The Synergistic Benefits of Ozone Therapy and High-dose Intravenous Vitamin C Therapy
JUNE 2023 | Dr. Ashley Southern
Alternative medicine has seen an influx in various types of intravenous (IV) therapies as more reports shed insight into just how safe, effective, and beneficial IV treatments can be. Among these are ozone therapy and high-dose intravenous vitamin C therapy (HDIVC), which are two different types of IV therapies that have gained attention in recent years. The healing properties of ozone and vitamin C are not new; administering ozone to fight infections and boost health has been around since the late 1800s, and it’s safe to say it’s almost second nature to reach for vitamin C whenever we feel a cold coming on.
What is cutting edge is the growing evidence behind the symbiotic relationship that exists between ozone and vitamin C. Ozone therapy and HDIVC are two unique therapies that can provide natural and effective support for a wide variety of symptoms and health concerns. When these two therapies are combined, however, ozone and vitamin C become a nutrient “power couple,” working harmoniously to promote their individual benefits while enhancing each other’s functions with even greater results. This article will explore the synergistic qualities of ozone therapy and HDIVC, and their enhanced benefits when the two therapies are combined.
What is Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy is a natural treatment in which small, controlled levels of ozone gas are injected intravenously into blood via IV bag. Research shows ozone has incredible health benefits, as it is one of the strongest naturally occurring oxidants, and is highly effective at targeting and fighting against cellular damage and deterioration throughout the body.
Made up of three oxygen atoms, ozone is a highly unstable and reactive compound, and it’s this instability that holds the science behind what makes it so effective. Once injected, the ozone reacts instantly with the red blood cells. Human blood contains high levels of antioxidants, and these antioxidants work to stabilize the ozone as it passes through the bloodstream, reacting and stimulating different functions as it does.
These reactions result in a whole series of benefits, including:
- Improved oxygenation of the blood
- Improved circulation and vasodilation function
- Improved ability to fight infections
- Improved ability to fight free radicals
- Improved ability to fight oxidative stress
- Increased expression of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and Glutathione peroxidase
- Decreased inflammation
- Improved pain management
- Improved immune function
What Is Intravenous High Dose Vitamin C Therapy?
Arguably the most well-known antioxidant, vitamin C is a nutritional powerhouse to our overall health. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin with formidable antioxidant properties that can help support immune function, collagen synthesis, wound healing, and more. It is necessary for the growth, maintenance, and repair of many of our body’s vital tissues, and fuels the formation of blood vessels, cartilage, muscles, and collagen.
Benefits of vitamin C include:
- Improved immune function
- Improved circulation function
- Improved cardiovascular function, resulting in decreased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Improved iron absorption
- Improved ability to fight free radicals
- Decreased hypertension
- Decreased inflammation
- Increased bone density
- Improved skin, hair, nails, and teeth health
- Improved energy and mood
- Improved macular degeneration
High-dose intravenous vitamin C therapy (HDIVC) is a type of IV therapy that involves administering the vitamin directly into the bloodstream via an IV bag, at significantly higher levels than can typically be obtained through diet or oral supplements.
High doses of vitamin C generally refers to dosages over 10-15g of ascorbic acid. Injecting the vitamins directly into the bloodstream is a more effective and efficient method of delivering nutrients to the body because it bypasses the digestive system, ensuring that all the nutrients are absorbed and delivered directly to the cells that need them.
Ozone and HDIVC: How They Work Together
Research shows that both ozone therapy and HDIVC are safe and effective therapies on their own. They both share similar benefits in that they are anti-inflammatory, stimulate antioxidation functions, and help support autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, infectious diseases. On their own, they have also been seen to help support cancer, and can complement some cancer therapies. Moreover, growing clinical use is showing that when the two are combined, IV ozone and vitamin C produce a powerful synergism that amplifies each’s individual benefits.
When administered together, the ozone and HDIVC form a collaborative partnership – first, the ozone works to oxygenate the blood and primes it for optimal nutrient uptake. Then follows the HDIVC, which enhances the body’s ability to utilize the oxygen and nutrients, and helps to maximize the therapeutic benefits of the ozone.
Combining the two therapies has also proven to enhance their preventative properties. When used together, ozone and HDIVC helped improve cellular resilience against oxidative stress and damage; they also boost the body’s ability to fight infections, making the duo an excellent preventative against disease, cellular dysfunction, and infection.
