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Ozone Therapy Basics

OZONE THERAPY

Overview

The term ozone therapy describes the process where the ozone gas is administered into the body, the purpose of which is to treat a wound or a disease. The ozone gas is uniquely colorless and consists of three oxygen atoms (O₃). It find great clinical applications through stimulation of immune functions. It is also employed in the disinfection and treatment of diseases. Clinically, ozone therapy gas is produced from clinical-grade oxygen sources.

Photo credit: Spa in Spain

Everyone has experienced ozone in one way or the other

You may have noticed at some point that the air around you emits a fresh, poignant odor after a thunderstorm. The fragrance seems to be a familiar one but unfortunately, you have never been able to place it. The fragrance is similar to the one perceived at waterfalls and ocean waves, as well as when the fields of snow are hit by sunlight. The smell perceived is that of ozone, a natural gas. However, it isn’t only nature that can produce this substance. With advancements in science and technology, this gas can be produced at will. Artificial ozone has the exact characteristics as that produced naturally.

The ozone gas is a cleansing gas; this explains why one has the feeling of cleansing wherever around it. Ozone cleanses the atmosphere. When we are exposed to this gas, it also cleanses our bodies.

The question goes – why does the weatherman use such a dismal, dire tone to pronounce the ozone count? Why are the elderly advised not to jog? Why are the sick advised not to even step outside? Why is the high ozone count attributed to car emissions?

The reason for this is that ozone is produced not only by natural phenomena but also by pollution. Ozone is formed when moisture, temperature and sunlight interacts with pollutants. Thee pollutants are mainly hydrocarbons formed from carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide, and also from the partial combustion of fuel in car engines.

It suffice to say that the concentration of ozone is highly dependent on the level of pollution in that region. However, what we have not been told is that ozone helps in cleansing and without it, the level of pollution in our cities would be greater than normal.

Despite its not-so-pleasing reputation, ozone has become an interesting subject in medical research due to its potential healing effects – the ozone therapy.

The ozone therapy is quite versatile. This is because it can be utilized both medically and at home. The ozone therapy can be administered into various body organs, and through the skin. It can also be administered to damaged body parts and painful body parts.

According to a 2004 review of ozone therapy:

“During the past decade, contrary to all expectations, it has been demonstrated that the judicious application of ozone in chronic infectious diseases, vasculopathies, orthopedics and even dentistry has yielded such striking results that it is deplorable that the medical establishment continues to ignore ozone therapy.”¹

Right from its inception, ozone therapy has proven useful against a number of ailments and afflictions including liver disease, cancer, viral diseases, auto-immune disorder, geriatric conditions, AIDS and SARS, Lyme disease, allergies, macular degeneration and cardiovascular diseases.

How does the ozone therapy work?

The ozone therapy interrupts harmful processes taking place in the body. It also inhibits the growth and development of bacteria that poses a threat to optimum health. For instance, a person who has an infection on some part of the body can stop its spread with ozone therapy. Studies have shown that ozone therapy is effective in the treatment of infections caused by:

Viruses
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Yeast

Ozone therapy also helps to expel the infected cells from the body. Once these cells are eradicated, new ones are produced by the body.

What conditions can be treated by ozone therapy?

The ozone therapy can treat many conditions. These include:

Respiratory disorders

People with respiratory disorders benefit greatly from ozone therapy. Ozone therapy loads the blood with oxygen thus minimizing the stress on the lungs. We know that the lungs are responsible for supply of oxygen to the blood.

Currently, clinical trials are ongoing for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Diabetes

Research has also shown that ozone therapy helps combat the complications of diabetes. Diabetic complications arise due to oxidative stress in the body. Because ozone therapy supplies fresh oxygen to the blood, it is evident that diabetic patients could have a better prognosis. Diabetic patients usually have poor wound healing. Research has however shown that ozone therapy can help in skin and tissue repair.

Immune disorders

People suffering from immune disorders can benefit greatly from ozone therapy because it helps to stimulate the immune system. A 1991 study showed that ozone therapy can cause a complete inactivation of the HIV. However, there is need for more research to verify the efficacy of ozone therapy in HIV treatment.

Preparing for ozone therapy

The best preparation for ozone therapy is made by consulting your physician or healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may give the therapy by mixing the ozone gas with blood drawn from your body. The blood is then reinjected into your system.

It is advisable that patients sleep well the night prior to the therapy. On the day of the therapy, do well to eat a healthy breakfast. Also hydrate by drinking enough water.

