaged, they are energized.

Ozone therapy fights inflammation and bacteria, relieves pain, heals, and improves immunity. As a result, metabolism is normalized, oxygen transport is restored, hormonal levels return to normal, and oxygen is released. When ozone is administered intravenously, it dilates blood vessels, relieves intoxication, and improves microcirculation. In addition, a mixture of ozone and oxygen helps restore protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolic processes. Ultimately, your well-being, mood and performance improve.

Ozone therapy is becoming increasingly popular. This non-drug method is used in surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, immunology, therapy, endocrinology, neurology, dermatology, and in the treatment of sexually transmitted and infectious diseases. Ozone releases oxygen into tissues and has a disinfecting effect.

In people suffering from alcoholism, liver function is often impaired. Since the functions of this organ are impaired, it is no longer able to cleanse the body. As a result, alcohol enters the bloodstream, where toxins accumulate, which lead to plasma poisoning and disrupt protein synthesis. As a result, the restoration of hepatocytes is significantly deteriorated, which threatens cirrhosis, fatty degeneration and other harmful changes. Ozone therapy can have a positive effect on the liver, and it also neutralizes the negative effects of alcohol.

By neutralizing the negative effects of free radicals, ozone therapy promotes overall rejuvenation of the body.

How is ozone therapy used for joints?

A mixture of ozone and oxygen relieves a person from pain in the joints, relieves inflammation, eliminates crunching, and helps to increase the amount of intra-articular fluid that lubricates the articular surfaces and cartilage. Ozone therapy, among other things, removes stiffness and immobility of joints.

There are many joint diseases. This includes arthritis, arthrosis deformans, and chronic bursitis. Ozone therapy helps get rid of inflammation, activates the metabolism of integumentary cartilage, so that they are not destroyed, accelerates recovery, and normalizes microcirculation in the affected tissues.

Typically, injections are administered 2-3 times a week, about ten procedures are prescribed. But you need to understand that the dose of the ozone-oxygen mixture is determined by the doctor, guided by how large the affected joint is.

After the first procedures, almost all patients notice a decrease or complete absence of pain, an increase in the range of passive and active movements in the affected joint. After a course of ozone therapy, a six-month break is usually prescribed, after which the treatment is repeated.

For joint diseases, it is better to combine ozone therapy with massages, medications and physiotherapeutic treatment - then the effect is much better.

Ozone therapy is indicated for spinal osteochondrosis. The gas affects several stages of pathogenesis: ischemia of spasmed muscles, processes of lipid peroxidation in the affected segments of the spine, microcirculatory disorders.

Rejuvenating ozone therapy for face

The mixture of gases has a healing effect on the skin of the face, activates microcirculation, as a result of which metabolic processes are accelerated, the synthesis of hyaluronic acid and collagen fibers is stimulated, all layers of the skin are moisturized and saturated with useful substances. If the patient suffers from skin infections, then the gas can cope with them. Ozone therapy for the face is carried out through microinjections intradermally or subcutaneously. The drug can act locally or throughout the face. It depends on what exactly is bothering the person. In any case, use several treatment methods at once to achieve the best result.

Efficiency

Ozone therapy is considered a highly effective treatment for various skin defects, however, all the properties and qualities of the procedure have not been fully studied to date.

Effects:

• blood supply to tissues;
• improvement of local metabolism;
• increasing the production of collagen fibers, elastin, fibroblasts;
• restoration of the sweat and sebaceous glands;
• lymphatic drainage;
• reducing the influence of external negative factors;
• normalization of water and lipid balance.

According to many patients, after completing the full course of treatment, the stated results are achieved and maintained for a long time. To complete a full course of therapy, you need to complete from 6 to 10 sessions. If necessary or in more complex cases, treatment can be extended to 15-20 procedures. In this case, the break between sessions should be 1-4 days. The first noticeable results can be seen within 3-4 sessions.

How does ozone therapy help for weight loss?

Physiotherapists prescribe ozone therapy to patients to combat excess weight and correct problem areas. Ozone activates the processes of breakdown of adipose tissue, thanks to which you can really lose weight. When metabolic processes start, weight decreases, and in the areas where the drug is administered, volumes decrease. In such situations, microinjections are ineffective, so experts have proposed an original method of introducing the mixture - the “comb” method, which allows you to influence large areas of the body. This distribution of the medicine significantly accelerates weight loss. Ozone therapy eliminates the unaesthetic manifestations of cellulite, which is always present with excess fat accumulation. Gradually, the patient gets rid of fat, the skin becomes even and tightened.

Read material on the topic: Weight correction: everything you need to know about the procedure

Progress

First, the specialist prepares the problem area for further processing. To do this, the surface of the skin is cleansed from decorative cosmetics, care products and other contaminants using an antiseptic solution. Next, a cream with an anesthetic effect is applied to relieve pain during the working process.

In parallel with the preparation of the skin, the pure preparation is regenerated in the ozonator. Before the procedure, the substance is mixed with antioxidants, which makes it possible to weaken the oxidative functions of the main component.

After completing these steps, the cosmetologist proceeds directly to introducing the product into the layers of the dermis. To do this, he uses a syringe with an ultra-thin needle. From 15 to 25 injections should be given in one session.

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The entire process takes about one hour.

After all injections are administered, a sedative is applied to the treated areas.

Ozone therapy in a beauty salon: 6 best procedures

There are many different ozone therapy procedures. However, beauty salons, as a rule, specialize only in a small list of them. Few people will want to visit multiple specialists to undergo different procedures. It will be much more convenient if everything can be done in one establishment.

