Vitality Unleashed: The Functional Medicine Podcast

Winter-Proof Your Immune System

• Dr. Kumar from LifeWellMD.com • Season 1 • Episode 204

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Holiday lights are going up, and so are the odds of catching something nasty. We take a clear, science‑first look at medical ozone therapy as a proactive tool for winter wellness, translating complex biochemistry into practical insight you can use. Rather than pitching magic cures, we focus on how controlled, low‑dose ozone triggers a hormetic response that helps your own systems do the heavy lifting.

You’ll hear what ozone is—and isn’t—why the gas itself disappears in milliseconds, and how its reaction products (LOPs) become the real messengers. We break down three core benefits with plain language: better oxygen delivery to sluggish tissues, calmer systemic inflammation, and a smarter, more coordinated immune response. Then we connect molecular dots to the NRF2 pathway, the body’s master switch for antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, and explain how that same switch reins in runaway inflammation linked to severe viral illness.

Curious about outcomes, not just mechanisms? We review a recent meta‑analysis of ozone as an add‑on therapy for COVID‑19, highlighting signals like lower mortality, markedly higher rates of negative PCR tests, and reduced LDH levels that point to less tissue damage. Delivery methods get equal attention: major autohemotherapy versus rectal insufflation, why clinicians choose one over the other, and what proper dosing, ozone‑resistant materials, and aseptic technique look like in real clinics.

Safety is the throughline. We address the FDA’s stance head‑on, clarify where risks truly lie, and show how rigorous protocols, practitioner training, and even PFO screening mitigate complications like air embolism. The result is a grounded picture of ozone as a non‑pharmaceutical bioregulator that can complement good sleep, nutrition, and movement to build resilience ahead of viral season. If this thoughtful, evidence‑aware approach resonates, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review to tell us what you want us to dig into next.  Follow us through any social media channels of your choice. Link is here and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.

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If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. For more insights and updates, visit our website at Lifewellmd.com.

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, let's unpack this. We are officially entering that season. You know the one. The joy of the holidays is kind of overshadowed by that inevitable worry about viral infections, the flu, the common cold, all of it.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, yeah. It's the annual panic. Right. To find something, anything proactive. And that search for true vitality, especially as we age, it often leads us into some really advanced therapies.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell, which is what we're doing today. We're going deep into a treatment that's it's rapidly gaining ground in the wellness and longevity world.

SPEAKER_01:

Ozone therapy. It has this incredible potential to fundamentally reboot your immune function.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly. And for this deep dive, we've pulled a stack of sources that give us that, you know, necessary intellectual friction.

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell We get some very detailed clinical and scientific reviews, including a really recent meta-analysis on its efficacy during viral infections.

SPEAKER_02:

And we're balancing that with a critical analysis, one that looks at adverse effects and the stringent medical guidelines that are needed.

SPEAKER_01:

Our mission here is to really extract the facts, to understand the subtle molecular language this therapy uses, analyze the clinical results impartially.

SPEAKER_02:

And maybe most critically to clearly define the safety parameters.

SPEAKER_01:

Right. We want to help you cut through all the noise and determine if this advanced approach is a path to consider for a healthier winter and, you know, sustained vitality.

SPEAKER_02:

Because knowledge is power. Knowing your options is the first step toward proactive health. This deep dive is brought to you today by the wellness and longevity specialists at lifewellmd.com. They specialize in these kinds of innovative treatments, all designed to help you optimize your health and enjoy long-term vitality. Okay, let's start with the basics. Because for a lot of people, ozone is either, you know, the layer in the atmosphere or smog. Or smog, right. But medical ozone is very different. It's highly controlled and highly specific.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. Ozone or O3 is just a triatomic molecule. It's three oxygen atoms bonded together, which makes it highly reactive, is created by exposing pure oxygen molecules to a powerful electrical discharge.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell But the key distinction here is that medical ozone is never like a hundred percent ozone gas.

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell Never. It's always a very tightly controlled mixture. Typically, you're looking at a minimum of 95% pure oxygen, and then just a tiny fraction, maybe up to 5%, of ozone.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell Okay, so before we get into all the good stuff, we have to address the elephant in the room. I mean, it's what often makes this therapy so controversial. The FDA has a very critical stance. They've stated ozone is a and a quote toxic gas with no known useful medical application. Right. For our audience, who are always super critical, how do we immediately square that toxic label with all the therapeutic claims?