The treatment

Ozone therapy can be administered by a number of ways. Your healthcare provider will draw up the plan that best suits your condition and body system. That said, ozone therapy may be given in three ways:

Direct administration to the tissue: If you are undergoing the therapy for an injury a problem with your extremities, then the gas will be administered directly to the affected tissue. Administration is done in a protective covering.

Intravenous administration: When treating disorders that occur internally, the ozone gas will be dissolved in the blood extracted from the recipient’s body. The blood is then injected back into the body through an intravenous administration.

Intramuscular administration: Ozone therapy can also be administered intramuscularly. Here, the ozone gas is mixed in sterile water or the recipient’s blood before administration.

How effective is ozone therapy?

There have been mixed results from studies on ozone therapy. However, most studies have yielded promising results. Many clinical trials are ongoing for most ailments ranging from HIV to arthritis.

One trial showed that a new ozone therapy medication could be very effective in treating people with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Studies are also ongoing on subjects with knee arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. No results have been released for now. It is also believed that people suffering back pain from herniated discs will also derive positive benefits from ozone therapy.

Are there any side effects?

Many health facilities are not using ozone therapy at this time, and some risks are associated with its usage. The gas does not have an even number of atoms, thus resulting in its unstable nature. This makes it unpredictable.

Great caution is applied by healthcare providers when using the ozone therapy. Red blood cells are at risk of damage when exposed to high concentrations of oxygen, hence measurements must be done precisely.

Consult your physician about the possible side effects and compare them with the potential benefits. You are also advised to checkout other treatment alternatives to help chose the best plan of treatment for your condition.

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Contact Us

We offer the convenience of being able to call us at any time, or you can submit your details in the blue form on this page for us to reach out directly to you!
(305) 539-9346

Consultation

Our initial consultation will determine which treatments are best for you. Next, we'll answer all your questions, dispel any myths and educate on stem cell treatments before we start.

Treatment

Once we have learned about your pain, we'll customize all of our treatments to your exact needs and ensure you're on your way to living a life without the pain and discomfort of arthritis.

References

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. (2017). Intraarticular ozone therapy for pain control in osteoarthritis of the knee.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00832312
Bocci V, et al. (2015). Validity of oxygen-ozone therapy as integrated medication form in chronic inflammatory diseases.
ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/chddt/2015/00000015/00000002/art00012
Elvis AM, et al. (2011). Ozone therapy: A clinical review.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312702/
Fuccio C, et al. (2009). A single subcutaneous injection of the ozone prevents allodynia and decreases the over-expression of pro-inflammatory caspases in the orbito-frontal cortex of neuropathic mice. DOI:
10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.11.060
Johansson E, et al. (2009). Antibacterial effect of ozone on cariogenic bacterial species. DOI:
10.1016/j.jdent.2009.02.004
Mayo Clinic. (2017). Blood donation.
mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-donation/basics/how-you-prepare/prc-20020069
Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG. (2017). Study to Evaluate the effect of bimosiamose on ozone induced sputum neutrophilia.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00962481
Vinnik IS, et al. (2015). The results of combined ozone therapy using in complex treatment of soft tissues infections in patients with diabetes mellitus type II.
europepmc.org/abstract/med/26031822
Wells KH, et al. (1991). Inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by ozone in vitro.
bloodjournal.org/content/bloodjournal/78/7/1882.full.pdf
Zhang J, et al. (2014). Increased growth factors play a role in wound healing promoted by noninvasive oxygen-ozone therapy in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. DOI:
dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/273475
GlaxoSmithKline. (2017). Evaluate the effects of the drug (SB-656933-AAA) on the body after a single dose in subjects who have inhaled ozone.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT00551811
Kovacs Foundation. (2017). The effect of ozone therapy for lumbar herniated disc.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00566007

Intravenous Vitamin Therapy Basics

INTRAVENOUS VITAMIN THERAPY

What is intravenous vitamin therapy?

Intravenous vitamin therapy is getting more popular by the day. It involves the direct administration of minerals and vitamins into the general circulation. The trend is very popular among celebrities. Intravenous vitamin therapy is recommended by Alternative therapy clinics for various diseases and ailments including hypertension, cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, diabetes, hepatitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, macular degeneration and Parkinson’s disease. Some health facilities believe that intravenous vitamin therapy boosts energy levels, enhances the functioning of the immune system, and helps the individual to cope with sleep disorder, jetlag and stress. Proponents and administrators of intravenous vitamin therapy prepare the injections according to individual requirements. One well-known formula however is the ‘Myer’s Cocktail’. This formula is made of high concentration of magnesium, B and C vitamins. It is believed that this formula treats numerous clinical conditions, ranging from asthmatic attacks to cardiovascular ailments. According to the Rothfield Center, “By directly administering nutrients to the body higher than normal blood levels can be achieved. These increased levels can provide an immediate therapeutic response by correcting deficiencies that may arise from a disease state.”

