Prolozone (TM) is derived from the word ozone and the Latin word “proli”which means to regenerate or rebuild. It literally means rebuilding tissues with ozone. It is important to understand what the word Prolozone (TM) actually means. “Prolo” is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak.
Ligaments are the structural “rubber bands” that hold bones to bones in joints – acting like the body’s shock absorbers. Ligaments can become weak or injured and may not heal back to their original strength or endurance. Ligaments also will not tighten on their own to their original length once injured. This is largely because the blood supply to ligaments is limited, and therefore healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate this, ligaments also have many nerve endings, and therefore the person will feel pain at the areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose.
ProlozoneTM therapy involves the injection of ozone into soft tissues, ligaments, and tendons. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas, which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients, the blastic stimulation of anabolic cells such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. These effects stimulate the tissue to repair itself, strengthening and tightening and thereby stabilizing the area.
Another largely unrecognized phenomenon that all painful areas of the body have in common is that because of trauma and/or inflammation, the energy producing mechanisms of the cells of the affected area have become blunted to the point that they are no longer able to generate enough energy to maintain an adequate cell membrane potential. Because of their decreased ability to produce adequate amounts of energy, they are constantly producing excessive amounts of lactic acid which results in chronic pain.
These cells are not dead, but they are in a state of shock, and they may well stay in this state for years before they recover. Indeed, they may never recover! ProlozoneTM is an injection technique that targets the soft tissues of the body, and supplies the oxidative stimulus that is needed to bring them back into a positive state of energy production adequate to re-establish a healthy membrane potential and thereby eliminate lactic acidosis. The response to treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends upon one’s healing ability. Some people may only need one treatment while others may need as many as ten.
Conditions that can be treated with prolozoneTM therapy
Chronic pain resulting from injuries to ligaments and tendons of the appendicular skeleton has long been well recognized. However, because they cannot be visualized on x-rays, injuries to ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues of the body have been largely ignored as a potential source of chronic pain. The treatment is equally excellent for many different types of musculo-skeletal pain, including neck pain, unresolved whiplash, degenerated or herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, torn tendons, TMJ syndrome, sciatica, heel spurs, neuromas, tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, knee injuries, and virtually any other sports injury.
How did prolozoneTM develop?
Historical review shows that a version of this technique was first used by Hippocrates on soldiers with dislocated, torn shoulder joints. He would stick a hot poker into the front of the joint, and it would then miraculously heal normally. Of course, hot pokers are not in use today, but the principle is essentially the same – stimulate the body to repair itself through the use of controlled irritation. The injection of “proliferating” agents first began in the 1830’s, when potent chemical irritants were used to treat hernias non-surgically. ProlozoneTM in one form or another has been used in Europe for over 40 years, and over the past ten years has been studied and improved to its current level by Dr. Shallenberger.
How does it work? A mixture of ozone, procaine, vitamin B12 and other homeopathic preparations are injected into soft tissues and/or ligaments or tendons where they attach to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation and anabolic effect in these weak areas, which then increases the blood supply, and stimulates the deposition of fibroblasts, the cells which the body uses to repair damaged connective tissue. The high level of reactivity found in the unstable third atom of oxygen present in ozone, seems to initiate just the right level of inflammation, which when combined with the innate safety of ozone, makes it the ideal proliferating agent. Although other proliferating agents can and have been used, ozone has three distinct advantages over these agents. First, it is more gentle and causes less pain. Secondly, since it is a gas, it diffuses into the treated area more effectively, and is more likely to “find” the area of laxity. Hence, it will greatly improve the batting average of even the most proficient therapist. Lastly, there are no side effects with ozone, making it much more user friendly than other sclerosing substances. Once injected, ozone causes a local reaction or inflammation. The fibroblasts which are attracted to the irritated area then begin to lay down the collagen which will form new ligament or tendon tissue. Following the injection, the patient may be a little sore for a few days, although this is usually uncommon. Because the inflammation produced is very important for the healing process, it is important that the patient does not use any anti-inflammatory medications during the 48 hours after the injection. For the same reason, areas that have been previously treated with steroid or cortisone injections cannot be treated with ProlozoneTM until these injections have worn off. The injection process is repeated every 1 – 2 weeks. Patients should expect significant results after the first or second treatments. This is in distinction from classical sclerosing agents which often require from 5 – 10 painful treatments in order to see substantial results. The good thing about ProlozoneTM therapy is that the results actually represent a permanent fix. However, the patient may need a “booster” injection every year or so after the initial series. When ProlozoneTM therapy is administered correctly, there is a 85% chance for the chronic pain sufferer to becoming completely pain free.
