Sometimes, what we read online sounds too good to be true. And then there are times when what we read is both good and true. This is one of those times. An under utilized treatment that helps your body heal faster, fight inflammation at its source, boost your energy, sharpen your focus, and even speed recovery from injuries—without relying on stronger medications or endless procedures— is available through ozone therapy. By improving how your cells use oxygen, calming chronic inflammation, and enhancing circulation, it supports the very processes your body depends on to repair and renew itself.
Whether you’re dealing with lingering joint pain, slow-healing tissues, fatigue that never seems to lift, or an immune system that’s just not firing on all cylinders, ozone therapy works at the root level to help your body do what it was made to do: heal.
Dr. Paulson has been reading about the amazing benefits of ozone therapy for many years. Since the pandemic, she knew she had to get serious about integrating services in the clinic to help patients at a deeper level. Viruses are getting stronger, patients are sicker, we are living in an era where we need much more than a healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and sunlight. In June 2025, she became an Ozone Certified Practitioner and will soon have her fellowship with the American Academy of Ozonotherapy. She is thrilled to finally roll out this service at Aspire Wellness and share some basic info about ozone therapy here with you.
What is Ozone Therapy?
Ozone (O₃) is a naturally occurring molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. In nature, it forms high in the atmosphere to protect us from UV rays. In the human body, white blood cells actually produce ozone in response to viruses, bacteria, and fungal pathogens, highlighting its inherent role in the body’s defense mechanisms. In medicine, it’s produced in controlled, medical-grade concentrations as ozone gas and is used in targeted therapies that stimulate the body’s own healing processes.
Ozone therapy is used in clinical practice to help:
- Reduce chronic inflammation
- Improve oxygen delivery and utilization
- Support immune function
- Enhance cellular energy production
- Aid in tissue repair and regeneration
It’s not about replacing your body’s systems, it’s about giving them the nudge they need to work the way they were designed to.
How Ozone Therapy Works to Support Healing
Ozone doesn’t linger in your body as “ozone.” Instead, it reacts almost immediately with lipids and proteins in your blood or tissues, creating compounds called ozonides and other signaling molecules. These are what trigger the therapeutic effects.
- Improved Oxygen Utilization – Ozone helps your red blood cells release oxygen more efficiently and supports enzymes that turn that oxygen into energy (ATP) at the cellular level. Specifically, it increases cellular oxygen uptake by stimulating the enzyme DPG (diphosphoglycerate), which enhances the body’s ability to fight infections.
- Modulation of Oxidative Stress – At the right dose, ozone acts as a gentle stressor that activates your body’s antioxidant systems, increasing glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase…your built-in defenses against inflammation and damage. It also boosts the body’s antioxidant capabilities and helps protect cells from oxidative stress and damage.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects – Ozone can shift your body’s chemistry toward a less inflamed state, which is key in joint pain, autoimmune issues, and lingering post-illness symptoms. It’s important to note that chronic inflammation is considered the root cause of many modern health problems like weight gain, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, and cancer, and ozone therapy helps by down-regulating pro-inflammatory compounds.
- Immune System “Tuning” – It helps balance immune activity boosting it where needed (e.g., in chronic infections) and calming it down when it’s overactive (as in autoimmunity).
- Better Blood Flow – Ozone can improve microcirculation, helping nutrients and oxygen reach hard-to-heal tissues like tendons and ligaments.
- Antimicrobial Action – In topical or local applications, ozone can directly inactivate bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Its potent antimicrobial properties are effective for treating infections even when antibiotic resistance is present.
- Mitochondrial Stimulation – Ozone is a powerful mitochondrial stimulant. Correcting decreased mitochondrial energy production, which is often the underlying cause of degenerative diseases, is a key benefit of ozone therapy.
In short, ozone therapy reminds your body how to heal and gives it the resources to do it. It is a wonderful adjunct to a healthy lifestyle we promote in functional medicine.
How Ozone Therapy is Given
The method we choose depends on your health needs and goals. Common approaches include:
- Major & Minor Autohemotherapy (MAH) – We draw a small amount of your blood, mix it with a precise oxygen/ozone blend, and return it to your body. This delivers systemic benefits for energy, immunity, and inflammation.
- Prolozone (Joint, Soft Tissue, Scar Tissue Injections) – Ozone combined with nutrients is injected directly into a joint, tendon, or ligament, scar tissue to stimulate repair and reduce pain.
- Rectal or Vaginal Insufflation – Ozone gas is introduced into the rectum or vagina to deliver systemic benefits.
- Auricular Insufflation (ear insufflation)— Ozone gas is insufflated via a special stethoscope into your ears.
- Topical Ozonated Oils or Water – Used for wound healing or skin issues. This can also include Ozone Ozonated Olive Oil, where ozone is bubbled through olive oil to create an ozonated oil specifically for treating various skin conditions, including helping to repair damaged skin from wounds or burns. We sell these in our wellness clinic!
- Ozone Sauna – In this method, ozone gas is administered through your skin or respiratory system while in a sauna
What You Can Expect
The big question is “Am I going to notice a difference?”
Ozone therapy is an oxidative therapy, meaning it will produce it’s healing properties via oxidative stress. We “prime” our patients with specific nutrients to prepare for ozone therapy. Some people feel a change right away, especially with joint injections, where pain relief can come within a session or two. Others notice gradual improvement over several weeks as their systems reset and inflammation decreases.
How many times will I need to do it?
- Most of our ozone protocols start with 1-2 times per week for 1 month. The frequency and duration depends upon the diagnosis.
We’ll reassess after your initial series to decide if you need more.
Does insurance cover it?
Most U.S. insurance plans, including Medicare, do not cover ozone therapy. We’ll review all costs up front so there are no surprises. Members receive a 10% discount!
How Ozone Compares to Other Options
Many times, our patients have already tried or been offered other treatments. Here’s how they compare and why we are thrilled to offer it to our patients.
- Steroid Injections – Work quickly for pain but can damage tissue with repeated use. Ozone aims to stimulate healing rather than suppress symptoms.
- Prolotherapy or PRP – Both regenerative injections like ozone, but use different mechanisms. Some practitioners combine PRP with ozone.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen – Increases oxygen concentration in tissues via pressure; ozone works by creating signaling molecules that improve how your body uses oxygen.
- Lifestyle Changes – Diet, movement, and stress management are essential. Ozone often helps make these changes more effective by improving your body’s baseline function.
How To Get Ozone Therapy with Aspire Wellness
All patients in our Aspire Wellness clinic who are interested in ozone therapy will need a brief consultation with our ozone certified practitioner, Dr. Jennifer Paulson. You will also need to have basic labs and a G6PD lab up to date, which we will order for you.
For those of you in the Boise area, we are pre-booking appointments for November Ozone & IV special 25% off! Secure your spot via:
- Email us hello@aspire-wellness.net
- Text our office 208-607-3738
- Members- send Dr. Paulson a secure portal message with your interest. She will determine if you need an updated consult and labs and will provide next steps for you so you can schedule your November appointment.
