By Dr. David Palacios, N.D.
What is ozone?
Ozone, (O3), is an energized form of oxygen which contains three atoms of oxygen rather than the two atoms we normally breathe. Ozone is the second most powerful sterilizer in the world and can be used to destroy bacteria, viruses and odors. Ozone is 1,000 times more disinfectant than chlorine! Interestingly ozone occurs quite readily in nature, most often as a result of lightning strikes that occur during thunderstorms. However, we are probably most familiar with ozone from reading about the “ozone layer” that circles the planet above the earth’s atmosphere. This layer of ozone serves to protect us from the ultraviolet radiation.
How does ozone work?
The third oxygen atom of ozone makes it extremely reactive. This atom readily attaches itself to other molecules. When contaminants such as bacteria or viruses make contact with ozone, it creates a miniscule hole in the cell wall. Once the cell wall is destroyed, the bacteria will be unable to survive. This process is called oxidation. Ozone essentially reverts back to oxygen after it is used. This makes it a very environmentally friendly oxidant and very safe to use.
Is ozone safe?
The medical uses of Ozone by health care providers who are trained to use this therapy have a safer track record than the use of Ibuprofen. We highly recommend receiving ozone treatments from professionals who have gone through the proper training and can show you their certifications.
Medical Uses for Ozone Therapy
In 1929, the directors of the most important hospitals in the U.S.A. published the book Ozone and ItsTherapeutic Action, which lists 114 diseases and their treatment through the application of ozone. Herniated disc therapy has a 60-80% success rate using just ozone/O2 injections. This series of injections has equal or better efficacy when compared to back surgeries. They also have the added benefit of no recuperation time and a small amount of cost. Disc Herniation is not the only application. Ozone is also extremely effective in treating spinal stenosis, neuropathic pain and general chronic pain patterns.
Prolozone is a form of non-surgical ligament reconstruction and is a permanent treatment for chronic pain. Prolozone is a connective tissue injection therapy of collagen producing substances and ozone gas which can reconstruct damaged or weakened connective tissue in and around joints. These substances are injected into the damaged connective tissue in and around a joint to rebuild the damaged areas. By repairing the connective tissue this is all that is needed to permanently reverse chronic pain.
Prolozone Therapy is an injection technique similar to prolotherapy that uses ozone. The use of ozone causes the joint to heal much more quickly than in traditional prolotherapy. This is because ozone is a highly reactive molecule and when injected into a joint capsule it is able to stimulate the fibroblastic (or regenerative) joint repairing abilities.
Prolozone is derived from the word ozone and the Latin word “proli” which means to regenerate or re-build. It literally means re-building tissues with ozone. It is important to understand what the word prolozone actually means. “Prolo” is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak.
To sum up, Prolozone is a non-surgical injection based treatment that in many cases permanently resolved chronic pain patterns and can regenerate damaged tissues.
How Many Treatments Do I Need?
Similar to Neural Therapy, Prolotherapy and PRP, we clinically see the best results with 3 visits of ozone therapy 1-2 weeks apart. Ozone therapy is virtually painless and often can give you immediate relief in your back pain with no recovery.