TI:  The Biochemical Processes Underlying Ozone Therapy

DT:  January 1985

AU:  R. Viebahn

SO:  OzoNachrichten 4(1985) Heft 1/2

SU:  1.  The efficacy of medical ozone in improving circulation:

     The so-called circulatory enhancing effects of ozone, as 
     expressed in the form of its being administered 
     intravascularly and intramuscularly, are the result of a 
     direct influence exerted on the oxygen metabolism by the 
     ozone/oxygen mixture applied:

     a)  The formation of peroxides from non-saturated fatty 
         acids, and an influence on the rheological properties 
         of the blood,
     b)  Activation of the cellular enzymal protection system 
         against peroxides, oxygen and ozone.
     c)  Activation of the erythrocytic metabolism and an 
         increase of 2,3-DPG, and
     d)  As a fourth factor, a direct influence of the ozone on 
         the redox function of the mitochondrial respiratory 
         chain is considered: this can be demonstrated, for 
         example, by a significant reduction in NADH.

     As a total effect, the above properties of ozone bring about 
     a reactivation of the disturbed oxygen metabolism: this is 
     expressed by an increase in the arterial partial oxygen 
     pressure and an enlargement of the arteriovenous pO2 
     difference, as well as by an increase in deoxygenating 
     substances producing a greater supply of oxygen to the 
     tissues or by improving the actual processing of oxygen by 
     the system.

     2.  The disinfectant and sterilizing properties of ozone:

     Due to the different medical application methods of 
     ozone/oxygen mixtures, their different active mechanisms are 
     here to be discussed, i.e.:

     a)  The disinfectant and sterilizing action of ozone is 
         principally a result of its high oxidation potential at
         E0-2.07V, which is of particular effect when used in the 
         external application of the gas for wound cleaning.

         It is here quite certain that the germs are killed via a 
         direct oxidative breakdown of the capsid in the 
         microorganisms.

     b)  The situation is different in the treatment of virus-
         caused complaints such as herpes or hepatitis, in which 
         the principal method is here autohemotherapy (ozone-
         enriched blood from the patient is reintroduced 
         intravenously).

     In this method of application, which is the most convenient 
     to the patient, an actual killing of the viruses, which is 
     the case in wound cleaning, cannot here be considered: 
     instead, two, probably synchronous, processes are discussed:

     a)  The inactivation of the viruses by the ozone or its 
         peroxides, and
     b)  An intolerance to peroxides of the virus-infected cells.

     Thus, as a result of the sequence of biochemical events 
     involved, not only the reaction to O3 itself but also to its 
     reaction products must here also be discussed.