Ozone Sauna & Therapies - The Science and Health Benefits

Ozone therapy increases your antioxidants, boosts the immune response, and increases tissue oxygenation. Read about the science and benefits of ozone therapy.

I first heard about ozone therapy 25 years ago, but it wasn't until I experienced it first hand that I truly understood its benefits. Ozone therapy was key to healing my serious health issue due to viral cascade and toxic mold exposure. In 2018, I was able to train with the leading ozone doctor, Frank Shallenberger, MD. Now that I can offer it here in Austin TX, it is truly my labor of love. In this article, I share the latest science about what ozone therapy is, how it works, and how you can enjoy its benefits. 

~Juanita

What is ozone?

Ozone is a gas made of three oxygen atoms (O3). The typical oxygen gas you inhale is made of two oxygen atoms (O2). The ozone gas is a very unstable molecule, which makes its use controversial, despite plenty of published research to show its safety and effectiveness. Outside the body, ozone gas has antimicrobial effects, so it has been approved to disinfect water and reusable medical devices for many years 2. 

Ozone is the fresh clean scent you smell after a thunderstorm. The high forceful heat of a lightning strike actually splits the bonds of atmospheric oxygen, creating ozone. This ozone lingers in the air for a while until it breaks down into oxygen. 

What is ozone therapy?

Ozone therapy refers to the use of tiny doses of ozone gas for medical benefits. During World War I, before antibiotics were discovered, doctors used ozone therapy to treat diseases and injuries. Now, we have more precise ozone therapy machines and many routes of ozone treatments, including injections, saunas, insufflations, and ozonated drinking water. 
 

How does ozone therapy work?

Ozone therapy is a form of hormesis, or a small dose of stress that improves your health and makes you stronger 3. At high doses, ozone is toxic and dangerous. However, at therapeutic doses, it stimulates the following healing processes:

1) Increases cellular antioxidants to protect organs against oxidative damage

Ozone therapy creates a small amount of oxidative stress inside your cells, which causes them to respond by increasing antioxidant enzymes. It turns on the Nrf2 gene, which activates your cellular detox and antioxidant pathways 4. 

Increasing these cellular antioxidants can often jumpstart a healing process. For example, the immune system fights infections by increasing oxidative stress. The antioxidant response from ozone can promote a balanced immune response during infections 5. For example, in animal models of severe infections, ozone-treated animals had less inflammatory proteins (cytokines) and were more likely to survive 6,7. 

2) Relaxes the blood vessels

Ozone therapy relaxes the blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide and a substance called prostacyclin. Relaxing the blood vessels can temporarily reduce blood pressure, improve sexual performance, and enhance exercise performance 8–10.  

3) Promotes healthy immune function

The small amount of oxidative stress ozone generates can stimulate the immune system 11. It also increases signaling proteins that improve tissue remodeling, which supports the wound healing process 12. The most abundant human white blood cells, neutrophils, also produce ozone to attack pathogens and attract other immune cells  13.

4) Disrupts membranes of bacteria and viruses

The cell membranes—both ours and that of yeasts, bacteria, and viruses - consist of fat molecules. The ozone gas can interact with these fat molecules and disrupt the membranes. Outside the human body, high doses of ozone gases can disinfect surfaces and water. However, inside our bodies, our own antioxidants would block the ozone gas from fully disrupting our cell membranes. Therefore, using ozone for infectious elements can weaken the germs without being toxic to us, while also stimulating an immune response. This helps our immune system fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc, more easily and more effectively14. Also, a few studies have found that combining ozone therapy with antibiotics has shown great results, especially against antibiotic-resistant strains 15–17. 

5) Increasing tissue oxygenation

Ozone increases oxygen flow across cell membranes, and the amount of oxygen your red blood cells can carry. Often, chronic injuries, adhesions, or diabetes can lead to poor circulation, which leads to tissue injuries and the inability to heal 18. By increasing blood oxygen levels and relaxing the blood vessels, ozone therapy can improve tissue oxygenation. The increase in oxygen available to your cells can improve your mitochondria (your cells’ energy factories) function 19. More oxygen and improved mitochondrial function can jumpstart the healing processes in chronic injuries and accelerate exercise recovery in athletes 10,20,21. 

A few small clinical studies have also shown that ozone therapy improves blood flow to the brain, which may improve cognitive function and brain health 14.

Isn’t ozone gas dangerous?

When it comes to ozone and any other type of hormesis, the dose decides whether it is medicine or poison. High concentrations of ozone, combined with other toxic gases, is part of polluted air. Ozone is dangerous in large doses, especially to the lungs.  

Therapeutic ozone is, however, completely different from the ozone that we consider pollution. At (very small) therapeutic doses, you will get just enough ozone to trigger the beneficial healing responses. 

The ozone gas irritates the airways, so it should never be inhaled. One reason ozone is a pollutant is that people inhale it. At Radiance Health Center, we take measures to prevent ozone inhalation and ensure that your sessions are safe. 

