4.2.2 AIDS: Ozone / Oxygen
Description
This article is from the AIDS FAQ, by Dan Greening with numerous contributions by others.
4.2.2 AIDS: Ozone / Oxygen
Prepared by Martin A. Majchrowicz
Spring 1994
Ozone, the fusion of three oxygen molecules to create O3, is an
incredibly unstable molecule that breaks down very easily into a
stable O2 molecule and an O1 charged molecule. In nature, oxygen more
frequently occurs in the O2 state which is far more stable. Ozone is
more commonly known as the layer of the atmosphere which protects
plants and animals from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation
from the sun. It is also known as a pollutant that builds up in the
lower part of the atmosphere on warm days as a result of chemical
reactions, driven by the heat of the sun, when nitrogen dioxide and
hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust react with oxygen. In this form,
ozone can cause irritation and sometimes damage to the mucosal
membrane of the respiratory tract and the eyes.
Ozone can also be useful in the treatment of water. Known as a strong
oxidant, ozone can be used in the water purification process as a
method of killing bacteria and other microorganisms in the water
supply.
Due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, some
believe that ozone can be used as a method of treating a variety of
diseases including HIV/AIDS. This practice has become quite
controversial. Most researchers believe ozone has no medical
use. However, ozone proponents claim that the Western medical
"establishment" wants to "crush" this cheap and effective method of
treating HIV/AIDS, cancer, and a variety of other acute and chronic
fatal diseases.
There arc several different forms of ozone therapy which are sometimes
referred to as superoxidation or hyperoxidation. Ozone therapy can be
administered in three different ways. One method is removing blood
from the patient, bubbling ozone through the blood, and infusing the
blood back into the patient. Another form is the rectal ozone machine
which generates ozone gas and blows it directly into the patients
rectum. The last and potentially most dangerous form of ozone therapy
is intravenous or intramuscular injections of ozone gas. This
literally entails injecting ozone gas directly into the vein or muscle
of the patient. Hydrogen peroxide injections are sometimes used as
part of, or independent of, ozone therapy. Those who recommend
hydrogen peroxide also recommend peroxide also recommend drinking and
bathing in it. The hydrogen peroxide used for such therapy is a
different strength than what can be purchased in a drug store.
MECHANISM OF ACTION As there are many different forms of ozone
therapy, there are as many different theories as to how ozone therapy
can be useful. The most simplistic of these theories is that since
disease-causing organisms, including viruses, die in the presence of
high concentrations of oxygen, by increasing the oxygen concentration
in the body with ozone, this will kill HIV and other viruses and
bacteria. This theory is also coupled with the fact that since we
breath oxygen everyday, it is "obviously" safe to be injected or
infused into the body with no toxicity or side effects.
When ozone is created, it quickly degrades from an O3 molecule to an
O2 and an O1 The first theory suggests that the O2 molecule will kill
free viruses, meaning viruses that are not hiding in CD4 cells. Since
there is very little free HIV in the blood, the real problem of HIV
infected cells and their ability to produce more HIV is not solved.
This theory can be taken one step further by claiming that the O1
molecule, an oxidant, is the useful aspect of ozone degradation
reaction, and this is what will kill free viruses as well as "diseased
cells" (cells infected with HIV). The rationale for this theory is
based on the fact that healthy human cells can protect themselves from
the oxidative stress of O1. However, viruses, microbes, and "diseased
cells" lack the ability to protect themselves from oxidants, therefore
they are destroyed by ozone. Healthy cells. those that are not
infected with HIV, will not be damaged by the ozone. As opposed to the
first theory, this second theory suggests that ozone is not only
effective against free virus but also against cells that are already
infected with HIV. However, neither of these theories has been proven
in any laboratory studies.
One laboratory study suggests that ozone may act directly on HIV by
inducing viral particle disruption, reverse transcriptase
inactivation, and/or perturbation of the ability of the virus to bind
to its receptor on target cells.
Bocci, a researcher in Italy, has put forth a very different theory of
how ozone may be effective against certain diseases. Bocci recognizes
that ozone decomposes very rapidly and very little virus is actually
free in the blood. He suggests that the benefit of ozone may be due to
its ability to enhance the functioning of the immune system and induce
the production of certain cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor
(TNF) and interferon (IFN).
STUDIES While laboratory studies that show ozone can kill HIV in vitro
(in the test tube) exists, there is little evidence to suggest that
ozone is an effective anti-HIV/AIDS therapy in humans.
Carpendale reports using ozone to treat diarrhea of unknown origin in
five men with a wide range of CD4 cells. Of the five men, the four
with the highest CD4 counts experienced a decrease in diarrhea. The
one patient with cryptosporidium and a CD4 cell count of 75 did not
respond to ozone and eventually died. The four men who responded had
relatively high CD4 counts (193, 130, 209, & 435) and may have
resolved regardless of therapy. Many times, diarrhea in people with
HIV can spontaneously resolve. Due to the small number of patients and
the nature of their symptoms, it is difficult to conclude that ozone
had a definite effect on their diarrhea.
