(NaturalHealth365) Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas, and while the oxygen we breathe has two atoms (02), ozone actually has three oxygen atoms (O3). Today, we’ll focus on the value of topical ozone – as a promising therapy for MRSA, a bacterium that causes infections in many areas of the body.

Generally speaking, ozone is used to help improve the body’s ability to intake and use oxygen, as well as to help activate the immune response. It’s being used in medicine to help treat diseases by limiting the effects of protozoa, viruses, yeast, and bacteria.

Ozone therapy is being used to treat a variety of different conditions, such as viral diseases, SARS, rheumatism, infected wounds, geriatric disorders, macular degeneration, and more. However, a recent study reveals that topical ozone therapy has the ability to help heal MRSA skin infections.

As you may know, bacterial skin infections have become tougher to treat due to the development of organisms that are antibiotic-resistant, such as vancomycin- and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).  Since it’s resistant to antibiotics, treating MRSA has become a global challenge, but that’s where ozone therapy comes into the picture.

Previous studies on ozone therapy showed positive results for MRSA

Previous studies have been one on ozone therapy and MRSA. In vitro, ozone therapy was found to be effective against MRSA and S. aureus strains. Other studies have found that it has antibacterial effects and was useful for treating peritonitis in vivo.

When ozone therapy has been used along with other drugs, research shows it’s effective at treating MRSA skin infections, as well. However, in the past, it had not been studied as a stand alone treatment.

A new study finds topical ozone effective as a stand alone treatment for MRSA

While previous research looked promising, it wasn’t until recently that researchers finally investigated the use of topical ozone as a standalone treatment for MRSA skin infections. Published in Molecular Medicine Reports, the study aimed to evaluate ozone therapy’s effects on both MRSA and S. aureus in vitro to figure out if it was clinically efficient as a topical therapy for patients who have MRSA skin infections.

After investigating in vitro, patients with confirmed MRSA skin infections were studied as well, including a 21-year-old with an abscessed left calf muscle and an eight-year-old with an ulcerated hand lesion.

The two were treated with a combination of ozonated oil and ozonated water. When ozone therapy was used, no other types of drugs were administered.  The MRSA skin infections were completely healed using ozone therapy without the use of any antibiotics or other medicines.

Ozone works so well because it’s an unstable molecule and it quickly turns into O2, releasing an oxygen atom that goes on to react with bacterial cell membranes, disrupting cell activity and destroying bacteria.

Beyond now being proven as a viable treatment for MRSA, ozone shows promise for other treatments as well.  It’s being used to treat surgical sepsis, keratitis, conjunctivitis, and is even useful in wound healing by reducing swelling, pain, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
NaturalHealthResearch.org
NaturalHealthResearch.org
MedicalNewsToday.com
CDC.gov