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell That is the perfect place to start because the contradiction, it's resolved at the molecular level. It's all about a principle called hormesis.

SPEAKER_02:

Hormesis. I've heard this described as the Goldilocks effect in biology. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01:

That's a perfect way to put it. It's this nonlinear dose response.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Not too much, not too little. Precisely. You see, low concentrations or low doses shows surprisingly high efficacy. But if you increase that concentration, the efficacy actually decreases. And if you go way too high, it reverses into a toxic damaging effect. So the entire therapeutic application relies on staying within that safe, low-dose hormetic zone.

SPEAKER_02:

So what we're doing is we're intentionally inducing a mild cellular stress. It's like a tiny workout for the cells to provoke this massive protective response.

SPEAKER_01:

That's the key. It doesn't harm the cell. Instead, it acts as a signal.

SPEAKER_02:

A call to action.

SPEAKER_01:

A call to action, exactly. It stimulates the protective, anti-aging, and self-repair mechanisms of your cells and organs. Biologists call this mitohermesis.

SPEAKER_02:

Now, this is where it gets really interesting for me, and I think for our listener, because the ozone gas itself, it's so reactive, it's basically gone in milliseconds once it hits the bloodstream.

SPEAKER_01:

Instantly, it's not the gas that's doing the long-term work. So what is the ozone reacts immediately with biological fluids, mostly the fatty acids in your plasma. Yeah. And this reaction creates a whole new class of molecules. They're called short-chain hydroperoxides, but we could just call them ozone peroxides, or more formally, lipidozanization products, LOPs.

SPEAKER_02:

LOPs. Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

These LOPs, they are the true pharmacological agents. They're the messengers that travel through the body and deliver the therapeutic effect.

SPEAKER_02:

So if I missed that, the thing to remember is LOPs, they're the active ingredient. What are the big physiological messages that these LOPs deliver?

SPEAKER_01:

We can break it down into, let's say, the big three. First is improved circulation and oxygenation. Ozone helps shift the hemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve to the right. It's technical, but the takeaway is profound. It makes your red blood cells release oxygen more easily to your tissues.

SPEAKER_02:

Especially tissues that are low in oxygen.

SPEAKER_01:

Especially those. So that sounds like a fundamental boost to energy, right? To overall cellular health. It's very relevant for anyone feeling sluggish or who maybe has poor metabolic function.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. When cells get more oxygen, their engine just runs cleaner. What's number two?

SPEAKER_01:

Number two is a dramatic reduction in inflammation. The LOPs prompt the body to increase production of anti-inflammatory signals while turning down the pro-inflammatory ones. This helps mitigate that chronic systemic inflammation that's linked to almost every major disease. Arthritis, heart disease, you name it.

SPEAKER_02:

And the third one, this leads us right into our topic of winter wellness. It's a boost to immunity.

SPEAKER_01:

A targeted boost, yes. Ozone helps increase the production and coordination of your white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting off infections. It essentially fine-tunes the entire immune system, preparing it for battle.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell So let's pivot to that, that proactive wellness goal. Getting ahead of seasonal stuff like the flu and the cold. The thinking behind using advanced treatments like ozone before winter really centers on preparing the body for that, that viral onslaught.

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell It's a true dual-action defense system. First action is direct. I mean, ozone is an excellent biocidal agent.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell Meaning it just kills things?

SPEAKER_01:

It kills things. Its strong oxidizing properties mean it's effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell And how does it do that to a virus directly?

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell The LOPs, those messengers, they induce what's called peroxidation of the virus's glycoproteins and lipids. So think of a virus with a fatty envelope around it like SARS-CoV-2 or HIV. The LOPs basically attack and weaken that protective coat.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell Making it harder for the virus to infect cells or replicate.

SPEAKER_01:

Drastically reducing its ability to do so, yes. But the real power, as you said earlier, it seemed to be in the indirect effect, the mobilization of our own internal defense mechanisms.

SPEAKER_02:

Making us more resistant in the first place.

SPEAKER_01:

That's the core of the immune modulatory effect. The LOPs act as signals that activate something called the NRF-2 keep one ARE system. Now that's a mouthful. But if you want an easy way to remember it, just think of NRF-2 as the body's master switch for cellular self-defense.

