Ozone Therapy For Fibromyalgia

This 2019 study published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences explores whether ozone therapy could be a helpful complementary treatment for people living with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition best known for widespread pain but it also includes other symptoms such as poor sleep, chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression. Although the exact causes of fibromyalgia remain unclear, the author’s research review points to a combination of genetic environmental and biological factors including changes related to oxidative stress in the body.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ozone therapy in fibromyalgia patients whose symptoms are often poorly controlled with conventional treatments. Ozone therapy is already used in various chronic conditions and is thought to work by creating a mild and temporary oxidative stress that stimulates the body’s own antioxidant defenses and helps regulate immune and inflammatory responses. Based on these mechanisms, the authors hypothesized that ozone therapy might improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

The study included 65 patients treated at a single clinic in Italy between 2016 and 2018. Most participants were women, which reflects the higher prevalence of fibromyalgia among females. Ages ranged from 30 to 72 and patients had been living with the diagnosis anywhere from six months to over 30 years. Two methods of ozone therapy were used, following established professional guidelines. Most patients received ozone through autohemotransfusion, which involves treating a small amount of the patient’s blood with ozone and then re-infusing it. A smaller group received ozone via rectal insufflation. Treatments were given twice weekly for one month followed by twice monthly maintenance sessions.

About 70 percent of patients experienced more than a 50 percent improvement in their symptoms. Importantly, no serious side effects were reported. The authors state that this is the largest published study to date examining ozone therapy in fibromyalgia patients.

The study concludes that ozone therapy appears to be a safe and potentially effective complementary or integrative option for fibromyalgia patients who do not achieve sufficient relief from standard treatments.