Ozone & Hydrogen Peroxide

Oxidative Therapies: Ozone & Hydrogen Peroxide

Oxygen therapies (aka oxidative therapies) have been used for over 120 years. They first appeared in mainstream medical journals in 1888. Since that time, many countries around the world have integrated oxidative therapies into their mainstream medical practices as a safe, effective and widely applicable medical therapy that enhances the body’s innate healing powers.

The primary forms of oxidative therapies used extensively today are ozone and hydrogen peroxide. These therapies are at the cutting edge of progressive and integrative medicine, capable of treating and potentially curing a wide variety of acute and chronic illness.

Oxidative therapies are powerful producers of oxygen. Oxygen is essential for life and we require a continual supply in order to survive. The brain requires over 20 percent of the oxygen taken in by the body. The human body can survive for months without food and only days without water, but only for a few minutes without oxygen.

In the body, oxygen combines with sugars to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy (ATP). ATP is a vital component to our cells and metabolic function – without it, we are dead. Reduction or impairment of ATP production is at the core of symptoms such as fatigue and chronic disease such as immune dysregulation, cancer, heart disease and all of the degenerative processes we associate with aging.

Oxygen attacks foreign invaders and toxins in the body. Most infectious microorganisms are “anaerobic”, meaning they thrive in a low-oxygen or oxygen depleted environment. Cancer viruses are among those that are anaerobic, which is why oxidative therapies are used extensively in Germany, Russia, France, Cuba, Mexico and increasingly in North America, as a first line treatment for cancer (in conjunction with other conventional and integrative cancer treatments). In 1966, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg confirmed that the key pre-condition for the development of cancer is a near lack of oxygen on the cellular level.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Traditionally, hydrogen peroxide has been used medically as a disinfectant, antiseptic and for its wound-healing properties.
Biologically, hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced by several systems in the body. Immune cells produce hydrogen peroxide as a first line of defense against invading organisms such as viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi. It is required for the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. It is used by the endocrine system to produce estrogen, progesterone and thyroxin and assists in blood sugar regulation and energy utilization in the cells.

Ozone

Ozone is one of 3 forms of the element oxygen. It is often referred to as “energized oxygen” since it can be produced from electrical sparks and UV light combining with ordinary oxygen. It was first used therapeutically to disinfect wounds during World War I. Ozone was researched considerably in the 1930’s in Germany, where it was successfully used to treat inflammatory bowel disorders, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and chronic bacterial diarrhea.

In North America and several other countries world wide, ozone is used for its superior sanitation and anti-microbial properties. It has become the element of choice for disinfecting and purifying drinking water and wastewater through a wide variety of applications. Several swimming pools in Canada are now choosing ozonation methods over chlorination for sanitation and disinfectant purposes. It is also widely used for air and odor treatment and food sanitation.

How Do Humans Become Oxygen Deficient?

Polluted air, toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the environment, devitalized food and lack of proper breathing techniques are among the main reasons for cumulative oxygen deficiency in humans.

The Free Radical Connection & Anti-Oxidants

Oxidative therapies produce free radicals. Some free radicals are compounds naturally produced by the body and are necessary for energy-delivery to cells and destruction of microorganisms. However, free radicals are also produced in the environment through air pollution, toxic waste, certain food additives, pesticide residues and radiation (i.e. X-ray and airplane) that can lead to an accumulation of free radicals in the body (if the body’s enzyme systems are impaired and cannot “quench” the free radicals or if the systems become too overwhelmed with too many free radicals).

An excess of these free radicals can cause a great deal of harm to cells, including: altering molecular properties of the cell, thereby affecting cell-cell communication and functioning; puncturing the cell membrane allowing bacteria and viruses easy entry; exposing genetic material, thereby making it vulnerable to mutation and destruction; and overburdening the immune systems. As a result, free radical damage has been considered to be at the route of all degenerative disease, including atherosclerosis, cancer, cataracts, diabetes, allergies, cognitive decline, immune disorders, arthritis and generally play a large role in the aging process.

Our body has three main antioxidant systems that protect cells from free radicals by chemically changing them into harmless compounds like oxygen and water: catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. In addition to these antioxidant systems, we need to augment our body’s antioxidant supply with nutritional antioxidants through food (fruits and vegetables primarily) and appropriate supplementation where needed (i.e. vitamin C, D, E, beta-carotene, zinc, selenium and others), since excess free radical activity can deplete our body’s antioxidant reserves.

