Ozone therapy can induce the following biological responses
- Improves blood circulation and oxygen delivery in ischemic tissue owing to NO, CO, and increase levels of intra-erythrocytic 2, 3-DPG.
- Enhances general metabolism by improving oxygen delivery.
- Upregulates cellular antioxidant enzymes and induction of HO-1 and HSP70.
- Induces a mild activation of the immune system and enhances the release of growth factors
- Does not procure acute or late side effects.
- Procures a surprising wellness in most patients, probably via the stimulation of the neuroendocrine system.
- Activates neuroprotective systems.
ii) Monolateral or even bilateral injection of 5-10 mL of gas with an ozone concentration of up to 20 μg/mL is performed into the trigger points of the paravertebral muscles corresponding to the metamers of the herniated disc usually interesting from L4 to S1 [62]. This “chemical acupuncture” is the indirect approach for treating lumbar disc herniation and alternate daily treatments for about 3 weeks yield a therapeutic results in about 68% of the patients [63].
A single subcutaneous injection of O3 in mouse with spared nerve injury of the sciatic nerve was found to decrease the neuropathic pain-type behavior. Mechanism of this action is yet unclear but O3 was observed to regulate the expression of the genes that play vital role in onset and maintenance of allodynia.[48]
Provided that the ozone dose is within the well defined range, there is only a transitory decrease (no more than 25%) of the potent antioxidant capacity of plasma [54] fully reconstituted within 20 min owing to the efficiency of the redox system [32]. There is neither damage to erythrocytes nor to other cells: hemolysis is negligible (from 0.4 up to 1.2%), there is no leakage of K+ and methemoglobin remains normal [55]. It must be added that ozonated erythrocytes show an improved glycolysis with an increase of ATP and 2,3-DPG levels, which are able to shift the dissociation curve of HbO2 to the right, confirming the observation of an improved delivery of oxygen in peripheral obstructive arterial disease.
References
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