In Gorodskoy, patients will find a wide range of ozone therapy procedures. The salon's specialists are highly qualified, have the necessary skills and experience. The services offered are listed below:

• Ozone correction

The introduction of mezozone is a long-standing and effective procedure, which is an alternative to the introduction of indirect and direct lipolytics. Mezozone acts selectively on the structure of the cell membrane of the fat cell, the adipocyte wall is destroyed, and as a result, the fat is burned. Fat mass is reduced due to a decrease in lipid peroxidation and free radical processes in tissues, as a result of which metabolism is activated and lipolysis occurs.

The products of the biochemical effects of reactive oxygen species and ozone are safe and quickly pass into water. The method is harmless and is used in the treatment of cellulite, as a result of which sagging skin is tightened, weight loss, and complex therapy of metabolic syndrome. The recommended course is from 10 to 15 procedures, with a frequency of 2-4 times a week.

• Systemic ozonated cell therapy

Ozonated autohemotherapy and PRP therapy are unique cell therapy procedures. A person’s own resources are used, which triggers the processes of restoration, self-regulation and rejuvenation at the cellular level. The procedures have both indications and contraindications. Contact our center, and based on the examination, specialists will recommend or prohibit ozone therapy for you.

For the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, as part of healing and anti-aging programs, ozonized saline solution is used, which is administered intravenously. When first used, a small volume is used - 0.01 ml, and if a serious viral disease is diagnosed, then 10 ml.

The recommended course is 10-12 procedures, on average 3-4 times a week.

• Ozonated minor autohemotherapy

The doctor takes 5-10 ml of blood from the patient's vein. It contains depleted red blood cells, carbon dioxide, and platelet mass. This blood is then enriched with a small amount of ozone and reactive oxygen and is injected back into the body through pathological areas or intramuscularly. As a result of this procedure, immunity is increased, recovery is accelerated and inflammation is reduced. The advantages of such therapy are obvious - safety, effectiveness, absence of side effects.

The course of treatment is from 5 to 10 procedures, 1-2 times a week.

• Ozonated PRP therapy, plasma ozonation

The classic plasmolifting procedure is less effective than the newest biorevitation technique - plasmolifting with ozonized plasma. According to the previous method, a concentrate of the patient's blood was injected. Plasma ozonation involves the introduction of an ozonized mixture into the plasma, which leads to a significant potentiation of the properties of the plasma: it is significantly renewed, becoming “newborn”. Then it is introduced into the local area, as a result of which rejuvenation processes occur and cell restoration improves. They receive more oxygen, metabolism accelerates, tissue trophism improves, and the effects of antioxidant stress are reduced. Thus, the volume of injected plasma did not change, but the effect improved and became longer lasting. All this is thanks to the improved properties of ozonized plasma.

The course of treatment is 10-12 procedures, 1-2 times a week.

• Injection correction of stretch marks with ozone (1 zone, 5x5 cm)

Some women develop stretch marks and stretch marks while carrying a child. Ozone allows you to effectively get rid of them. A mixture of ozone and oxygen is painlessly injected into the pathological focus. As a result, the voids are filled, collagen begins to be produced, and new blood vessels are formed. Stretch marks become almost invisible as they rise to the same level as other areas of the skin. How effective the procedure will be depends on how long ago they appeared, how large they are, and whether you have hormonal imbalances. If the stretch marks are light and thin, then after the first sessions they will become less noticeable. Take care of your body, because spring and summer are coming.

The recommended course is from 5 to 12 procedures, every 2 days, on average 2-3 times a week.

• Paraarticular injection of OKS (area of ​​1 joint)

If you have aching joints, this procedure will help relieve pain and signs of inflammation, and reduce swelling. It will also prevent the production of inflammatory mediators, accelerate healing and restore cartilage tissue. The procedure can be supplemented with an ozone-oxygen mixture, which is injected into a vein. As a result, the negative side effects from taking medications and antibiotics will decrease, and liver cells will be activated. Your doctor will select treatment based on the severity of the condition. You may be indicated for complex treatment with medications.

• Periarticular injection of OCS (1 area: cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral)

This procedure is performed for tinnitus, headaches, and vegetative-vascular dystonia. It improves attention and memory, helps improve well-being in case of pain in the spine caused by inflammation, myalgia, herniated disc, and degenerative processes.

OCS is administered locally, due to which the vessels become toned, microcirculation and rheological properties of the blood improve. When performing procedures in the cervical-collar area, the phenomena of cerebral ischemia and hypoxia disappear. Also, pathological foci are eliminated in certain areas of the spine. Ozone reduces tissue swelling, improves metabolism, reduces the amount of breakdown products, activates trophism and prevents the feeling of pain. The procedure does not exclude the introduction of an ozonized solution into a vein and ozonized autohemotherapy.

Course – from 5 to 10 procedures. The first few sessions are carried out daily, then every other day, then once every 3-5 days until the inflammation and symptoms disappear.

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Side effects

Alas, there is no procedure in the world that would not have side effects and contraindications! So the situation with ozone therapy will not surprise anyone. The good news is that the “side” appears extremely rarely and does not cause any particular harm to health. Some short-term weakness, drowsiness, and dizziness may be noted. Sometimes allergic reactions may occur: skin redness, pigmentation, irritation and itching. The occurrence of side effects has not been scientifically confirmed, so we can safely say that they appear due to specific circumstances in each individual case. After all, ozone is a toxic substance in large doses, which means it can cause an oxidative process at the cellular level. True, such cases occurred only at the dawn of the development of ozone therapy. Doctors add that it is theoretically possible for blood clots to form in blood vessels when the drug is administered intravenously.