Ozone Therapy in Integrative Healthcare  

Contributed Commentary by Deanna Joy Gilmore

September 17, 2026 | When you hear the word “ozone”, you may think of air pollution, an ozone air purifier, or even the protective ozone layer surrounding the Earth. But ozone also has a place in healthcare, and it actually has been used therapeutically for decades. What I find interesting is how many different areas of healthcare are using it. Ozone therapy can be found in integrative and regenerative practices, pain management, wound care, supportive oncology, dentistry, and other areas of patient care. It can be used locally or systemically, depending on what is being treated. In integrative practices, ozone therapy is also currently being used with broader treatment plans alongside other approaches.

What stands out to me is that ozone does not really belong to just one area of healthcare. Many of the same issues, including inflammation, infection, circulation, pain, and healing, show up across multiple specialties. That overlap also creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and a more complete approach to patient care.

What Exactly is Ozone Therapy?  

Ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms (O3). It forms when energy causes oxygen molecules (O2) to separate, allowing individual oxygen atoms to combine with other oxygen molecules to then create ozone. For therapeutic use, controlled concentrations of oxygen and ozone are administered in different ways depending on the treatment. While direct inhalation can irritate and damage the lungs and is not how ozone is used therapeutically, ozone has interesting antimicrobial properties and effects on inflammation, circulation, oxygen delivery, and tissue healing.  

There is not just one way to use ozone, and the method depends on what the practitioner is trying to address. One systemic approach is major autohemotherapy, often referred to as MAH. Blood is drawn from the patient, mixed with a controlled oxygen-ozone mixture outside the body, and then returned through an intravenous (IV) line.  This systemic approach is used in integrative care for concerns involving inflammation, circulation, immune response, and fatigue.  

Ozone can also be used directly where treatment is needed. For example, an oxygen-ozone mixture may be injected into or around a painful joint for conditions such as osteoarthritis, or into soft tissue when treating certain musculoskeletal conditions. In dentistry, ozone can be delivered directly to a treatment site using ozone gas, ozonated water, or ozonated oils.

Ozonated water may be used to irrigate or cleanse an area of the mouth, while ozonated oils can be applied directly to periodontal tissue. In wound care, ozonated water can be used to cleanse a wound, and ozone gas may be contained around an affected area, such as a limb with a difficult-to-heal ulcer.  

Pain management is one example of how ozone is being used in practice. A comprehensive review published in the European Journal of Medical Research examined ozone therapy across musculoskeletal conditions including osteoarthritis, low back pain, fractures, and chronic pain syndrome, with a focus on its effects on pain and inflammation.  

Wound care is another practical example. Ozone’s antimicrobial properties and its effects on tissue healing have led to the use of ozonated water, oils, and controlled gas applications for chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, infected lesions, and other difficult-to-heal areas.   

Supportive oncology is another area that stands out. International Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and Oncology (IASO Cancer) describes ozone therapy as part of integrative cancer care alongside conventional treatment. Their discussion includes its use to support patients experiencing fatigue, pain, treatment-related concerns, and quality-of-life issues. They are also clear that ozone is not being presented as a cure for cancer or a replacement for conventional cancer treatment. 

A 2025 scoping review examined 16 studies involving medical ozone for pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients, with pain reduction being the most frequently reported improvement. The findings showed preliminary benefits for managing these symptoms, although the authors emphasized the need for larger studies and long-term follow-up.

Ozone Therapy in Dentistry 

In dentistry, ozone is being used in periodontal care, endodontics, oral surgery, implant healing, dental sensitivity, and other applications. Depending on the treatment, ozonated water may be used for irrigation or cleansing, ozone gas can be directed to a specific treatment site, and ozonated oils can be applied topically to periodontal tissue. A 2025 systematic review of 11 clinical trials found that ozone therapy improved periodontal health, supported early soft-tissue healing following implant surgery, and reduced discomfort following some dental procedures.  

With my background in dental hygiene and oral systemic health, I do not see infection, inflammation, healing, or chronic disease as concerns that simply stop at the mouth. They are part of the larger picture of health and reinforce the value of collaboration between dental, medical, and integrative healthcare professionals.  

Where Do We Go from Here?

A 2026 umbrella review of seven meta-analyses found mixed results across several uses of ozone therapy. The findings varied depending on the condition and how ozone was used, with benefits reported for some outcomes and less consistent findings for others. To me, this is part of what makes ozone worth following. It is not one treatment being used one way for one condition. It is being used across different areas of healthcare, through different methods, and for different reasons. Some applications have more evidence behind them than others, making it important to continue following both the research and how ozone is being used across healthcare.   

We do not have to provide every treatment ourselves to understand what other professionals are doing. The more we know about what is happening across dentistry, medicine, integrative care, pain management, regenerative health, and supportive oncology, the more opportunities we have to communicate, collaborate, and continue looking at the whole patient.   

Deanna Joy Gilmore, RDH, BSDH, MHA, CH-OSE, is a dental hygienist, healthcare professional, and Certificate Holder in Oral Systemic Education with more than 25 years of experience. Currently pursuing a doctorate in healthcare leadership, her work focuses on prevention, oral systemic health, interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding whole-person approaches across healthcare, education, and community settings. She can be reached at [email protected].