Ozone blood infusions require the supervision of a licensed physician who is familiar with ozone injections so you can reap the most benefits and avoid any side effects. Ozone is a volatile molecule, so great care is necessary when administered into your body.  

At Radiance Health Center, we support your health with ozone saunas, insufflations, and ozonated drinking water.  

Ozone therapy side effects and contraindications

Ozone therapy is very safe, with rare minimal, temporary, and preventable side effects 22. 

These temporary symptoms may include:

• Die-off symptoms or Herxheimer reactions

• Temporarily increased sensitivity in the treatment area

• Temporarily increased discharge or itchiness for ear and nasal insufflations

• Accidental inhalation may temporarily irritate the airway causing minor symptoms

To prevent side effects, it is important to work with qualified and experienced practitioners. We take into account your health concerns and history, and help you start at a low ozone concentration before gradually adjusting the dose. If your elimination and detoxification pathways are not functioning optimally, we may recommend working to open up those organ systems before starting ozone therapy. If you experience severe die-off reactions, step back the protocol or stop the treatments altogether. Lastly, ozone allergies and sensitivities exist but are extremely rare. This will typically show up as a rash, and it is advised to sessions until it passes.

It is also critical to use medical-grade ozone generators because any other repurposed ozone machines can have imprecise doses and contaminations. Avoid ozone therapy during pregnancy, if you have organ transplants, or are severely immunocompromised. 

Different types of ozone therapy we offer and specific health benefits Different forms of ozone therapy target distinct areas of your body, and thus have slightly different benefits. 

Ozone Sauna 

An ozone sauna is a steam sauna that infuses your skin with ozone, allowing you to reap synergized benefits of both. The advantage of ozone sauna is that it combines both steam heat and ozone to generate maximum hormesis effects. Ozone typically does not penetrate the skin very well, but it is soluble in water, so a steam sauna can best open the pores and facilitate the absorption of ozone through the skin 23,24. The gas also interacts with your skin and creates ozonides that get absorbed into your bloodstream and raise whole-body antioxidants.

During an ozone sauna, you will enjoy your 30-minute session in our state-of-the-art ozone sauna chamber. To maximize the benefits, avoid taking antioxidants one hour before and two hours following your ozone sauna session. Also, drink a lot of water, and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. 

According to a clinical study using an ozone steam sauna, your blood will carry more oxygen and less carbon dioxide for about 24 hours. This study also observed an increase in both oxidative stress and antioxidants for about a day. Your immune system will also be temporarily activated and subside in less than an hour 25. 

Anti-aging - During your ozone sauna session, the ozone gas interacts with your skin cells and lipid molecules on your skin, generating antioxidants and other ozonated products. These interactions stimulate the skin rejuvenation and strengthening processes. 

By activating the antioxidant pathways and hormesis, the ozone sauna has a lot of anti-aging benefits 26. Many diseases of aging relate to poor mitochondria function. By improving mitochondrial function, ozone sauna therapy boosts metabolism and brain health, and jumpstarts healing activities. It also stimulates the immune system, which often weakens with age. 

Mood and cognitive function - The combination of ozone and steam sauna is very powerful for brain health. Both the heat and the ozone activate heat shock proteins, which are anti-inflammatory proteins that help other proteins fold correctly and support cellular self-cleanup 27. The heat-shock proteins can promote correct protein folding, which may protect the brain from misfolded proteins. Protein misfolding contributes to brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s 28.    Like exercise, heat therapy increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which boosts mood and cognitive function. Both the ozone gas and sauna synergize to increase nitric oxide, which can relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow to the brain 29,30. Both can also improve mitochondrial function, keeps your brain energized and functioning well 30. 

Detoxification - The ozonated products in your bloodstream can react with heavy metals and toxic substances in your body into a form that can be eliminated. The cellular antioxidants, such as glutathione, also supports the safe elimination of toxins 27.

Physical and sexual stamina - By improving mitochondria health and tissue oxygenation, ozone sauna can improve both physical stamina and exercise recovery. In a chapter of the book Oxygen-ozone therapy, Prof. Velio Bocci MD, a world leader in ozone research, suggested that ozone therapy could be considered doping because it can significantly increase exercise performance 31. An animal study found that ozone treatment improved cardiac performance and reduced fatigue when the animals were subject to prolonged intense exercise 10. It also improves nitric oxide, and thus sexual stamina 9.

Supporting weight loss - Ozone sauna is a great way to support your fat loss efforts. First, a typical sauna session will require your body to work to eliminate the heat, which burns hundreds more calories. Second, it reduces inflammation and toxins, which can often create weight loss resistance 27. Third, by improving blood oxygenation and mitochondria function, you improve your calories burned and the fraction of fat calories burned. You can burn 400-600 calories in a 30 minute sauna session.

Supporting recovery from infections - The ozone gas creates many physiologic responses that would be ideal during infections, although we have limited evidence on whether ozone saunas can treat infections. For example, it initially stimulates the immune system and increases some inflammatory proteins, but inhibits chronic inflammation. Also, it weakens the cell membranes of pathogens, making them more susceptible to antimicrobial drugs. Lastly, by boosting blood oxygen levels and oxygen transfer, it promotes healing and reduces the stress on the lungs 32.  

