Ozone is known as a fantastic disinfectant but has seen controversy in the past because of its high reactivity. We’ve overcome these issues with precise concentrations and incorporating the ozone gas into fats (triglycerides), where the ozone reacts with unsaturated fats, turning them into therapeutic ozone derivatives: ozonated oil.
We won’t go into the benefits for skin infections here, because we’re all about the vagina and vulva, but all the same benefits apply when using ozonated oils anywhere on the body.
How does ozone help the vagina?
Considered use of ozone (O3) eliminated pathogens and then releases oxygen (O2). This oxygen then activates fibroblasts – our skin cells – to help build intracellular matrix, the proliferation of keratinoblasts, and subsequent healing of tissue.
Safety of ozonated oils
Skin and mucosa, such as in the vagina, are sensitive to excessive amounts of gaseous ozone, which is described as a treatment option in vaginal insufflation with ozone gas (not ozonated oils).
The oils do not pose an irritation risk to skin (unless in the case of an allergy to the oil itself), meaning the oxygen can be delivered into tissue without skin or mucosal irritation.
The dose of peroxides in the oil makes a difference, with low doses (<1000) and high doses (>3000) delaying healing. The middle ground of about 1500 seems to offer the most benefit in healing.
Ensuring the use of medical grade ozone and oxygen in production is important to avoid toxins being produced.
Understanding how your ozonated oils look
The thicker the oil (more viscous), the greater the ozonation. As the ozone gas is bubbled through the oil, it dissolves double bonds and creates thicker oil. The colour of the oil will change, as does the odour.
Ozonated oils and the vagina
Ozone therapy is not profitable, thus research into its use is sadly limited. Vaginal irrigation (douching) of freshly ozonated water and vaginal ozonated oil pessaries (suppositories) can, with prolonged treatment, eliminate pathogens.
No microbial resistance to ozone has been demonstrated.
References
Travagli et al. Ozo Travagli V, Zanardi I, Valacchi G, Bocci V. Ozone and ozonated oils in skin diseases: a review. Mediators Inflamm. 2010;2010:610418. doi:10.1155/2010/610418
Tara F, Zand-Kargar Z, Rajabi O, Berenji F, Akhlaghi F, Shakeri MT, Azizi H. The Effects of Ozonated Olive Oil and Clotrimazole Cream for Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2016 Jul;22(4):44-9.