History of Ozone therapy in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 1, 2025

Ozone therapy is an alternative medical practice involving the introduction of ozone or ozonides into the body. The FDA has explicitly prohibited its medical use, citing a lack of proven safety and effectiveness. They emphasize that ozone is a toxic gas, harmful to humans and animals at germicidal concentrations, rendering it unsuitable for medical applications. This stance underscores the FDA's position against ozone therapy due to safety concerns and the absence of scientific evidence supporting its benefits.

1975: Research in Germany reveals deaths and disturbances following Ozone Therapy

From 1975 in Germany, research revealed six deaths, four cases of visual disturbance, three cases of paraplegias, four gas embolisms in the pulmonary circuit, two myocardial infarction, four pulmonary embolisms, two cases of apoplexy paralysis, and two cases of cardiac arrhythmia following ozone therapy.

1976: FDA Statement on Ozone

In 1976, the United States Food and Drug Administration stated that when inhaled, ozone is a toxic gas with no demonstrated safe medical application.

1983: Research in Germany reveals deaths and disturbances following Ozone Therapy

Until 1983 in Germany, research revealed six deaths, four cases of visual disturbance, three cases of paraplegias, four gas embolisms in the pulmonary circuit, two myocardial infarction, four pulmonary embolisms, two cases of apoplexy paralysis, and two cases of cardiac arrhythmia following ozone therapy.

1991: FDA Prosecutes Sellers of Ozone Therapy

Beginning in 1991, the FDA has prosecuted and sent to jail several people presenting themselves as medical doctors and selling ozone therapy products as a medical cure or operating medical clinics using ozone therapy for healing human illness.

2006: FDA Reiteration on Ozone Toxicity

In 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration reiterated its position that ozone is a toxic gas with no demonstrated safe medical application when inhaled.

2009: Ozone Therapy Recommended as Health Scam

In 2009, a panel of experts consulted by Forbes recommended that ozone therapy be included on a "list of the most egregious, dangerous, aggressively marketed health scams."

2010: American Cancer Society Warns Against Ozone Therapy

In 2010, the American Cancer Society warned that evidence for the efficacy of ozone therapy against cancer is inconclusive, and the therapy may be dangerous.

2012: Deaths Reported Due to Ozone Therapy

As of 2012, at least five deaths had been reported due to the use of ozone therapy on people with cancer.

2017: Ozone Therapy Banned in Malaysia

In 2017, Ozone therapy was banned in Malaysia due to concerns of harm and no scientific support.

August 2023: Brazil Legalizes Ozone Therapy

On 7 August 2023, the Brazilian government legalized ozone therapy as a complementary therapy, ignoring requests for a veto due to lack of scientific evidence.