For decades the story behind ozonated oil has been oversimplified: it works by delivering oxygen to damaged tissues. This is an easy idea to understand however it is scientifically incorrect and misses how ozonated oil actually heals.
The therapeutic action of ozonated oil is not about simple oxygenation. It is biological process called hormesis, where the oil acts as a master signal telling the body’s own cells to repair and regenerate. It doesn’t just treat the wound; it signals the internal healing process.
How It Works: From Oxygen to LOPs
The ozonation process does not trap oxygen bubbles in the oil, as is often believed. Instead, ozone generates a chemical reaction called ozonolysis with the base oil’s fatty acids creating a brand new, therapeutically bioactive combination of molecules called Lipid Ozonization Products (LOPs).
These LOPs—ozonides, peroxides, and aldehydes—are the true source of the healing. They are stable, bioactive compounds that act as powerful messengers once they contact theskin.
The Power of “Good Stress”: An Introduction to Hormesis
So. how do these LOPs work? They operate on a principle called hormesis.
Think about exercise or a vaccine. A small, controlled dose of stress makes the entire system stronger and more resilient. That’s hormesis.
The LOPs in ozonated oil deliver a mild, controlled burst of oxidative stress to the wuond environment. This positive stress or eustress is just enough to signal the cells indicating it is time to defend and repair. This single signal triggers a strong, coordinated healing process in the cells.
The Healing: A Three-Step Regeneration Process
The hormetic signal from the LOPs doesn’t just trigger one action: it directs a multi-step process that actively drives the wound from stalled, inflammatory state toward recovery.
Step 1. The Proliferative Signal
The LOPs initial signal causes cells to release many endogenous growth factors like PDGF, VEGF, and TGF-β. This powerful combination, in turn, activates the key players in human tisue repair—fibroblasts and keratinocytes—telling them to build up, move into the wound and start regenerating. Specific pro-regenerative pathways like PI3K/Akt/mTOR are switched on accelerating the entire healing process.
Step 2. The Inflammatory Resolution
This is where the true power of the mechanism of ozonated oil can be seen. Chronic wounds are stuck in a state of endless inflammation. Ozonated oil doesn’t just suppress this state. It actively manages the inflamation through a superb, time-dependent double action:
- 1. A rapid, transient activation of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway is caused by the LOPs. This cleans out the wound, removing unwanted tissue and is like a controlled burn, clearing out debris and boosting the whole stalled healing process.
- 2. A delayed but powerful activation of the master antioxidant Nrf2 pathway is next. This strong response not only elininates the initial inflammation but also fills the cells with protective antioxidants, creating the perfect conditions for regeneration.
Step 3. Restoring the Balance
Once chronic inflammation is eliminated, the destructive overproduction of matrix-degrading enzymes (MMPs) stops. The natural MMP/TIMP balance is restored, halting the breakdown of new tissue and allowing for constructive, organized remodeling and wound closure.
Beyond Oxygenation: A New Paradigm
The evidence is overwhelming. Ozonated oil is not a simple oxygen donor. It a sophisticated bioregulation agent that works by sending precise signals to cells. It uses the body’s own powerful defense and repair processes to initiate a healing response that is far more intelligent and effective than any simple antiseptic could ever be.