Minimally Invasive Oxygen-Ozone Therapy For Lumbar Disk Herniation.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Oxygen-ozone therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for lumbar disk herniation that exploits the biochemical properties of a gas mixture of oxygen and ozone. We assessed the therapeutic outcome of oxygen-ozone therapy and compared the outcome of administering medical ozone alone with the outcome of medical ozone followed by injection of a corticosteroid and an anesthetic at the same session.
METHODS:
Six hundred patients were treated with a single session of oxygen-ozone therapy. All presented with clinical signs of lumbar disk nerve root compression, with CT and/or MR evidence of contained disk herniation. Three hundred patients (group A) received an intradiscal (4 mL) and periganglionic (8 mL) injection of an oxygen-ozone mixture at an ozone concentration of 27 micro g/mL. The other 300 patients (group B) received, in addition, a periganglionic injection of corticosteroid and anesthetic. Therapeutic outcome was assessed 6 months after treatment by using a modified MacNab method. Results were evaluated by two observers blinded to patient distribution within the two groups.
RESULTS:
A satisfactory therapeutic outcome was obtained in both groups. In group A, treatment was a success (excellent or good outcome) in 70.3% and deemed a failure (poor outcome or recourse to surgery) in the remaining 29.7%. In group B, treatment was a success in 78.3% and deemed a failure in the remaining 21.7%. The difference in outcome between the two groups was statistically significant (P <.05).
CONCLUSION:
Combined intradiscal and periganglionic injection of medical ozone and periganglionic injection of steroids has a cumulative effect that enhances the overall outcome of treatment for pain caused by disk herniation. Oxygen-ozone therapy is a useful treatment for lumbar disk herniation that has failed to respond to conservative management.
CONDITIONS TREATED WITH MEDICAL OZONE
A whole number of pathological conditions exist which can be influenced positively or even healed by ozone. This is a fact which has been confirmed by a wide series of scientific investigations and medical publications. As a rule, medical ozone is applied in addition to other therapeutic methods ie it belongs to the field of complementary medicine.
For all patients, men and women, to know about the latest developments in ozone therapy – and as quickly as possible – a large number of therapists (in Europe) got together and founded the (legally registered) Medical Society for Ozone Application in Prevention and Therapy, formerly called the Medical Society for Ozone Therapy, with the aim of providing basic information to doctors/therapists and patients alike. This important information exchange function has increased over the years.
As to how far your physician is able to inform and help you depends on the country you are in and the current status of medical ozone. All should know, however, that medical ozone, when properly and responsibly handled (and the correct indication has been established), is safe, practical, effective and – as a preventive at least – low in cost.
Naturally, in spite of this , as with all other forms of medical treatment, no 100 % guarantee can be given that ozone therapy will alleviate the condition it has been applied for. Success will vary according to the patient’s state of health, the frequency of ozone treatment, the doses and concentrations applied, and a number of other factors.
Circulatory disorders
Arterial circulatory disorders, for which, among other symptoms, a feeling of coldness in the legs or pains after walking only short distances (“short cut” syndrome) are alarming signs, have been a classical indication for ozone therapy for over 40 years now. Its success has been confirmed by a large number of clinical trials. Ozone is applied as a complement to and in combination with other methods in classical and complementary medicine.
Regeneration and revitalisation
Stress situations on the job or conditions of excessive mental and physical tension respond particularly well to O3 application. Its ability to activate red and white blood cell metabolism produces an improvement in general wellbeing, and brings about a general revitalisation. Professional sportsmen and -women profit greatly from this fact as well. Although ozone does not give its user a higher performance level, it does improve physical output during the endurance phase, ie just below maximum exertion. In addition, the regeneration phase is measureably shortened in endurance sports.
The elderly patient. Prevention and therapy
Elderly patients respond very well to medical ozone therapy, as it is here possible to make use of all its clinical advantages, such as that of making an improved supply of oxygen accessible to all tissues, mobilising the immune system, and activating the body’s own supply of antioxidants and radical scavengers. Furthermore, we have its positive influence in cerebral circulatory disorders – a condition characterized by a general reduction in physical performance, insecurity in walking, and feelings of dizziness. In addition to other measures applied in complementary medicine, medical ozone is also used as a preventive, contributing to a marked increase in life quality.
Diseases of the eye
Circulatory disturbances due to old age also affect the eye with atrophic and degenerative changes. For example, senile macular degeneration is well known, occurring at the center of the retina – the point where visual focus is at its sharpest. Its sequels are thus able to influence the optic nerve to varying degrees, producing what is called optic nerve atrophy. Results obtained from a clinical trial carried out at the University of Siena show, in addition to reports from practical applications, improvements in vision lasting for 6 to 8 months after ozone- autohaemotransfusion. Continuing the series of treatments can produce further improvement in visual performance or prevent it from worsening.
