HELLO magazine: Ozone Therapy
Every week I write a column for Hello Magazine, and am on a mission to cut through the noise and find out what really works, in order to help you become the happiest, healthy version of yourself. I set out to explore everything and anything I can to increase happiness, and promise not to hold back.
Living in a world that’s constantly pushing and pulling us to achieve more, do more or earn more – can be overwhelming to say the least. One thing we can all agree we want more of, and let’s be honest, need, is happiness. The quest to be happy can feel both all-consuming and never-ending, and often we don’t know where to start to reach those desired dopamine levels or feel energised by joy.
There’s a lot of noise out there in the wellness industry, with an abundance of treatments, therapies and professionals on offer – all promising to boost our general wellbeing and in turn make us happier. But what really works? How do you know where to start? This week I tried Ozone Therapy.
Ozone therapy is an alternative medicine practice, which claims that the use of ozone gas can act as an antioxidant in the body; reducing inflammation, improving circulation, decreasing signs of ageing and helping to detoxify the body. However, a quick google search will reveal that there is very little scientific evidence to back this up, and in fact it seems there’s a high risk of using ozone gas (in one of its many forms) causing plenty of unpleasant side effects and negative reactions. Gwyneth Paltrow, founder and CEO of the multi-million dollar wellness empire Goop, has recently confessed to trying ozone therapy rectally, claiming that it was “pretty weird”, but also “very helpful”. I’m all for trying things that work for you, and absolutely encourage stepping out of your comfort zone – but this is a step too far for me! I decided to book a different style of ozone therapy treatment at a local wellness centre to see what all the fuss was about.
What does it involve?
As it stands, there are nine methods of ozone therapy in practice, all with varying degrees of risk/reward. From Gwyneth’s rectal insertion to an IV drip, each method claims to have slightly different benefits for the patient. For example IV ozone therapy inserted into the bloodstream is meant to help the production of antioxidants, which inactivates free chemicals to reduce oxidative stress caused by them. Doing this is said to ‘keep you young’, as it slows down the ageing process at the cellular level. The method I tried, submersion in a chamber, is said to be very effective for aiding the detoxification process and stimulation circulation.
What happened during the session?
After taking all my clothes off, I was seated in an enclosed chamber, with just my head poking out at the top. A towel was wrapped around my neck, to prevent the ozone gas from leaking out. There was a gas tank beside me, which was plugged in to the body of the chamber. The timer was set for 20minutes and the ozone gas was pumped into the chamber. It got very hot very quickly, and I started to sweat almost immediately. I don’t suffer from claustrophobia, but feeling trapped inside with the intense heat was really uncomfortable and not very relaxing! I had no gauge of what the time was but it felt like a very long twenty minutes. The ozone gas had quite a strong smell to it, almost like pond water, which also didn’t feel very relaxing! It was a big relief when it was over, and liberating to step out. Once I had cooled off and re-dressed, I was told not to shower for the next 3 hours as the treatment would continue to work on my skin.
Did it work?
After completing the 20 minutes, I did have a sense of feeling ‘clear’ in my mind, quite calm yet also energised. It was a very similar feeling to the rush of endorphins you typically experience post a good workout or a session in the steam room. I can’t say the feeling lasted long sadly. I believe you’re meant to follow a course of treatments, and can do these sessions multiple times a week. For me it was just too hot, uncomfortable and regardless of the smell, I felt very trapped in there! I won’t be rush back for a treatment, but I definitely did sweat a lot out of my system which can do wonders for your body.
Who is it for?
Those who believe in the benefits will claim that as well as reducing inflammation in the body, it can also assist in the relief of pain, stimulating the nervous system, cleaning the arteries and veins, purifying the blood and improving lymph drainage. It is also said to improve brain function and memory, reversing degenerative disease and eliminating auto-immune disease. Personally I remain sceptical of its efficiency, but I’m not adverse to giving it a go. I would also be very cautious with regards to having the treatment via an IV or allowing something to enter blood when the treatment seems fairly unregulated yet offered so freely. If I was at a spa and this tank was on offer to experience, I wouldn’t say no. I also wouldn’t necessarily recommend it either!