Ozonated Olive Oil

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Overview

I hate marketing because it often obscures the truth. And there's lots of marketing involved when it comes to choosing an ozonated oil. In this article, I'll do my best to inform you with real, science-driven data that will help you cut through all the jargon to understand the key differences between ozonated olive oil and other oils and how to choose the right one.

Don't go read a blog to figure this out. I know, I'm cutting off my own legs with this answer, but here's what I mean by that. Most bloggers go find the low hanging fruit. They don't dig down to find the source information in studies and articles but simply regurgitate what another blogger said over on XYZ blog. I won't do that to you. In fact, although I already have a lof ot knowledge about ozone oils, this blog took me three days to write because of all the research I did.

Here's what we'll cover:

• Choosing the right olive oil to ozonate
• How ozone changes the olive oil
• The effects of ozonated olive oil
• Who can use ozonated olive oil?
• How to use ozonated olive oil
• The bad side of ozonated oils
• How we fixed ozonated oils
• Ozonated oils for pets

Choosing the right olive oil

There are over 1,000 unique varieties of olives in our world with countries like Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey leading the way in production.

Olive harvesting and processing has been honed through years of experience and scientific studies that have helped to develop these techniques. We've moved from stone mills to hammermills which grind the olives before they're pressed, and then either decantered or centrifuged before storage.

Extra-virgin olive oil is the highest grade of olive oil followed by virgin olive oil and then classic olive oil which is a blend of refined and virgin oils.

Extra-virgin olive oil is an excellent choice for cooking because it is filled with stable monounsaturated fatty acids and it has higher levels of antioxidants. This prevents the oil from oxidizing quickly, but choosing the right oil for ozonation purposes, isn't the same as choosing the right oil for cooking purposes.

In fact, the #1 concern of those using olive oil as an ingredient and cooking oil is that it remain virtually free of oxidative products to maintain it's delicious taste and smell. But for an ozonated oil, we're filling it with oxidative products including ozonides, peroxides and aldehydes which is exactly opposite of what you want for cooking.

OLIVE OIL AND OZONE

When it comes to creating an ozone oil, olive oil is a good choice. A lot of the scientific studies have been accomplished using ozonated olive oil, but that doesn't mean that ozonated olive oil is the highest strength.

Allow me to deal with this myth right now.

MYTH: The higher the strength, the better the effect will be.

FACT: Similar to many preparations or medications that we use, high strength formulas can actually end up being harmful. That's why we see that most products are made up of >95% other ingredients and only a few percent of the active ingredient. As ozonated oils go, olive oil is in the middle in terms of its peroxide capacity.

So while we may be able to take an educated guess at the safety and efficacy of other oils, there's no doubt that ozonated olive oil has indisputable data that can back up the claims made.

If you take a look at the following chart, you'll notice that the percent of polyunsaturated fatty acids in olive oil is 11.2% and in sunflower seed oil, it's 63%. This is significant because the more POLYunsaturated fatty acids, the more ozone it can absorb. You would think that sunflower seed oil would run away in a landslide victory as far better in its antimicrobial capacity but it doesn't.

The studies indicate that they are similar in this capacity while giving a slight edge to sunflower seed oil.

But this doesn't mean that sunflower seed oil is better for your application. It may not be. In fact, study after study have statements in the conclusion similar to the one mentioned above which says, "These results make the two oils studied promising for a wide range of applications in medicine and healthcare such as treatment of common infections, likely overcoming drug resistance issues."

THE TYPE OF OLIVE OIL

The question should be asked, "Of all the various types of olives and varieties of olive oils, what type should be selected to create the best ozonated oil?"

I don't think anyone can answer this question comprehensively, but there are a few basic criteria that should guide the formulator.

First, we want purity. We want to avoid toxic byproducts in the oil so that we can apply a product with pure, incredibly beneficial properties to our skin, hair and teeth. This means that we start with the purest form of olive oil.

Next, we want an oil that has been grown organically. This goes hand-in-hand with ensuring that the oil we are ozonating is totally clean and free of toxins.

While theoretically any of the oils that have been grown organically could work, I would have to recommend a certified organic extra-virgin olive oil.

