Ozone therapy is about providing more oxygen for the body to use, and helping the tissues use the oxygen more efficiently. It is so effective because oxygen is an essential nutrient for every cell in the body. How long can you go without breathing? It takes only a few minutes for cells to feel the effects of oxygen deprivation.
Are you wondering how your pet could be oxygen deprived? Cells can effectively become deprived of oxygen not only when the oxygen levels in the blood are low, but also when they lose the ability to utilize the oxygen properly. There is a good deal of cellular biochemistry involved in this process, but, simply put, there are processes that allow oxygen to enter the cell and be utilized that must be functional in order for the oxygen to be properly utilized. Without the proper ability to use oxygen, cells cannot produce enough energy to function optimally and will default to other pathways of energy production with potentially toxic by-products.
For cancer patients, in particular, this process boosts the immune system by strengthening the cells that do the work of eliminating damaged cells from the body. Further, many cancers thrive in a low-oxygen environment as this is how the cells become diseased in the first place. By providing more oxygen, the cancer cells cannot thrive.
How is this different than the ozone in the atmosphere? Atmospheric ozone is produced by either lightening or UV radiation splitting oxygen molecules, causing a single oxygen atom to join with O2 to make O3. It gets a bad reputation on smoggy days, so how is it safe to use in your pet? The actual amount of ozone mixed in the smog is actually very small when compared to other pollutants that we see and smell. The reason you hear so much about it is that ozone is easier to measure than the other components of the smog layer. When the ozone level goes up, so do the hydrocarbons and other toxins, but these are in much larger amounts and consequently much more toxic. It is true that ozone is not safe to breathe in large amounts, but it is not as toxic as some of the other chemicals produced by cars and factories and sprayed on the earth. There is a beneficial layer of ozone far above the earth in the stratosphere, which exits 5-11 miles about the surface of the planet. This layer protects us from UV radiation so it is dangerous to us if this layer gets depleted.
Ozone can be administered in a number of different ways. The gas is made by passing pure, medical grade oxygen through a generator that uses an electrical spark to split an oxygen atom off of the O2 molecules. This free oxygen atom will combine with other O2 molecules and produce O3, which is ozone. The gas can then be administered in a number of different ways:
- A small amount of blood is drawn, mixed with ozone and re-injected either into the vein or muscle
- Rectal insufflation, where the ozone gas is deposited directly into the colon to provide gastro-intestinal support and help detoxify the liver.
- Ozone gas, or ozonated saline can be injected directly around tumors, wounds or surgical sites to promote healing.
- Ozone can be breathed in after bulling through olive oil so it is not irritating to the lungs. This can help with nasal and respiratory infections, asthma, allergies, and cancer.
- Bagging an affected area of the body with the ozone gas to allow for a direct external effect on wounds, skin sores and rashes or draining tumors
- Ozone can be infused into olive oil to provide a valuable skin ointment that promotes wound healing.
Once in the body, the ozone will combine with small protein and fat molecules to form substances called ozonides that can readily enter the cells. Straight ozone is unstable and will react quickly with the tissues it comes in contact with. Ozonides, however, are more stable and can provide benefit for days or even weeks after a treatment.
Ozone is nothing new. The first generator was created by Nikola Tesla in 1896. It took some time for it to be more widely used as a medical treatment, but it was used in humans as early at 1911 at the Loyola Chicago University to treat tuberculosis, anemia, chlorosis, tinnitus, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis, hay fever, insomnia, pneumonia, diabetes, gout and syphilis. In other parts of the world it is a mainstay treatment in human hospitals. There are a number of veterinarians around the country that have been using ozone successfully to treat many disease conditions, including cancer.
We will help you decide if ozone is right for your pet.
Compassionate care for your four-legged family members.
I am currently practicing out of my office in Littleton, Colorado. If you are in the area, I would be honored to meet you and your pet in person. Office hours are by appointment.
I am also available to do phone consultations. Please contact me to schedule a time and arrange for medical records to be transferred.