Ozone Therapy
Medical ozone therapy uses a controlled oxygen-ozone mixture through routes such as major autohemotherapy, ozonated water/oils, rectal insufflation, ozonated saline, and local/topical applications. In cancer it is promoted mainly as an adjunctive/supportive therapy, but clinical evidence remains limited and it is not an approved cancer treatment.
Ozone therapy, also called oxygen-ozone therapy or medical ozone, uses ozone (O3) generated from medical oxygen and delivered in controlled concentrations. It is discussed in integrative oncology as a possible adjunct for immune modulation, oxidative preconditioning, tumor oxygenation/hypoxia, inflammation control, wound healing after surgery, treatment tolerance, and quality-of-life support. It should be presented as investigational/supportive rather than as a proven cancer cure.
Common routes discussed in the literature and practitioner material include major autohemotherapy (blood is withdrawn, exposed to an oxygen-ozone mixture, and reinfused), ozonated water taken orally or used topically, ozonated oils, rectal insufflation, vaginal or local insufflation, ozone bagging/topical wound exposure, dental use, and ozonated saline infusions in some countries. Some clinics advertise IV ozone; direct intravenous injection of ozone gas is a major safety concern and has been associated with serious complications. Autohemotherapy is different from direct gas injection because the ozone reaction is intended to occur outside the body before reinfusion.
Cancer-related research includes in vitro and animal work suggesting oxidative damage to tumor cells, possible synergy with some chemotherapy/radiotherapy models, and possible effects on tumor oxygenation. Human evidence is much thinner: CAM Cancer summarizes the clinical evidence as limited, with few controlled studies, small sample sizes, and no demonstrated survival benefit. Some reports describe quality-of-life, treatment-tolerance, lymphoedema, mucositis, or wound-healing outcomes, but stronger randomized trials are needed.
Safety note: ozone should not be breathed in, especially at high doses. Inhaled ozone is a lung irritant and toxic gas; high exposure can injure mucous membranes and lungs and may cause delayed pulmonary edema. Medical-use discussions generally try to avoid pulmonary exposure and use controlled equipment, dosing, and scavenging/ventilation. Additional cautions commonly discussed include pregnancy/lactation, G6PD deficiency, bleeding/clotting issues, severe uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, and the risk of infection, embolism, or tissue injury from injections or poorly performed procedures.