If you’ve been to one of our centers, I’m sure you’ve seen the large leather recliner chairs, often containing a patient, busy on their smartphone, tablet or reading a book while on the receiving end of an intravenous drip.
Over the next few Health Tips, I’ll be talking about what these infusions are used for and why it (correctly) seems you’re seeing more of these occupied chairs with every visit.
Let’s start with one of the most versatile, if misunderstood, therapies we offer: ozone therapy.
What Is Ozone Therapy, Exactly?
In case you were dozing that day in high school chemistry, ozone is a form of oxygen made up of three oxygen atoms (O₃) instead of our more familiar two (O₂). High above the Earth, the fabled (and thinning) ozone layer protects us from excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Down at ground level, ozone shows up when pollutants react with sunlight—think smog.
That’s where ozone gets its bad reputation. Inhaled ozone is not good for your lungs. Don’t do that.
But in medicine, context and delivery are everything. Just like we don’t eat pounds of aspirin or drink quarts of Nyquil, ozone therapy is all about the right dose, the right route, and the right reasons.
Why Use Ozone in Medicine?
Ozone has been used medically for more than a century. In fact, during World War I, German physicians used ozone to disinfect wounds. These days, it’s being revisited as a regenerative, immune-modulating, and antimicrobial therapy.
And it’s growing in popularity. Physicians of all stripes—MDs, DOs, chiropractors, dentists, nurse practitioners, even veterinarians—are incorporating ozone into their toolkits. Many of us are members of the American Academy of Ozonotherapy (AAO), a professional organization that educates and certifies healthcare practitioners in the safe use of ozone.
Here at WholeHealth Chicago, we’ve been offering ozone therapy as part of our IV Infusion Program for several years.
How It Works
The most common method we use is called Major Autohemotherapy (MAH). Here’s what happens:
- A nurse removes about half a cup of your blood.
- That blood is passed through an ozone generator, where medical-grade ozone gas is gently infused into it.
- The now-ozonated blood is returned to your body through the same IV.
That’s it. The process takes about 30–40 minutes, during which most patients relax, read, or scroll TikTok.
If you’re wondering what’s happening inside your body during this process, it’s not magic—it’s oxygen optimization.
What Are the Benefits?
Ozone is believed to:
- 🔁 Regulate your immune system—calming it down if it’s overactive (autoimmune diseases) or revving it up if underactive (chronic infections).
- 🧬 Stimulate mitochondrial function, helping your cells produce more energy (ATP).
- 💉 Improve circulation and oxygen delivery to tissues.
- 🧴 Support detoxification by reducing oxidative stress.
- 🛡️ Enhance antioxidant defenses in the body.
Because of this, ozone is used as an adjunct treatment for a wide range of chronic conditions, including:
- Chronic infections like Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr, and Candida
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
- Cardiovascular issues and diabetes
- Cancer support
- Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS
- Long COVID
- And yes, even as part of an anti-aging protocol
Check out our full list of IV therapy options here.
Ozone and Aging
As we age, our cells don’t use oxygen as efficiently. That’s why your bruises stick around longer and that winter cold drags on for weeks. Ozone therapy may help by improving your body’s oxygen utilization—and when your cells breathe better, you function better.
Can it reverse aging? No. Can it support healthy aging? That’s the idea.
Why Isn’t This Everywhere?
Ah yes, the money question—literally. You might ask:
“If ozone is so great, why isn’t every hospital using it?”
Simple: you can’t patent oxygen.
No patent = no profit.
No profit = no pharmaceutical interest.
No pharmaceutical interest = no large-scale clinical trials.
This doesn’t mean ozone isn’t effective. It just means you won’t see it on TV ads sandwiched between commercials for blood thinners and erectile dysfunction pills.
What to Expect and What to Ask
If you’re considering ozone therapy:
- Look for a trained medical provider who is AAO-certified or has received ozone-specific education.
- Expect to commit to at least 8–10 sessions to assess benefits.
- Ask about combining ozone with UV light therapy, known as UBI (ultraviolet blood irradiation). Many patients do both.
- Avoid any clinic that pressures you into expensive packages or promises to “cure everything.” Ozone is an adjunct, not a magic wand.
And no, you don’t have to be a WholeHealth Chicago patient to receive ozone therapy. Many people use it purely for its immune and detox benefits.
Ready to Try?
If you’re interested in ozone or any of our other infusions, click here to explore your options or call us to schedule a consultation with one of our infusion specialists.
In the meantime, stay curious. Be a discerning health consumer. And remember: oxygen is life—but ozone, in the right hands, might just be an upgrade.
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD
It’s interesting to see how ozone, often associated with pollution, can actually be therapeutic when applied medically. I’d be curious to learn more about how the therapy distinguishes between the ‘bad’ ozone we hear about in smog and the controlled ozone used in these treatments.
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In 2019, I began experiencing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which was diagnosed in 2021. Among my severe symptoms were tremors, difficulty walking, weakness throughout my body, and stiffness and rigidity. My meds only provided temporary relief, so I decided to try other approaches and started the PD-5 treatment program from uine healthcentre . n et. With the help of this therapy regimen, I have seen significant improvements in my walking, balance, tremors, and appetite, and I have resumed my guitar playing again and sign my name as I had before Parkinson’s. I am incredibly grateful.
Melissa Baez