Ozone and Lyme disease - Lyme infections can often result in chronic symptoms following a tick bite. In a case study, local ozone treatments inhibited bacteria growth and healed tick bite cellulitis 15. Lyme symptoms arise from chronic inflammation and elevated oxidative stress. Many ozone physicians found that ozone therapy is a good add-on treatment for Lyme patients. 

Key differences between ozone sauna and infrared sauna

Both ozone and infrared saunas are very beneficial for health through different means. They both work through hormesis—by generating a small amount of stress that improves your health.

An ozone sauna is a steam sauna that heats your body from outside, in order to open your pores for ozone and ozonated products to enter into your bloodstream. These substances stimulate the mitochondria through different means than infrared. For example, the small amount of oxidants generated by ozone can significantly increase cellular antioxidants and jumpstart a stagnant healing process. Also, ozone therapy increases tissue oxygenation, which helps your mitochondria function more efficiently. Importantly, an ozone sauna does not create structured water. 

An infrared sauna is a dry sauna where the infrared ray permeates your body and heats it from inside. Near-infrared penetrates a few millimeters into the skin, while mid- and far-infrared penetrate deeper into the body. They activate the mitochondria and trigger anti-aging pathways, which boost metabolism and reduce inflammation 33. Far-infrared also creates anti-inflammatory and antioxidant structured water in our cells 34. 

When to use ozone sauna - Infrared saunas share a few of the same benefits as ozone therapy. However, aside from temporarily increasing body temperature, infrared saunas don’t work with the immune system, stimulate tissue regeneration, or weaken pathogens in the same manner as an ozone sauna would. Therefore, many people with chronic inflammatory conditions or infections experience more therapeutic benefits with ozone than infrared. 

Ozone Nasal Insufflation

Ozone nasal insufflation targets the sinus tissues. During the session, a low concentration of ozone is bubbled through olive oil and passed through your sinus cavity with a nasal cannula. The olive oil makes the process completely safe, so you do not inhale any ozone into your lungs. This treatment may help clear up the sinuses, reduce local oxidative stress, and inhibit infections. Based on Russian clinical studies, nasal ozone therapies helped with sinus infections 35,36.

Ozone Ear Insufflation

The ear canal is intimately connected with the sinuses, the jaw, lymph nodes in the neck, and the brain. Many people experience benefits in the head and neck area with ear insufflation. These include brain and mood issues, reduced sinus issues, faster recovery from infections, or relief in the jaw or head area. 

During this treatment, you will wear a stethoscope that infuses ozone directly into your ears. This insufflation typically lasts 3 - 5 minutes 

Ozone ear insufflation may protect the ear canal against chemical and age-related damage. In animals exposed to cochlear-damaging agents, ozone may mitigate cochlear (part of the inner ear involved in hearing) damage 37. Some dentists also use ear ozone insufflation for jaw pain, teeth infections, headache, and sinus issues 38.

Ozone Rectal Insufflation

The rectal insufflation treatment targets the gut and internal organs that connect to the gut. Because 80% of your immune system is located in the gut, a rectal insufflation can better support your immune system and provide whole-body benefits. 

Before a rectal insufflation, it is important to clear the colon first. Many people prefer to have a colonic or enema before a rectal insufflation, although this is optional as bowel movement prior is sufficient. During this insufflation, you will lay on your right side as the ozone is slowly administered through the rectum over a few minutes. You may feel the urge for a bowel movement or pass gas after the treatment, which is totally normal, but it is best to hold it in for at least 15 - 20 minutes. 

Due to state laws and regulations, we do not offer rectal insufflation on-site but provide home insufflation kits instead. 

Health benefits of rectal ozone insufflation may include:

Improve whole-body blood flow and oxygenation - Ozone rectal insufflation improves blood flow, red blood cell resilience, and blood oxygenation similarly to an ozone injection 39. 

Support liver health and detoxification - In a clinical study, ozone rectal insufflation improved blood flow and oxygenation to the liver in men with liver cirrhosis, which helped them detoxify their medication, propranolol, faster 40.

Improve digestive symptoms and function - In an Italian clinical study, rectal insufflation significantly improved digestive symptoms in patients with dysbiosis 41. 

Improve gut bacteria - Our gut bacteria are important for all aspects of your health. Although ozone is a powerful antiseptic, at therapeutic doses, it seems to improve the gut microbiome. Direct ozone exposure on the gut can also stimulate the gut’s mitochondria. Boosting mitochondria function in the gut lining selects for good gut bacteria to grow, improving all areas of health 14,42. The ozone also improves gut cell turnover and reduces inflammation, which accelerates healing from digestive conditions 43. 

Ozonated Drinking Water

Ozone dissolves well in water, so drinking ozonated water is a good way to reap the benefits of ozone internally, especially in the upper gut. In an animal study, feeding with ozonated water improves the turnover of intestinal cells 43. In an animal model of leaky gut, ozone water in the abdominal cavity reduced inflammation and improved antioxidant enzymes 44.

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