That said, we should note that there are no clinical researches to show that intravenous vitamin therapy impact positively on the user’s health, hence the short or long-term impact of this therapy is not known. If a person’s nutritional status is not as optimal level, then it may be a pointer to an inappropriate overall diet, which should be the starting point. With very little exceptions, we humans can get most of the vitamins and minerals required for proper functioning from a healthy diet. However, in some cases, there may be need for modest supplements of specific nutrients. For instance, pregnant women or those in the process of conceiving are recommended to take 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. This is done to prevent defects of the neural tube. Children below five years of age may take vitamins A, C and D; while those above 65 years of age may take 10 micrograms of D vitamin each day. These supplements are usually administered orally.

What happens to the body during an intravenous vitamin therapy?

Dr. John Myers developed the first intravenous vitamin drips in the 1970s. The result of his research was the well-known Myer’s Cocktail. Administration is usually done within the Physician’s office and takes anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour. While the infusion takes place, the concentration of the vitamin increases within the body. A vitamin that is administered orally is metabolized within the digestive tract, and the quantity that can be absorbed is very limited (50%). If the vitamin is administered intravenously, then a larger percentage is absorbed (up to 90%).

To explain it better, a person receiving an IV vitamin therapy receives a fluid mixture of minerals and vitamins via a tube into his or her vein. Doing so facilitates easy and quick absorption of the vitamins into the general circulation. This method causes a rise in the level of vitamins and minerals in the recipients body compared to if they were gotten from supplements or food. The reason for this is that food absorption is regulated by several factors in the body. These include the health status of the individual, age, genetics, metabolism, and the chemical and physical composition of the food or supplement. Higher concentrations of minerals and vitamins in the bloodstream enhances cellular uptake of the nutrients. Theoretically, the cells use these nutrients to combat illness and maintain health.

Intravenous vitamin therapy have been prescribed and administered by qualified physicians and nurses over the years. This is a fast way to deliver medication or fluids into the body’s system. During an intravenous vitamin treatment, the pharmacist mixes the solution according to the physician’s prescriptions. The healthcare administrator will first locate the vein before inserting the needle securely in it. If the patient is dehydrated, it may take several attempts to get it right. Thereafter, the professional will monitor the infusion to be sure that the vitamins or minerals are properly administered.

What are the risks involved?

Studies have shown that vitamins and minerals when taken in excess may prove dangerous to the body. This is can be seen in cases of fat soluble vitamins and minerals that are stored but not excreted by the body. For instance, administration of vitamin A in large quantities can cause damage to the bone and the liver while vitamin E at high doses can interfere with the absorption of other body vitamins. Of great concern is the fact that most health facilities that administer these vitamins do not ask for nor have past medical records of their patients. As such, they are not aware of any underlying medical condition or contraindications. Users of intravenous vitamin therapy may receive excess of these nutrients, resulting in health implications. This is especially so if the nutrients are administered on a daily basis. As the saying goes, too much of everything isn’t good, and for this reason, optimum levels for oral administration of minerals and vitamins have been established, taking into consideration the absorbed proportions, and the fact that it may vary between individuals. However, it is understood that some individuals can tolerate better excess nutrients compared to others. For instance, iron in excess quantities may be stored, resulting in a condition called hemochromatosis.

Injection of substances into the blood comes with attendant risks like air bubbles that can transfer to the general circulation. Other risks include infections and allergic reactions. These are likely to occur if the administration is not properly done. Presently, regulatory bodies do not exist to govern the safety in such clinics. Intravenous administration of vitamins should be done only by qualified professionals.

References

Gaby AR (2002) Intravenous Nutrient Therapy: the “Myers’ Cocktail”. Alternative Medicine Review 7 (5): 389 – 403

NHS Choices (2014) Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia – Treatment. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-vitamin-B12-and-folate-deficiency/Pages/Treatment.aspx

The Rothfield Centre (2014) IV Nutrient Infusion Therapy. Available at: http://rothfeldcenter.com/about/vitamin-infusion-therapy/

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Allogenic Vs. Autologous Treatments

INTRODUCTION

Over the years, there have been a lot of controversies bordering on the use of stem cells for treatment of medical disorders. At the heart of the controversies is where the cells should come from and who it should come from (Nisbet, 2003). Despite these controversies, advancements in health and medicine have led to the use of certain stem cells for the treatment of health disorders. The two kinds of stem cells mostly used are the allogenic and autologous stem cells. Both cells are very distinct.

