Ozone therapy came up in conversation with a friend who was dealing with chronic fatigue. Her integrative medicine doctor had recommended it as part of her treatment plan. She’d been doing IV ozone treatments for a few months and felt they were helping.
I had questions. Isn’t ozone the stuff we’re not supposed to breathe? How does it help with fatigue? Is this legitimate medicine or alternative wellness that sounds sciency?
The answers, like most things in integrative medicine, are complicated. Ozone therapy has a long history, genuine physiological effects, and a mix of evidence ranging from reasonably supported to basically speculative. If you’re looking for ozone therapy near me, here’s what you should understand before booking an appointment.
What Ozone Therapy Actually Is
Ozone (O3) is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms, compared to the O2 we normally breathe. It’s unstable and highly reactive. In the atmosphere, it forms the ozone layer that protects us from UV radiation. At ground level, it’s a component of smog and definitely not something you want to breathe.
Ozone therapy uses medical-grade ozone, a precise mixture of ozone and oxygen, for therapeutic purposes. The idea is that ozone’s reactive properties can stimulate various healing responses in the body.
Proponents claim ozone therapy can:
- Improve oxygen utilization by cells
- Stimulate the immune system
- Fight infections
- Reduce oxidative stress (paradoxically, by triggering antioxidant responses)
- Improve circulation
- Support detoxification
The therapy has been used in Europe for decades, particularly in Germany, where it’s more mainstream. In the United States, it exists primarily in integrative and alternative medicine settings.
Types of Ozone Therapy
Ozone is administered several ways, depending on what’s being treated:
Major Autohemotherapy (MAH)
Blood is drawn from your vein, mixed with ozone/oxygen in a bag, then reinfused into your body. This is the most common systemic ozone treatment. A variation called “ten-pass” or high-dose ozone therapy runs the blood through the ozonation process multiple times in one session.
Minor Autohemotherapy
A small amount of blood is drawn, ozonated, then injected intramuscularly. Less common than major autohemotherapy.
Rectal Insufflation
Ozone gas is introduced through the rectum, where it’s absorbed through the colon lining. Less invasive than IV ozone and often used for systemic effects.
Vaginal Insufflation
Similar principle, used for gynecological conditions.
Ozone Sauna / Transdermal Ozone
You sit in a sauna cabinet with your head outside while ozone is introduced to the chamber. The ozone is absorbed through your skin. Less direct than IV or insufflation.
Direct Injection (Prolozone)
Ozone injected directly into joints, trigger points, or injury sites. Used for pain and orthopedic conditions.
Ozonated Water or Oil
Drinking ozonated water or applying ozonated oils topically. Milder applications for gut health or wound healing.
Limb Bagging
An extremity is enclosed in a bag filled with ozone, used for diabetic ulcers and wounds.
Each method delivers ozone differently, with different concentrations and different intended effects. The invasiveness, cost, and evidence base vary by method.
What Conditions Is Ozone Therapy Used For?
Practitioners use ozone therapy for a wide range of conditions:
Infections
Ozone has antimicrobial properties. It’s used for chronic infections, particularly Lyme disease and its co-infections, and for viral conditions.
Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
Some practitioners report improvements in energy and pain levels with ozone therapy.
Autoimmune conditions
Used as an immune modulator, though this is controversial.
Chronic pain and joint problems
Prolozone (ozone injections) is used for osteoarthritis, back pain, and sports injuries.
Wound healing
Topical and localized ozone for diabetic ulcers and other non-healing wounds.
Dental conditions
Ozone is used in some dental practices for cavities, gum disease, and root canals.
Cardiovascular disease
Some claim ozone improves circulation and heart function.
General wellness and anti-aging
Like many integrative therapies, ozone is marketed for optimization and prevention.
The Evidence Question
I’m going to be direct: the evidence for ozone therapy is mixed, limited, and often comes from small studies or research published in journals that aren’t mainstream.
Where evidence is stronger:
- Wound healing, particularly diabetic foot ulcers (some supportive studies)
- Dental applications (used in Europe with reasonable documentation)
- Disc herniation treatment (prolozone) has some positive trials
- Antimicrobial properties are well-established in laboratory settings
Where evidence is weaker:
- Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia (mostly case reports and small studies)
- Cancer treatment (no good evidence despite claims)
- Anti-aging and general wellness (minimal to no controlled research)
- Most systemic conditions (studies exist but quality is often poor)
The FDA has not approved ozone therapy for any medical condition. In fact, the FDA considers ozone a toxic gas with no known useful medical application when inhaled. The agency has taken action against companies making medical claims about ozone.
This doesn’t mean ozone therapy is useless. It means the high-quality evidence doesn’t yet exist to support many claims. Countries like Germany, where ozone therapy is more established, have more clinical experience but not necessarily more rigorous trials.
Where to Find Ozone Therapy
Ozone therapy is offered by:
Integrative medicine doctors
MDs or DOs who practice integrative or functional medicine often offer ozone therapy alongside other treatments.
Naturopathic physicians
In states where naturopaths are licensed to perform IV therapies, many offer ozone treatments.
Holistic health centers
Wellness centers focused on alternative therapies may have ozone on the menu.
Dentists (biological/holistic dentistry)
Some dentists use ozone for dental procedures.
Chiropractors and pain specialists
For prolozone joint injections specifically.
To find providers near you:
- Search “ozone therapy” plus your city
- Look for integrative medicine or functional medicine practices
- Check naturopathic physician directories
- Ask at wellness centers focused on IV therapy
When evaluating providers:
Ask about their training. Ozone therapy requires specific training to perform safely. Ask where and how extensively they trained.