The Synergistic Benefits of Ozone and HDIVC
1. Enhanced Oxygenation and Boosted Immune Function
Ozone therapy works to improve and increase oxygen delivery to cells, while vitamin C enhances the body’s ability to utilize that oxygen. By improving oxygenation at the cellular level, the combined therapies provide a “super boost” and work together to promote energy production, support and improve detoxification processes, promote tissue repair, and help to strengthen the immune system. This can result in improved cardiovascular functions, increased vitality, increased energy levels, and therefore overall improved health and quality of life.
2. Enhanced Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
Individually, ozone therapy and HDIVC both have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties – combined, these antioxidant benefits are increased exponentially.
Ozone reduces inflammation by modulating the production of cytokines—a type of protein that plays a crucial role in cell signalling and inflammation marking. It also acts on a cellular level in the elimination of wound macrophages (immune cells), mainly through “programmed cell death,” which plays a significant role in inflammatory process (Karatieieva, 2018). Ozone interacts with cell membranes and mucosa membranes to produce such byproducts as H2O2, a “second messenger” that induces an adaptive increase in antioxidant activity in that tissue (Clavo, 2021).
Vitamin C scours the body in search of oxidative stress, free radicals, and other harmful toxins that can accumulate and lead to health concerns like cancer, heart disease, and other dysfunctions associated with inflammation. The combo of these therapies reduces oxidative stress and inflammation throughout the body.
3. Enhanced Healing and Recovery
Combining ozone therapy with HDIVC can help to expedite the body’s natural healing processes. Ozone stimulates the production of growth factors at the cellular level, including promoting tissue repair and cellular regeneration. Vitamin C supports the growth and maintenance of several vital tissues including muscles, encourages collagen synthesis, boosts skin health, and improves wound healing.
When used together, these therapies not only encourage and enhance the body’s ability to heal, but also speeds up recovery time. This makes them an ideal treatment for sports injuries, surgical recover, and chronic wounds.
4. Enhanced Support for Cancer Treatments
While more research is needed in this field, the growing number of studies looking into ozone and HDIVC all indicate that these two therapies can offer significant benefits when used to help support cancer patients in conjunction with their cancer treatments.
Growing evidence into the efficacy of HDIVC in cancer patients shows that when administered intravenously, high doses of vitamin C were seen to decrease cancer-related inflammation, increase appetite, increase energy, reduce pain, decrease some of the adverse effects associated with chemotherapy, boost immune responses, and reduce many symptomatic complications associated with cancer.
One study found that within the sample group, HDIVC increased the average survival time by up to 300 days greater than those who did not receive high dosages of vitamin C (E Cameron, 1978).
5. Mitochondrial Function
Chronic diseases are characterized by decreased oxygen utilization in the body, which leads to a decrease in the levels of an important energy producing molecule called “NAD,” located in the mitochondria. This leads to free radical damage, poor mitochondrial function, which produces yet more free radicals. Ozone therapy is effective for so many diseases including those related to aging because it normalizes the NAD ratio.
In the case of cancer, it is well known that every single cancer patient has defective mitochondrial function, which is why it is an effective adjunct therapy. Vitamin C plays a role in the health of the mitochondrial membrane, also facilitates electron movement across the membrane, leading to energy production (Gonzalez et al., 2005)
Closing Thoughts
The combination of ozone therapy and HDIVC offers a synergistic approach to natural, holistic health. By leveraging the benefits of these therapies, combining ozone treatments with high doses of vitamin C unleashes considerable benefits, including enhanced oxygenation, immune stimulation, heightened anti-inflammatory responses, and improved antioxidant functions. Further, the powerful combination of ozone and vitamin C expedites healing while offering significant cancer support.
At Nascent Health, we are proud to offer an IV combo treatment that combines ozone therapy and HDIVC. Book your free consultation with us today to find out if its benefits are right for you.
References
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E. Cameron, L. Pauling. (1978). Supplemental ascorbate in the supportive treatment of cancer: reevaluation of prolongation of survival times in terminal human cancer. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/279931/
Karatieieva, S., Muzyka, N., Semenenko, S., Bakun, O., & Kozlovskaya, I. (2018). Ultrastructural Changes
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function in health and exercise, Editor(s): Sergej M. Ostojic, Molecular Nutrition and Mitochondria, Academic Press, 2023, Pages 225-242, ISBN 9780323902564, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90256-4.00016-3.
