Ozone, or trioxygen, is an allotropic form of oxygen, with the chemical formula O₃.
In medicine, medical therapeutic ozone is used—a mixture of oxygen and ozone (O₂/O₃)—in concentrations appropriate for the conditions being treated.
Ozone therapy is a therapeutic method in which ozone enriched with oxygen is introduced into the body through various techniques. The result is the stimulation of the immune system and the enhancement of the body’s repair mechanisms.
In 2010, the “Madrid Declaration on Ozone Therapy” was signed for the first time by 26 international organizations, and by July 22, 2014, it had been signed by 38 national and international organizations.
In Greece, the National Health System recognized in 1991, through Government Gazette 157/91, the use of ozone in medical procedures of various specialties, and in 2014 the Central Health Council (KESY) included the method of major and minor autohemotherapy as well as intramuscular and intra-articular injections among recognized medical procedures.
At the Therapia Specialists, Pain & Personal Care Unit, ozone is administered using the following methods:
This consists of collecting a specific amount of blood from the patient, mixing it with medical ozone in a concentration suited to the condition being treated, and reinfusing it. The procedure is painless, lasts about 30 minutes, and the patient can return immediately to their daily activities.
This method is used for circulatory system disorders and autoimmune diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis). It is also recommended for cancer patients, the elderly, and athletes.
This consists of drawing a small amount of blood (2–5 ml), ozonating it through a specific process, and then injecting it intramuscularly into the glute.
The method is mainly used for allergies, acne, and shingles (herpes zoster).
This is a completely painless and safe method that lasts about 15 minutes.
Medical ozone is introduced via a thin catheter into the intestinal area to treat intestinal disorders, such as painful colitis, Crohn’s disease, and autoimmune conditions.
The intramuscular administration of ozone is applied primarily at the Pain Care Clinic for treating arthritis, pain from herniated intervertebral discs, headaches, low back pain, neck pain, musculoskeletal problems, and subcutaneously for shingles. Pain relief is immediate.
Local external application with bags or chambers
The procedure is performed by placing the affected area (e.g., upper or lower limbs) into special airtight bags where medical ozone is infused, for the treatment of burns, chronic ulcers, etc.
Ozone therapy is indicated for the management of the following conditions:
