Oxygen-Ozone therapy is a complementary approach less known than homeopathy and acupuncture because it has come of age only three decades ago. This book clarifies that, in the often nebulous field of natural medicine, the biological bases of ozone therapy are totally in line with classical biochemistry, physiological and pharmacological knowledge. Ozone is an oxidizing molecule, a sort of super active oxygen, which, by reacting with blood components generates a number of chemical messengers responsible for activating crucial biological functions such as oxygen delivery, immune activation, release of hormones and induction of antioxidant enzymes, which is an exceptional property for correcting the chronic oxidative stress present in atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer. Moreover, by inducing nitric oxide synthase, ozone therapy may mobilize endogenous stem cells, which will promote regeneration of ischemic tissues. The description of these phenomena offers the first comprehensive picture for understanding how ozone works and why. When properly used as a real drug within therapeutic range, ozone therapy does not only does not procure adverse effects but yields a feeling of wellness. Half the book describes the value of ozone treatment in several diseases, particularly cutanious infection and vascular diseases where ozone really behaves as a “wonder drug”. The book has been written for clinical researchers, physicians and ozone therapists, but also for the layman or the patient interested in this therapy.
Ozone Velio Bocci Ozone A New Medical Drug Second Edition 13 Velio Bocci Department of Physiology University of Siena via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
[email protected] ISBN 978-90-481-9233-5 e-ISBN 978-90-481-9234-2 DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-9234-2 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2010936097 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2005, 2011 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) This book is dedicated to all patients with the wish to regain their health with or without oxygen-ozonetherapy Foreword In 2002, Prof. Bocci published a book entitled “Oxygen-Ozone Therapy. A Critical Evaluation” with ample scientific data based largely on his experiments indicating the usefulness and atoxicity of ozone therapy in some diseases. However the book contained too many details and it was difficult to read for the busy physician and even more for the layman. He has now written a new version that is shorter and concise. Nonetheless the mechanisms of action of ozone, which are essential for understanding how ozone acts through a number of messengers, are clearly explained in a scientific but plain language. The clinical part has been greatly extended and includes new pathologies as well as diseases previously considered but now amplified with new data. The book is primarily intended for ozone-therapists, who want to refine techniques, expand treatment modalities and solve problems, but will be equally useful for physicians interested in this approach. However it can also be read by the layman, to provide further insight into this aspect of complementary medicine. The book gives a complete view of this approach including practical aspects o