Ask about their equipment. Medical-grade ozone generators matter. Ask about their setup.
Ask about their experience. How many ozone treatments have they performed? What conditions do they commonly treat?
Be wary of miracle claims. Any practitioner claiming ozone cures cancer or other serious diseases is raising red flags.
What Ozone Therapy Costs
Costs vary significantly by type and location:
Rectal insufflation: $50-150 per session
Major autohemotherapy (single-pass): $150-350 per session
High-dose ozone (ten-pass): $500-1,500 per session
Prolozone injection: $150-400 per treatment area
Ozone sauna: $50-100 per session
Ozonated water or supplements: $20-50 for supplies
Most people do multiple sessions. A treatment course might involve 10-20 sessions of major autohemotherapy, potentially costing $1,500-7,000 or more.
Insurance does not cover ozone therapy. Some practitioners offer packages with discounted per-session rates.
My friend with chronic fatigue paid $200 per session for major autohemotherapy, doing it weekly for three months initially, then monthly. Total first-year cost was around $4,000.
What to Expect During Treatment
I’ll describe major autohemotherapy since it’s the most common systemic treatment:
Before treatment
You’ll likely fill out health history forms. Some practitioners do baseline blood work. You shouldn’t do ozone therapy on an empty stomach; a light meal before is fine.
The session
A technician or practitioner inserts an IV into your arm and draws 100-250ml of blood into a bag or bottle. Ozone/oxygen mixture is added to the blood, which may change color slightly (becoming brighter red due to oxygenation). The blood is then reinfused back into your vein.
The whole process takes 30-60 minutes for standard treatments, longer for high-dose protocols.
After treatment
Most people feel fine immediately. Some report a temporary increase in energy. Others feel fatigued. Mild flu-like symptoms occasionally occur as a “healing reaction,” according to practitioners.
You can usually drive yourself home and resume normal activities.
Side effects
When performed properly by trained practitioners:
- Mild fatigue or flu-like symptoms (relatively common)
- Herxheimer reaction (symptom flare, attributed to die-off of pathogens)
- Bruising at IV site
- Rarely: air embolism if performed improperly
- Rarely: hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) if concentration is too high
Ozone should never be inhaled directly. Breathing ozone gas can cause serious respiratory problems.
Safety Considerations
Ozone therapy is generally considered safe when performed by trained practitioners using proper equipment and concentrations. However:
Contraindications include:
- G6PD deficiency (an enzyme disorder; ozone can cause severe problems)
- Pregnancy
- Hyperthyroidism (uncontrolled)
- Severe anemia
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
- Recent heart attack
- Active hemorrhaging
Quality matters. The ozone generator must be medical-grade and properly calibrated. Concentrations that are too high can damage red blood cells.
Training matters. Practitioners should have specific training in ozone therapy, not just general medical training.
The route matters. IV ozone (autohemotherapy) has different risk profiles than insufflation or topical applications.
Get a thorough health history taken before starting. Make sure G6PD deficiency is ruled out, as this is critical.
Honest Assessment: Should You Try Ozone Therapy?
My take after researching this:
Consider it if:
- You’re dealing with a chronic condition that hasn’t responded to conventional treatment
- You’re working with an integrative doctor who’s recommending it as part of a comprehensive plan
- You have realistic expectations and understand the evidence limitations
- You can afford it without financial strain
- You’ve ruled out contraindications, especially G6PD deficiency
Be skeptical if:
- A practitioner claims ozone will cure your serious disease
- You’re considering it as an alternative to proven conventional treatment
- The cost would create financial hardship
- You’re expecting dramatic results based on testimonials
Think carefully about:
- The opportunity cost (would that money be better spent on something with stronger evidence?)
- Whether you’re pursuing ozone because you’ve exhausted evidence-based options or because you’re attracted to alternative medicine generally
- What success would look like and how you’d measure it
My friend felt ozone therapy helped her chronic fatigue. She also made dietary changes, started sleeping better, and reduced her stress during the same period. Was it the ozone? The lifestyle changes? Both? Impossible to say definitively.
That ambiguity is the reality of many integrative treatments. They might help, they might not, and separating the specific intervention from the overall process of working with a practitioner who takes your concerns seriously and addresses multiple factors is genuinely difficult.
Questions to Ask a Provider
Before starting ozone therapy:
- What specific condition are we treating? Clear goals matter.
- What type of ozone therapy do you recommend and why? Different methods suit different conditions.
- What training do you have in ozone therapy? Look for formal training, not just self-study.
- What equipment do you use? Medical-grade generators are essential.
- How will we know if it’s working? Establish measurable outcomes.
- What are the risks for my specific situation? Make sure you’re screened for contraindications.
- How many sessions do you recommend and what’s the total expected cost? Get the full picture before starting.
- Will you coordinate with my other doctors? Ozone should complement, not replace, appropriate medical care.
If a provider dismisses these questions or makes claims that sound too good to be true, find someone else.
Ozone therapy occupies a gray zone in medicine: not proven enough for mainstream acceptance, but with enough history and theoretical basis that it persists in integrative settings. If you explore it, do so with open eyes, realistic expectations, and a trained practitioner who takes safety seriously.
Related wellness content: hyperbaric therapy guide, peptide therapy explained, cupping therapy overview
Meta Title: Ozone Therapy Near Me: What It Treats, Costs & Safety Facts
Meta Description: What ozone therapy is (IV, insufflation, injections), costs ($50-1,500/session), where to find it, and honest assessment of what the evidence actually shows.
Primary Keyword: ozone therapy near me
Secondary Keywords: ozone therapy cost, ozone therapy benefits, IV ozone therapy, ozone treatment near me
