OZONE THERAPY: MYTH AND FACT

Ozone is the one of the most potent oxidant in the nature. It is found in tricyclic molecular form. Ozone therapy is a kind of oxidative stress, which is achieved by either direct ozone injection into the tissues or reinfusion of ozonated blood of the patient. Ozone shows its effect via secondary messengers, which are hidrogen peroxide and lipid oxidation products from oxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane. As a result of this controlled stress, the anti oxidant mechanisms, immunity system and other neurohumoral mechanisms are activated. It is more likely a "physiological vaccine." Currently, ozon therapy was indicated in the case of circulatory disturbances, degenerative disesases, musculo-skeletal pathologies, some infectional diseases, chronic wounds. Ozone should not be used in patients with respiratory system pathologies, in pregnants, in glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, favism, and uncontralable hyperthyroidisim. Ozone therapy is not approved by the FDA, contrary it is classified as a toxic material. In Turkey, there is no any legal regulation yet. As a conclusion, the ozone therapy cannot be accepted neither primary nor secondary treatment modalitiy, on the other hand, we cannot ignore succesful results in the literature.