Minor ozone therapy is the form of ozone therapy that uses only a small amount of blood. Its medical name is minor autohemotherapy. About 5 ml of your own blood is drawn and briefly mixed with the same volume of an oxygen-ozone mixture, and this is then injected into a muscle in the buttock or arm. It is described as a method aimed at stimulating the immune system, although scientific evidence on its effects is limited.

Ozone is a gas of three oxygen atoms. Medical ozone is produced from pure medical oxygen by an ozone device, and the doctor adjusts its concentration to the application and the person.

Because no blood is returned through a vein, the procedure is quick. At our clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, it may be preferred for people whose dose has already been set, or at times when longer sessions are difficult to fit in. For the application in which a larger volume of blood is returned through a vein, see major ozone therapy.

In Türkiye, ozone therapy is regulated under traditional and complementary medicine, and it may only be performed by certified, authorized physicians.

In local ozone therapy, the oxygen-ozone mixture is not mixed with blood; it is applied directly to the area of concern. The site and method depend on your complaint:

• Joints: An ozone injection may be given into or around joints such as the knee, hip and shoulder. For lower back and neck pain, it may be applied around the small joints of the spine.
• Skin: In some skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and alopecia areata, and for the look of cellulite, it may be applied to the area with fine needles.
• Gynecological use: For some recurring vaginal complaints, it may be considered as support after a gynecological assessment.

Local ozone does not replace the treatment of these conditions; it complements care from the relevant specialty. The cause of joint pain should be investigated, with imaging if needed, before any injection. Response varies from person to person.

The choice depends on where the complaint is, how long it has lasted and your general health; in some cases, local ozone may be planned together with major or minor ozone therapy.

Both applications are planned after an examination. Your health history, medicines and blood tests are reviewed; G6PD enzyme level and blood clotting are especially important.

Minor ozone therapy follows these steps:

1. A small amount of blood is drawn from an arm vein.
2. The blood is mixed with the oxygen-ozone mixture in a syringe for about one minute.
3. The mixture is injected into a muscle in the buttock or arm.

For a local application, the mixture prepared in the ozone device is given directly into the target area with a fine needle, after the skin is cleaned with antiseptic. Minor ozone therapy usually takes a few minutes; the length of a local session depends on the area and the number of injection points. All materials are sterile and single-use, and you can return to your day.

Avoid heavy exercise that strains the joint the day after a joint injection. After skin applications, brief redness and small bumps may appear and usually settle on their own.

Minor and local ozone therapy is usually planned as a course rather than a single session. The number and interval of sessions vary with the area, the complaint and your response. The ozone dose usually starts low and is adjusted gradually.

At each session, changes in your complaints are reviewed and the dose or interval may be adjusted. Maintenance sessions may follow if needed; if no clear change is felt, the plan is reviewed with your doctor.

Following exercise and physical therapy advice for joints, or your dermatological care plan for skin, remains important. Ozone therapy should be seen as part of a holistic plan that includes proper nutrition and regular movement.

Side effects of minor and local ozone therapy are usually mild and temporary:

• Injection site: Bruising, redness, swelling or tenderness.
• Pain: A feeling of fullness or pain for a few days after a joint injection.
• Muscle injection: Mild aching in the injected muscle for a day or two.
• Tiredness: Brief fatigue in some people.

As with any injection, infection or an allergic reaction may rarely occur, so sterile conditions and a doctor are essential. Ozone is harmful to the lungs and is never inhaled; the mixture is prepared in a closed system.

If pain, warmth or redness at the injection site keeps increasing, or you develop a fever, contact your doctor promptly.