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Ozone is being used by doctors for the treatment of HIV/AIDS because it activates white blood cells to destroy the virus. Research shows that ozone activates white blood cells to induce the production of cytokines (immune alert signals). Ozone’s lack of toxicity makes it an indispensable therapy for diseases such as chronic viral diseases, cancer and AIDS.

Initially the use of ozone in medicine sounded to me like something out of a Buck Rogers movie–a medical treatment akin to the blue halo of our upper atmosphere. But my wish to learn more was realized almost seven years later when experts from Germany came to Vancouver to introduce a small group of doctors to this therapy.

Ozone is one of nature’s most powerful pro-oxidants and healing agents. Medical ozone application as a healing therapy in the treatment of infected tissues and wounds began in Europe. Its use has now spread to other parts of the world. Cuba has a very active ozone program in its health-care system. Ozone therapy has not been accepted in North America because of Food and Drug Administration requirements for expensive research. (Much research has already been done in Europe but isn’t considered valid here.)

Medical ozone is created in a machine by mixing oxygen gas with a high-voltage current. A proper ozone generator should be able to vary the ozone concentration from five to 100 micrograms per millilitre. In medical applications, it is administered as an ozone/oxygen (O₃/O₂) gas mixture. Ozone is a very unstable molecule and can be damaging, for example, to the lungs when found in Los Angeles smog. But otherwise ozone is a very purifying substance. Doctors now know that it has three powerful properties.

1. It stimulates the immune system through production of natural cancer-killing proteins called cytokines.


2. It improves oxygenation (delivery of oxygen to starved tissues) and metabolism.


3. It is a powerful antibiotic when applied locally.

• HIV/AIDS


• vascular disease (stroke)


• obstructive arteriopathy


• venous insufficiency


• cancer


• acute and chronic viral infections


• ulcers


• infected wounds


• gangrenes


• burns


• inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)


• circulatory disorders

Ozone is naturally produced during two situations in nature: one is in the upper atmosphere where oxygen meets ionizing radiation from the sun. This high-energy environment splits the O₂ oxygen molecule, producing two single oxygen atoms. Since these oxygen atoms are "lonely," they combine with other oxygen molecules to produce an unstable ozone molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. Therefore the chemical symbol for ozone is O₃ (standing for three oxygen molecules). The other situation where ozone is made is during lightening strikes. The high-voltage electricity of lightning "zaps" the oxygen in the atmosphere and creates ozone.

Ozone’s oxidative potential comes from the fact that the piggy backed spare oxygen molecule is unstable and escapes, looking for another unpaired oxygen molecule or an electron to steal. This electron-stealing ability is what makes ozone such a strong poison to viruses and bacteria–because it steals electrons from the membranes of these organisms, which have poor repair mechanisms.

Ozone Concentrations

Peter Bennett peterbennett.com is a naturopathic physician, board certified homeopath and clinical acupuncturist. He is the medical director of the Helios Clinic in Victoria, BC, and author of The 7-Day Detox Miracle, 2nd Edition (Prima Publishing, 2001).

Source: alive #230, December 2001