Autologous stem cells are harvested from the recipient and also used on the same person. This implies that your own stem cells are transplanted from one region of your body and also used on another region of the same body. Conversely, autologous cells are transplanted from another person entirely and then used on a different person (the donor and the recipient respectively) (Shustov, 2013).

Autologous and allogenic stem cells are defined based on their origin. Hence, each kind of cell has different major sources. Allogenic cells are derived from a donor. Excellent sources of allogenic cells include the umbilical cord and the placenta. Of course cells from these sources can best be used on infants and young children. Allogenic stem cells suitable for adults are gotten from the bone marrow of the donor (Gratwohl 2009).

Autologous stem cells are derived from the blood of the patient himself. The blood is drawn and the cells harvested before treatment. The stem cells can also be harvested from the bone marrow. (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2015). The ethics surrounding the use of stem cells for treatment is not debatable. This is because the harvesting of the cells does not cause harm to the donor. This is quite different from the use of embryonic stem cells. Use of stem cells from the embryo results in the death of the embryo. An informed consent from both the recipient and the donor perfects the use of the stem cells (Kitzinger & Williams 2005).

Autologous stem cells are find applications in the treatment of myelomas and leukemia. Allogenic stem cells also find application in the treatment of lymphomas, myelomas and leukemia (American Cancer Society 2016). Both allogenic band autologous stem cell therapy are used to treat similar cancer cases hence the need to determine which will give a favorable prognosis. Stem cell therapy is mostly used for the treatment of cancer. Multiple myeloma is a classic example of cancer that can be treated with stem cell therapy.

There are certain procedures that must be followed when one is giving or receiving stem cells. For the recipient, room must be made in the bone marrow prior to transplantation of the cells. This can be done through radiation or chemotherapy. This is done a week or two before the transplant. A central venous catheter will be inserted into the patient before infusion of the stem cells. The procedure is not a painful one and the patient may remain awake during the procedure (American Cancer Society 2016). Process of donation is a little more invasive and requires surgery. Understanding how this process works is very important because it allows the assessment of the effectiveness of the stem cells once the patient receives them. Knowing about the procedure is also important because it will help in the identification of the potential risks which may arise before, during and after the treatment.

Stem cells are effective for the treatment of cancer. Allogenic and autologous are different in nature and thus are used in different therapies. In some cases, the treatment may overlap. Both therapies (allogenic and autologous) have certain benefits and limitations, hence there is need to compare both.

COMPARING ALLOGENIC AND AUTOLOGOUS TREATMENTS

The benefits

Allogenic and autologous have their own outstanding benefits as to why one should be preferred to the other. We will start with the autologous. One benefit of the autologous treatment is that your own stem cells will return to you. This might be obvious but one important fact is that because these cells were drawn from your body, the chances of a rejection or autoimmune reactions are drastically reduced (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2015).

Another advantage of an autologous treatment is that your risk of getting an infection from the potential donor is drastically reduced (American Cancer Society 2016). An extensive screening process is employed when getting the cells from donors but there is still that slight chance of you getting the infection from the donor. Reducing such risks would appeal greatly to the patient who obviously doesn’t want to get sick from something that should make them better.

Allogenic treatment does have its own advantages. One main advantage for the allogenic treatment would be the graft versus cancer effect. What is the graft versus cancer effect? This occurs when donor stem cells uses their own immune system to destroy cancer cells in the body of the recipient. The immune cells from the donor may be stronger than the immune system of the recipient and thus, will attempt to fight the cancer cells in the recipient (Shustov 2013). Stem cells from the donor are tested prior to transplantation. Of course they must be free from infections and cancer before they can be transplanted.

Donations for stem cell transplants may be direct. This implies that your family member may donate to you if his or her stem cell matches yours. Cornelissen et al. (2008) did a study on patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He compared the free survival rates of the disease between related and unrelated donors. Results from the related donor group were better than that from the nonrelated donors. This supports the notion that allogenic treatment can have positive effects but is also dependent on the specificity of the donor. Chances of survival are higher when the donor is closely related to the recipient. This is due to the fact that the rate of cell rejection is lower as the donor’s cells are similar to that of the recipient. This implies that patients with sibling donors for allogenic transplants have a high survival rate.

