The following is a quote from the book Heal Yourself with Oxygen, by Paula Horan. The project of writing the book, however, had been originally inspired by Dr. Rathna Alwa, who at that time was Paula’s physician in Bangalore, India. Rathna also directly contributed to the manuscript. In the passage below, Paula quotes Rathna verbatim. There are only a few other instances in the voluminous scientific literature on ozone and ozone therapy that clarify the benefits as succinctly as it is done here:
“To further clarify how ozone works in the body, the following and more elaborate list gives a little more detail into the intricacies of each of ozone’s benefits:
1) Strengthening the Immune System: Ozone stimulates the proliferation of interferon as well as the enhancement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The induced production of interleukin II (a chemical which activates the immune system) sets in motion multiple and far reaching immunological responses throughout the body.
2) Inducement of Oxygen Metabolism: Ozone triggers increased glycolysis in the red blood cells, a process that leads to the stimulation of 2,3 diphophoglycerate (2,3 DPG). Eventually this leads to an increase in the amount of oxygen available to all the different tissues throughout the body. More enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase, are produced, that act as free radical cleansers or scavengers, and likewise fortify the protection of the cell walls. The production of prostacyline, a vasodilator, is also spurred on by ozone. Through stimulating the Krebscycle, ozone furthermore accelerates the production of ATP. It does this by enhancing oxidative carboxylation of pyruvate, and a series of chemical reactions in the mitochondria that produce energy for the cell’s function.
3) Generation of Peroxides: Ozone reacts with the unsaturated fatty acids of the fatty compounds in the cell membranes, forming hydrogen peroxides, which in turn oxygenate all of the body’s fluids.
4) Better Circulation: In circulatory disease, clusters or clumps of red blood cells decrease the blood flow through the small capillaries, thus reducing oxygen absorption due to the smaller surface area. Ozone turns this degenerative process around and restores red cell flexibility. It also strengthens the red cells by stimulating them to carry more oxygen. The oxygen flow through all tissues throughout the body increases, as the arterial partial pressure goes up, and viscosity goes down. Ozone also oxidizes the plaque in arteries, allowing the broken down parts to be removed. In this way, clogged blood vessels are unclogged.
5) Neutralization of Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Yeast and Protozea: Through oxidation, ozone punctures the envelope of the bacterial cell. In fungi, ozone slows down and finally stops their growth at certain stages. With viruses, ozone attacks their protective shell. It obstructs their continuous reproduction by exposing them to peroxidation. The weak enzyme coatings of damaged cells which make them more likely victims for viral attacks also make them responsive to oxidation and elimination from the body, which then automatically replaces them with healthy cells.
6) Dissolution of Malignant Tumors: Ozone disrupts the metabolism of cancerous cells. Furthermore, it oxidizes the outer fatty coating of malignant cells, thus making them more susceptible to therapeutic agents. Killer cells (phagocytes) generate H2O2 and the monovalent radical hydroxyl to annihilate bacteria and viruses. The production of hydroxyl by phagocytes is critical to their cytotoxic capability. Ozone supports the transformation of L-arginine into citrulline, nitrite, and nitrate by killer cells, acting on tumors.
All of these point to one fact - ozone rejuvenates. It rejuvenates the cells, tissues, organs, and thus the body as a whole.”