SPEAKER_02:

A master switch for defense. Okay, let's expand on that. What does flipping that switch actually mean for our long-term defense strategy, especially for seasonal viruses? Is it like preloading the artillery before the infection arrives?

SPEAKER_01:

That's a perfect analogy. When the LLPs flip that NRF-2 switch, it kicks off the synthesis of over 200 different antioxidant genes. These are your body's own defense tools, things like SOD, catalase, HO1. It's all about restoring balance, or what we call redox homeostasis. The cell becomes protected and resilient.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell And this is where that anti-inflammatory benefit crosses over, tying it all together.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly. NRF2 activation doesn't just build defenses, it also actively suppresses the hyperinflammatory pathways, like NFKB and the NLRP inflammism.

SPEAKER_02:

So it prevents the overreaction.

SPEAKER_01:

It prevents the overreaction. It dampens that dangerous inflammatory response, the classic cytokine storm that can make severe viral infections so deadly.

SPEAKER_02:

A beautifully choreographed immune response. Okay, so if someone is considering this path, how is it actually delivered?

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Ross Powell The two most popular systemic methods are major autohemotherapy, or MAH, and rectal insuflation, R.I.

SPEAKER_02:

Let's start with MAH.

SPEAKER_01:

MAH is where a specific amount of your blood is withdrawn. It's mixed with the precise O3O2 gas mixture outside the body, and then it's reintroduced intravenously.

SPEAKER_02:

And rectal insufflation. That sounds a little different.

SPEAKER_01:

It is, but it's increasingly seen as a really viable systemic alternative to MAH. The gas is just introduced into the rectal cavity and it's rapidly absorbed through the richly vascularized tissue of the colon. It's often preferred in certain settings, like pediatrics, and it uses lower concentrations.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, let's get to the evidence. Does this intricate molecular balancing act translate into actual measurable results when the body is under severe stress? We have data from a meta-analysis on ozone used as an adjuvant therapy in COVID-19 patients. It pooled results from eight studies, 371 patients in total.

SPEAKER_01:

And the data provides some really compelling clinical signals. Now, some findings were statistically insignificant across the board, but the effects were often considered clinically notable.

SPEAKER_02:

Right, but some were highly significant. And the first one relates to the outcome that matters most: mortality.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. Patients who received ozone therapy plus standard treatment, the OZ group, they showed consistently lower mortality rates compared to the standard treatment group alone. And that's not a subtle effect. It suggests that ozone is actively aiding survival during severe systemic viral stress.

SPEAKER_02:

And that mechanism we talked about, the LOPs and NRF2, that seems to be confirmed by the viral clearance results.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely robust. The OZ group showed a significantly higher number of negative RT PCR tests after treatment. We're talking 41% more patients had negative PCR tests.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow.

SPEAKER_01:

Which strongly validates ozone's potential to not just mitigate inflammation, but to actively help clear the viral load.

SPEAKER_02:

We also saw changes in inflammatory markers, specifically LDH. For a listener who isn't tracking every lab marker, what does a reduced LDH level clinically mean? Is it just a good number on a spreadsheet?

SPEAKER_01:

That's a great question. LDH, lactate dehydrogenase, is a common marker for cellular and tissue damage. So if you see a significant reduction in LDH serum levels, like we did in the OZ group, you are seeing a tangible sign that the therapy is reducing the level of tissue destruction caused by the infection and the inflammation.

SPEAKER_02:

It's evidence of actual cellular protection.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

The meta-analysis also touched on things like hospital stay length. And while it didn't reach statistical significance, there were some promising trends.

SPEAKER_01:

Correct. The OZ group showed a shorter average length of hospital stay. It was about one day less, which was insignificant in the pool data. But it reinforces the idea that the systemic regulation ozone provides is creating a clear clinical benefit, accelerating recovery.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell And what about the safety profile in these clinical trials?

SPEAKER_01:

It's extremely reassuring. In all of the reviewed studies, there were no negative side effects or safety issues demonstrated in the ozone treatment groups. Other research reinforces this, citing only about 0.7 adverse reactions per 100,000 treatments. But, and this is a huge but, this is always contingent on one major factor.