Malignant disease (cancer)
Ozone-autohaemotransfusion can be applied with great profit in the form of an additional, biological, therapy in malignant conditions. We here make use of ozone’s immunoactivating property, produced when it is applied at a low dose. Immune cells – such as lymphocytes, helper and suppressor cells, natural killer cells – are activated via biological reactions induced by ozone to respond by producing messenger proteins called cytokines to which, for example, the interferons belong. In fact, ozone makes the body produce increased quantities of its own interferons and interleukins. On reintroduction of the ozonized blood, a cascade of positive immune reactions are set off, also contributing to general resistance and wellbeing.
Fungal skin infections and infected skin lesions
The fungicidal and bactericidal properties of ozone have been successfully in use for over 100 years in the treatment of water for drinking. They make medical ozone an effective therapeutic agent in combating persistent skin moulds and fungi, especially those of the feet with bacterial infections, fungal infections of the trunk or against fungal/mycotic infections of the mucous membranes.
Infected wounds
The local treatment of infected wounds, such as may easily occur with open bed sores (decubitus), ulcers of the lower leg (ulcus cruris), diabetic gangrene or delayed/disturbed wound healing processes, belong to the classical application fields of medical ozone. We here primarily make use of its disinfectant, ie bactericidal and fungicidal, effects, to obtain a germ-free and clean wound. Once this has been achieved, we then apply lower doses of O3 gas to accelerate/improve wound healing.
Intestinal diseases: proctitis and colitis
In the case of inflammatory intestinal processes, particularly during their early stages, the local application of ozone in the form of rectal O3 gas insufflation has been proved very useful. A series of 10 ozone applications is sufficient in most cases. Several such series are only necessary in about 10 % of the patients (from a proctitic clinical study on O3 involving 248 patients).
Viral diseases
Herpes simplex (facial herpes), herpes zoster (shingles)
Both types of herpes are caused by viruses. Herpes of the lips (H. labialis), a frequently recurring condition and a highly unpleasant disease, can be treated very successfully with ozone in combination with other medical methods.
In the case of herpes zoster or shingles, the complementary application of ozone is useful, both in the form of ozonized water compresses and O3 autohaemotransfusions.
Inflammatory processes of the liver
Inflammatory diseases of the liver are counted among the classical indications for medical ozone. Whereas the treatment of hepatitis A (HVA = hepatitis virus A) is relatively unproblematic and produces complete healing, another form, hepatitis B (HVB = hepatitis virus B), frequently takes a chronic course. Here, in addition to classical medical treatment methods, we find that ozone autohaemotransfusion or the rectal insufflation of controlled ozone/oxygen gas quantities can be successful. This also applies to the treatment of hepatitis C which, due to an incubation period capable of lasting for a number of years, is generally not diagnosed as a liver disease until it has become a chronic condition.
Inflammatory and degenerative joint conditions
When we divide inflammatory diseases of the joints into three phases, it is particularly stages 1 and 2, ie those not yet involving a severe bone deformation, that are responsive to medical ozone application. This applies to gonarthritis (inflammation of the knee joint) or the active arthritic form in knee and shoulder joints. Here, intraarticular ozone injections applied in addition to basic standard medical methods – in this case specific exercise therapy measures – are of great use. We here make full use of the antiinflammatory effects of ozone, in addition to its immunomodulatory properties and its ability to activate cartilage metabolism.
Arthritic/rheumatic conditions
Chronic polyarthritis
The term arthritic/rheumatic conditions includes various painful diseases of the skeletal or muscular system, partly also involving functional restrictions. In general, the application of medical ozone can here be regarded as being a complementary measure only, combined with a basic classical method and corresponding physiotherapy. In the case of rheumatic arthritis (chronic polyarthritis), our experience shows that ozone autohaemotherapy is a very useful complementary form when given during the non-acute phases. Its immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory properties are here its basic principle of action.
| What should I know as a patient ? |
Before undergoing any form of ozone therapy, you should inform your doctor about any medication or special dietary measures you are taking or have been taking recently. You should only discontinue a regimen of this kind if your doctor advises you to do so. He or she should also know about allergies, inherited diseases or other complaints, and how they have been treated.
In many countries, especially outside Europe, ozone therapy is not always covered by health insurance policies or employers’ medical benefit schemes.. You should also try to find out where ozone units exist in your country, what trained specialists are available, and how much treatment costs. Most ozone applications are in series of up to 10 sessions, and a second or even third series may be necessary in some indications. Nevertheless, you should always remember that a little prevention can save a much more expensive full-scale treatment later on.
Ozone therapy is low risk and usually applied as a complementary, additive or restorative method, ie in accompaniment of standard medical treatments.
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