Carpendale also reports on two asymptomatic patients who used ozone
for five years. One patient who began with 907 CD4 cells showed an
increase of CD4 cells to 1286 at the beginning of the third year and
an increase of the CD4/CD8 ratio. Although the follow-up supposedly
lasted five years, there is no data past this point.
The second patient began with 309 CD4 cells, increased to 831, but
then stabilized between 500-700. After six years, this patient
"suddenly" died of pneumonia and disseminated coccidiomycosis (a
fungal infection).
The CD4 cell trends mentioned in this report are nothing extraordinary
considering the final outcomes. Both patients experienced transient
increases in their CD4 cell counts and moderate increases in their
CD4/CD8 ratios. There was no mention of whether or not other
medications were used. This report does not provide a clear benefit of
ozone therapy.
In addition to these extremely limited studies, there are supposedly
hundreds of cases of people being "cured" with ozone including
complete alleviation of symptoms and becoming HIV negative (using
ELISA, Western Blot, and PCR). None of these reports has ever been
substantiated. Proponents of ozone claim that these reports cannot be
made public due to the fear that those doctors involved will have
their licenses revoked. However, nothing is preventing patients with
HIV/AIDS from coming forward and claiming that they have been "cured".
COMMENT Until recently, it was thought that ozone therapy was at least
a safe alternative, and attempts had not been made to discourage
people from seeking it as an option. However, after two reported cases
of death involved with ozone therapy, we at APLA strongly caution
people about the risks involved with ozone therapy. The three main
issues are safety, price, and effectiveness.
Proponents of ozone repeatedly make accusations that the "medical
establishment" is against ozone because it is an inexpensive approach
and that finding a cure using ozone will threaten pharmaceutical
companies. The average cost of a rectal ozone machine is $5000, while
some "underground" physicians charge as much as $30,000 for IV ozone
treatments. We have known of several people with HIV/AIDS who
purchased ozone machines and reported little to no benefit. One ozone
"doctor" in Mississippi claims to be doing a "super secret" study with
the government. This "doctor" said that "all the patients need to know
is it'll cost them about $1000 a week and they don't have to worry
about anything after that. They have to worry about their board and
room, but that's about all." If it wasn't for the study, this therapy
would cost $4000 a week. When questioned about which governmental
agency was sponsoring the study, he responded, "I'm not at liberty to
say who's doing it." The decision is yours to decide who is really
profiteering.
In an article by Ed McCabe in AIDS Patient Care (December 1992),
McCabe claims that "over 300 AIDS patients" have become HIV negative
through using ozone. In an attempt to verify this information, we
asked McCabe if we could speak with people who have become HIV
negative. We were provided with four names of people, two men who
became HIV PCR negative and two men who became p24 negative (which is
not incredibly significant). The protocol these men received included
hydrogen peroxide baths, chelation ("a method of removing toxins from
the blood"), nutritional supplements, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and
a variety of other herbs and homeopathic substances. One of the men
who became p24 negative reported feeling better immediately afterwards
but no sustained benefit six months later. The other said he probably
felt better just because it was an opportunity for him to get away
from work and his home for a while. He also reported that the "doctor"
in Mississippi who administered the therapy was not a real doctor, and
that after being told he would be treated for free was charged $1000
for lab work.
Of the two men who were reported to become HIV PCR negative, one
reported that he was not PCR negative but feels ozone has been
beneficial in some way. The other man could not be contacted after
repeated phone calls and messages. All three men contacted mentioned
how upset they were that McCabee claims that people are being "cured"
and becoming HIV negative from using ozone therapy. Ed McCabe is a
journalist who lectures around the world promoting ozone therapy
through his books and videos.
Safety remains to be the most important issue. We have been told of
two deaths that were a direct result of intravenous ozone
therapy. These two people were receiving ozone therapy from a
particular "doctor" who practiced in San Francisco and Las Vegas. This
"doctor" is unable to be reached for an interview. One of these cases
is currently under investigation.
To date, there are no studies that can clearly demonstrate how ozone
works. In addition, there are no human studies that have shown that
ozone can be effective. Reports of people becoming HIV negative have
not been confirmed. With reports of two deaths as a result of IV ozone
therapy, the safety, as well as the trust of those who administer and
promote ozone therapy, remains questionable.
REFERENCES
Bocci, V: Ozonization of blood for the therapy of viral diseases and
immunodeficiencies. A hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses. 39:30-34, 1992.
Carpendale, MT, Freeberg, JK: Ozone inactivates HIV at noncytotoxic
concentrations. Antiviral Research. 16(3): 281-292, 1991.
Carpendale, MT, Freeberg, J, Griffiss, JM: Does ozone alleviate AIDS
diarrhea? Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 17(2):142-145, 1993.
Carpendale, MT, Griffiss, J: Is there a role for medical ozone in the
treatment of HIV and associated infection? Proceedings of XI Ozone
World Congress, September 1993.
Fowkes, SW: Oxidative Medicine. Forefront Health Invest
McCabe, E: Ozone therapies for AIDS. AIDS Patient Care. December 1992.
Wells, KH, Latino, J, Gavalchin, J, et al: Inactivation of human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 by ozone in
vitro. Blood. 78(7):1882-1890, 1991.
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