SPEAKER_02:

Proper medical supervision.

SPEAKER_01:

Safety under proper medical supervision.

SPEAKER_02:

And that factor is everything, isn't it? Especially when we're talking about a therapy, the FDA still labels a toxic gas. So if the therapy is inherently safe when done correctly, the safety conversation really has to focus on professional execution and risk mitigation.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly. As we discussed, ozone is a powerful oxidant. It is toxic if inhaled. It causes respiratory and lung damage. That is why the airways are strictly a taboo in therapeutic ozone application. If a complication occurs, it is almost never due to the ozone itself.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell So when we look at complications reported in older literature, you know, the severe neurological events, infections, stroke-like symptoms, what's the common denominator there?

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Ross Powell The vast majority of those complications are unequivocally attributed to misuse, technical errors, incorrect dose prescription, not the agent itself when it's used in that hormetic zone. The literature points to poor execution, often by untrained practitioners, not a fundamental flaw in the therapy.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell Can you give us an example? Let's talk about the most dangerous risk, air embolism, which can lead to stroke-like symptoms.

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell Right. The risk of air embolism is highly linked to the accidental injection of the gas mixture directly into a vein, especially during, say, a major autohemotherapy procedure. And that risk increases dramatically if the patient has an undiagnosed patent for minoval or PFO.

SPEAKER_02:

A small hole in the heart.

SPEAKER_01:

A small hole in the heart, yes. It allows that gas bubble to shunt from the venous side directly to the arterial side, where it can go straight to the brain.

SPEAKER_02:

So this isn't just about sticking a needle in the right place, it's about comprehensive patient screening and a really careful specialized technique.

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron Powell Precisely. Medical societies guide practitioners to mitigate this through rigorous technique and often requiring a proper cardiac screening to rule out a PFO before certain procedures are ever performed. It eliminates a critical technical vulnerability.

SPEAKER_02:

And what about other risks like the infections you sometimes hear about?

SPEAKER_01:

Infections like septic arthritis or septicemia, in the reporting cases, they occurred solely due to a clear lack of sterility during the procedure or an accidental puncture of an adjacent structure.

SPEAKER_02:

So a failure of procedure.

SPEAKER_01:

A failure of procedure and sterile environment, not the ozone agent.

SPEAKER_02:

Aaron Powell This all just boils down to the necessity for specialized, high-level medical oversight and training, which is exactly why clinics that specialize in longevity and wellness, like LifeWellMD.com, emphasize procedure precision so much.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. Medical ozone must be administered using the correct dose for the specific indication, and only under the supervision of qualified, trained doctors who adhere to international guidelines, using the proper concentration, the precise dosage, the correct frequency, and appropriate ozone-resistant materials. These are all essential non-negotiable guidelines. They ensure both safety and efficacy.

SPEAKER_02:

So, what does this all mean for you, the listener, as you're navigating this approaching viral season?

SPEAKER_01:

It means that ozone therapy functions as a powerful non-pharmaceutical bioregulator and immune support tool. It leverages that principle of formesis to mobilize your own internal defenses. The clinical data, especially under the high stress of a severe viral infection, shows really promising results in reducing viral burdens and dampening excessive inflammation.

SPEAKER_02:

Provided, and this is the key, the treatment is administered under strict professional protocols. The key to using this therapy safely is eliminating that high risk of technical error by making sure it's executed precisely by experienced medical professionals.

SPEAKER_01:

And when you consider its ability to stimulate that master switch, NRF2, and regulate damaging inflammatory markers like LDH, it's clear it really moves the needle on fundamental cellular health and resilience.

SPEAKER_02:

So here's a final thought. Considering its deep confirmed effects on regulating cellular defense pathways and inflammation, how might proactively managing your cellular defenses with innovative medical-grade treatments like ozone reshape your entire approach to seasonal wellness and long-term vitality, moving you away from just reacting to illness when it strikes?

SPEAKER_00:

If you are looking for innovative and medically guided approaches to health, wellness, and longevity, we really encourage you to start your wellness journey today. Dr. Kumar and the team at LifeWellMD.com, an innovative Florida Clinic specializing in these advanced wellness treatments, are ready to guide you. Call 561-210-9999 to learn more. That number again is 561-210-9999 or visit LifeWellMD.com.