The limitations

Both stem cells also have limitations just as they have immense benefits.

What are the limitations of the autologous stem cells?

A study was conducted by Björkstrand et. al. (2011) on Myeloma patients. The goal was to examine the effects of autologous stem cell transplants. One group had only an autologous stem cell transplant while the other group had both an autologous and subsequently an analogous stem cell transplant. The group that got both treatments had a better prognosis than the group that had just one (autologous) treatment. This study showed that a combination of autologous and allogenic treatment had a long-term efficiency than just the autologous treatment.

Allogenic treatment also has its own limitations. The main issue with this kind of treatment is that the cell, tissue, or organ that is transplanted could be rejected by the body of the recipient. This is poses a serious problem to patients whose main hope of recovery is the transplant. Also, it may result in a waste of funds if it does not work in the end. Also, there is the risk that the recipient could develop an invasive fungal infection. The major cause of such infection is a shortage in red blood cell count combined with the medications administered after getting an allogenic therapy (Neofytos et al. 2009). Some drugs can effectively treat this infection, but if left unnoticed, may be very fatal.

There are some minor limitations that may result from allogenic stem cell transplants. One of these is the chance of getting an infection from the donor (American Cancer Society 2016). However, the risk now is lesser because a comprehensive screening process is carried out prior to the therapy. Another limitation is the risk of the patient having a recurrence of a previous infection due to an alteration of the immune system (American cancer Society 2016). The body is faced with the task of adapting to a change in the immune system of the body which could cause a malfunctioning of the immune system.

CONCLUSION

We have established that there are unique differences between the allogenic and autologous stem cells. The main differences include their origin, the disease they are used to treat, and their capability of fighting off the disease. The biggest risk of the allogenic therapy is the rejection of stem cells from a donor. Of course this can be improved by getting the right matches of the stem cells, or by minimizing the chances of a rejection with medications.

Autologous transplant is beneficial in that there are lesser chances of rejection.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Schedule Your Consultation. Start Feeling Better. Our Highly-Trained And Friendly Staff Are Ready To Help You Today! Or Call Us At (305) 224-1858

Contact Us

We offer the convenience of being able to call us at any time, or you can submit your details in the blue form on this page for us to reach out directly to you!
(305) 539-9346

Consultation

Our initial consultation will determine which treatments are best for you. Next, we'll answer all your questions, dispel any myths and educate on stem cell treatments before we start.

Treatment

Once we have learned about your pain, we'll customize all of our treatments to your exact needs and ensure you're on your way to living a life without the pain and discomfort of arthritis.

REFERENCES

Björkstrand B, Iacobelli S, Hegenbart U, et al. (2011). Tandem Autologous/Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation versus Autologous Transplantation in Myeloma: Long-Term Follow-Up. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 29(22): 3016-3022.

Cornelissen JJ, van der Holt B, Verhoef GE, van’t Veer MB, van Oers MH, Schouten HC, et al. (2008). Myeloablative allogeneic versus autologous stem cell transplantation in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission: a prospective sibling donor versus no-donor comparison. Blood. 113(6):1375-1382.

Gratwohl A, Stern M, Brand R, Apperley J, Bladomero H, Witte T, Dini G, Rocha V, Passweg J, et al. (2009). Risk score for outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cancer. 115(20): 4715-4726.

Kitzinger J, Williams C. (2005). Forecasting science futures: Legitimizing hope and calming fears in the embryo stem cell debate. Social Science &Medicine. 6(3): 731-740.

Neofytos D, Horn D, Anaissie E, Steinbach W, Olyaei A, Fishman A, Pfaller M, Chang C, Webster K, Marr K. (2009). Epidemiology and Outcome of Invasive Fungal Infection in Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Analysis of Multicenter Prospective Antifungal Therapy (PATH) Alliance Registry. Infectious Disease Society of America. 40(3):265-273.

Nisbet M.C, Brossard D, Kroepsch A. (2003). Framing Science: The Stem Cell Controversy in an Age of Press/Politics. The International Journal of Press/Politics 8(2):36-72.

Shustov A. (2013). Controversies in autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in peripheral T/NK-cell lymphomas. Best Practice & Research Clinical Haematology. 26(1); 8999.

Stem Cell Transplantation. (2015). The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Available from: https://www.lls.org/treatment/types-of-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation.

Types of Stem Cell Transplants for Cancer Treatment. (2016) May 11. American Cancer Society. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatmenttypes/stem-cell-transplant/types-of-transplants.html