Dr. Shallenberger is the leading expert in the medical use of ozone in the United States. Ozone therapy is a unique treatment that both heals and detoxifies simultaneously. It is used to address a wide range of chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Lyme disease, chronic hepatitis, herpes, chronic fatigue, chemical sensitivity, macular degeneration, chronic bladder issues, colitis, autoimmune disorders, and Crohn’s disease.

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What Is Ozone?

The oxygen we breathe exists as a pair of oxygen atoms—this is the most stable and colorless form of oxygen. Ozone, by contrast, is a blue-colored form of oxygen (responsible for the blue appearance of the sky) and contains three oxygen atoms instead of two. This additional oxygen atom “supercharges” ozone, giving it remarkable therapeutic properties.

Medical ozone therapy was first developed in Germany in the early 1950s. Today, it is widely used throughout Europe, and its popularity has steadily grown in the United States over the past 25 years.

Is Ozone Toxic?

Anything—including water and oxygen—can be toxic if administered in excessive amounts. Ozone is naturally produced in the body; white blood cells create it as part of the immune response. Pure medical-grade ozone, when used according to established medical guidelines, has an exceptional safety record.

Medical Properties of Ozone

Ozone has five key properties that make it effective not only for macular degeneration but also for many other chronic, age-related conditions:

  1. Ozone regulates the immune system.
    When the immune system is overactive (as in autoimmune disease), ozone helps calm it. When it is underactive (as in cancer, AIDS, or chronic infections), ozone helps stimulate it. This effect is due to ozone’s action on white blood cell membranes, triggering the production of immune messenger molecules called cytokines, such as gamma interferon, interleukin-2, colony stimulating factor, and TNF-alpha.
  2. Ozone increases cellular oxygen uptake.
    It stimulates the enzyme diphosphoglycerate (DPG), which facilitates the release of oxygen from hemoglobin so cells can use it efficiently. Without enough DPG, cells become oxygen-starved—a common problem in diabetics.
  3. Ozone improves circulation.
    It enhances the blood’s flow characteristics, allowing more oxygen-carrying hemoglobin to reach the capillaries. Patients with chronic inflammatory conditions often suffer from impaired circulation, making this benefit especially valuable.
  4. Ozone boosts antioxidant protection.
    It increases antioxidant defenses more than any other known therapy, including high-dose vitamin C. Many chronic illnesses are associated with depleted antioxidant levels.
  5. Ozone stimulates mitochondrial function.
    Reduced mitochondrial energy production is the underlying driver of many degenerative diseases—from diabetes to heart disease to cancer. Ozone can often help correct this dysfunction.