Are There Any Adverse Reactions To Oxidative Therapies?

Ozone and hydrogen peroxide are extremely safe and effective when diluted to therapeutic levels for medical use. When administered in prescribed amounts by a qualified, experienced and board-certified practitioner, the chances of experiencing adverse reactions to oxidative therapies are extremely small. For example, a German study evaluating the adverse side effects of over 5 million medically administered ozone treatments found that the rate of adverse side effects was only 0.0007 per application – a figure far lower than any other type of medical therapy.

What Conditions Can Benefit From Oxidative Therapies?

It has been estimated that over 12 million people (primarily in Germany, Russia and Cuba) have been given oxidative therapies over the past 90 years to treat more than 50 different diseases. In some cases, oxidative therapies can be administered alone and in other cases they are used in addition to traditional medical procedures (such as surgery or chemotherapy) or as adjuncts to naturopathic therapies (such as chelation, acupuncture, megavitamin therapy, hydrocolonics or herbal medicine).

According to the International Bio-Oxidative Medical Foundation, the following conditions or disease have been successfully treated with ozone and hydrogen peroxide:

• Circulatory and Cardiovascular Diseases: cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke and memory loss), coronary spasm (angina), gangrene, peripheral vascular diseases (poor circulation, Raynaud’s disease), temporal arteritis, vascular and cluster headaches.
• Pulmonary Diseases: asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, various pneumonias
• Infectious Diseases: acute and chronic viral infections, chronic unresponsive bacterial infections, Epstein-Barr virus (chronic fatigue syndrome), cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, HIV-related infections, influenza, tic-borne illness (i.e. Lymes disease), systemic chronic candidiasis (candida), fungal infections
• Immune Disorders: Diabetes Type (II), hypersensitive reactions, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis
• Dermatological Conditions: Acne, warts, eczema, tinea (fungal infections of the skin), psoriasis, topical staph infections (including MRSA), herpes zoster (shingles)
• Eye Diseases: Glaucoma, macular degeneration, optic nerve dysfunction
• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Duodenal ulcers, colitis, gastroenteritis
• Other Diseases and Conditions: Sinusitis, burns and wound-healing, Alzheimer’s disease, cancers (especially of the blood and lymph nodes) chronic pain syndromes, pain of metastatic carcinoma, Parkinson’s disease

Ozone Therapy For Enhanced Athletic Performance and Anti-Aging

Ozone therapy has also been viewed as an important factor in enhancing athletic performance. There are many benefits for athletes, including enhanced tissue oxygenation, increased production of ATP (more energy, faster recovery), reduction of lactic acid build up (preventing sore muscles and improving recovery time after physical exertion). In one study of female gymnasts receiving ozone, results showed that lactic acid levels were approximately 66 percent lower in the group treated with ozone, both after a single session and over 2 months. In addition, the athletic performance scores increased by approximately 30 percent for those treated with ozone.

Due to the undisputed effects of oxidative therapies, these treatments hold tremendous potential as a preventative and anti-aging (or healthy-aging) treatment modality- especially ozone – when used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle practices such as a balanced diet, exercise and stress reduction.

How Are Oxidative Therapies Administered?

Based on your individual case and the guidance of your naturopathic physician, he or she will advise you as to the most appropriate method(s) and type(s) of oxidative therapies. Ozone can be administered topically (via ozonated water or “bagging” method), rectally or vaginally (known as “rectal or vaginal insufflation”), intravenously (direct or via a method known as “autohemologous immunotherapy” or “AHIT”, a process whereby the patients own blood is mixed with ozone and reinfused) and via intra-articular injection (commonly referred to as “prolo-ozone” therapy).

How Many Treatments Are Required?

The number of treatments will vary considerably depending on the patient and the type of condition being treated. The average number of treatments is between 10-20. In some cases, oxidative therapies may be part of an ongoing treatment plan (at a reduced frequency of administration) once the initial set of treatments have been completed.

Where Can I Learn More About Oxidative Therapies?

Books:
Oxygen-Ozone Therapy: A Critical Evaluation (by Dr. Velio Bocci, MD)
Ozone: A New Medical Drug (by Dr. Velio Bocci, MD)
The Oxygen Prescription (by Nathaniel Altman)

Websites:
Oxygen Prescription
Oxygen Healing Therapies

Dr. Sharon Gurm is a Naturopathic Physician board-certified in Oxidative Therapies. For more information, or to book an appointment, please speak to patient care coordinator at (604) 949-0077.