Ozone Therapy: The Advances of the Past Decade

Ozone therapy is in a period of lively research. In recent years scientists have come to understand better how ozone acts in the body, and more studies and reviews have been published on its use for joint pain, oral health and wounds. In this article we review, in plain language and with the sources in view, the most important advances.

Quick answer

• What it is: a treatment that uses small amounts of ozone mixed with oxygen, given by injection, through the patient's own blood, or by other routes.
• A growing field: in 2026 alone, at least three major scientific reviews on the topic have been published.
• Better understanding: researchers have described how ozone activates the body's own antioxidant defenses.
• Knee pain: several reviews report a possible benefit for short-term pain, and a recent meta-analysis compared it with corticosteroids.
• Oral health and wounds: there are favorable results for gums, wisdom tooth surgery and, in one trial, diabetic foot ulcers.
• Tolerance: in the studies reviewed, reported side effects were few and mild.

What is ozone therapy, in simple words?

Ozone is a form of oxygen with three atoms instead of two. Ozone therapy uses a tightly controlled mix of oxygen and ozone, in small doses and applied by professionals with certified equipment, in ways such as:

• Local injections, for example into a joint or next to the spine.
• Autohemotherapy, which means drawing a small amount of the patient's own blood, mixing it with the oxygen–ozone blend and giving it back.
• Insufflation, which is applying the gas through routes such as the rectal one.

Advance 1: we now understand better how it works

One of the big steps of the past decade has been studying in detail what happens when ozone meets the body's fluids. According to a 2026 review in Frontiers in Medicine, ozone reacts almost instantly and generates molecules that work as signals: messengers that activate the body's own antioxidant defenses.

A simple comparison is physical exercise: a moderate effort creates a small stimulus that, with repetition, makes the body more resilient. That idea is called hormesis, and it is one of the frameworks researchers use today to explain ozone therapy.

For joints, a 2024 review in Frontiers in Physiology summarizes that ozone could reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, lower inflammatory cytokines (the molecules that feed inflammation) and support the activity of cells that repair cartilage and tissue.

Advance 2: more studies on knee pain

Knee osteoarthritis is the condition where research has been most active.

• The 2024 review gathered 8 systematic reviews with 15 clinical trials and 3,685 patients. Three of those reviews reported a significant pain reduction versus placebo, and the authors describe a possible benefit for short-term pain control.
• In 2026 a meta-analysis compared ozone with corticosteroid knee injections (7 trials, 409 patients). In the results, the ozone group had less pain at 4–6 weeks and also between 8 and 12 weeks, plus better joint function in the medium term. Its authors conclude that ozone may be a reasonable alternative to corticosteroids for short- and medium-term pain.
• Side effects reported in those studies were few and mild, such as brief pain or short-lived redness at the injection site, and in the 2024 review none of the reviews reported serious events.

Advance 3: favorable results in oral health

A 2026 umbrella review analyzed seven meta-analyses and reported these results:

• Periodontitis (gum disease): improved the depth of the pockets between tooth and gum (12 trials) and the gum inflammation index (7 trials).
• Wisdom tooth surgery: better quality of life right after the procedure and lower use of painkillers (3 trials).

Advance 4: wounds and diabetic foot

The Cochrane review on diabetic foot ulcers, one of the most rigorous references in medicine, included a trial with 101 participants that compared ozone with antibiotics. In that trial, the ozone group had a larger reduction in ulcer area and a hospital stay 8 days shorter, and no side effects were reported in either group. The authors themselves note these are results from a single study and invite further research.

What comes next: the next step in research

The most recent reviews agree on the path ahead: larger trials, with standardized doses and protocols and long-term follow-up. With the scientific interest that already exists, that is the direction ozone therapy is moving in.

How do you know if ozone therapy is right for you?

Everyone is different. The best way is to start with a medical evaluation, tell the team which treatments and medications you use, and talk about which routes and protocol suit your case. Ozone therapy is approached as a complement and does not replace conventional medical diagnosis or treatment.

Want to talk about your case?

Message us on WhatsApp at +1 (305) 927-5967 and talk with Dr. Carmen Helena Acevedo and her team about how ozone therapy can support your well-being.

This content is informational and does not replace medical consultation. Consult a health professional before starting any treatment.

Sources

Accessed October 20, 2026.

• Cacciatore S, Abbatecola G, Calvani R, Veronese N. Effectiveness and Safety of Ozone Therapy in Humans: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews with Meta-Analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials. Medical Sciences 2026;14(2):289. mdpi.com/2076-3271/14/2/289
• Lietz-Kijak D, Skibicka K, Skomro P, et al. Medical ozone: mechanisms, biological effects and clinical evidence: a narrative review. Frontiers in Medicine 2026;13:1859221. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13253314
• Arias-Vázquez PI, Castillo-Avila RG, Hernández-Gil K, Guzzardo MN, Guzzardo DR. Ozone vs. corticosteroid intra-articular injections for knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Medical Gas Research 2026;16(3):286–292. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12935131
• Lino VTS, Marinho DS, Rodrigues NCP, Andrade CAF. Efficacy and safety of ozone therapy for knee osteoarthritis: an umbrella review of systematic reviews. Frontiers in Physiology 2024;15:1348028. frontiersin.org
• Liu J, Zhang P, Tian J, et al. Ozone therapy for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015;(10):CD008474. cochrane.org