How ozone changes the oil

You will hear the phrase "fully ozonated" when you look for ozonated oils. Most companies (which are typically just a guy or girl with an ozone generator) will bubble ozone through the oil until it becomes a thick paste.

Let me deal with another myth right now.

MYTH: To get the most benefit from an ozonated oil, it's got to be ozonated until it turns into a thick paste.

FACT: Most of the studies that are available on PubMed use an ozonated sunflower seed oil or olive oil that have been ozonated for less than 12 hours and are still quite fluid. The truth is that ozonating an oil too long can actually cause it to be less stable and break down much more quickly.

Here's an excerpt from a study on ozonated olive oil and ozonated sunflower seed oil:

"During the ozonation process of the refined oils, the reaction of ozone with the carbon–carbon double bonds of the unsaturated fatty acids occurs, giving rise to the formation of ozonides, different types of peroxide species, and aldehydes, responsible for the wide antimicrobial activity of the ozonated oils. We selected commercially refined sunflower seed (SO) and olive (OO) oils to study their antimicrobial activity after ozonation. This process yields two products, namely, OSO and OOO, both showing a change in color as well as an increased viscosity of 180 and 86 mPa·s, respectively".

Interpretation? The ozonation process created oxidative products in the oil that made it slightly thicker and of a more transparent color.

Below is a chart that shows the range of viscosities of various liquids. Notice that the difference between shortening and salad oil (vegetable oil) is approximately 999,000 mPa's. To put this in comparison, the ozonated oil used in the above study went from 80 mpa's to 180 mpa's which is barely noticeable. This means that if you ozonate an oil properly, it won't solidify but will remain fluid.

Earlier this year, I held an online summit with lectures on the use of ozone. A well-known pharmacologist, Dr. Gregorio Martinez, who has contributed greatly to the advancement in our understanding of ozone oils gave one of the lectures. During that lecture, he shared information regarding the stability of the ozonated oils. He made two points that stuck out to me as significant.

1. He said that at the right time in the ozonation process an emulsive ingredient needs to be added to block future reactions that will lead to the breakdown of the ozonides in the oil.
2. Secondly, he stated that ozonating the oil for too long has a destabilizing effect leading to shorter shelf-life.

So don't listen to the blogs, instagram posts and friends who tell you that your ozone oils must be a paste. They are wrong.

The effects of ozonated olive oil

"It keeps my skin supple and it's completely anti-wrinkle."

That's the unprompted testimony of Dawn Stringini who is a licensed master aesthetic specialist and mixes our ozonated olive oil with DMSO. In a conversation with her a few days ago regarding how to use ozone for her dog, we somehow got on the topic of how she uses it for cosmetic purposes.

Unfortunately I am not at liberty to discuss the primary effects of ozonated olive oil since it would place it squarely in the realm of a medicinal product which falls under the juristiction of the FDA. So I'll do my best to speak to this area without overstepping.

At Ozone Apothecary, we highlight the cosmetic benefits of ozonated oils and steer clear of medical claims on purpose.

The effects really depend mostly upon the application. It is generally applied topically, but there are other products that are for internal use as well.

CLEANSING

Everyone knows that ozonated oils have the ability to clean primarily due to the fact that they have lots of oxidative power. I like the idea of oxygen being a natural cleanser and products like OxiClean have capitalized on this idea using hydrogen peroxide as the primary active ingredient.

Did you know that ozone has even more oxidizing potential than hydrogen peroxide? But unlike hydrogen peroxide, ozonated olive oil is not cytotoxic. That means that it doesn't kill our cells. This is a much bigger deal than most people make it out to be, because it gives us a naturally cleansing product that actually helps to regenerate cells instead of destroying them.

SOOTHING

What's the opposite of soothing? Think of red, itchy, irritated skin that's driving you absolutely crazy. That's the opposite. Ozonated olive oil has the ability to not only cleanse, but to sooth as well. Irritation is typically caused by your body's immune system responding to something it doesn't like. We call this inflammation and it is the root cause of a host of problems. Interestingly, a "fully ozonated" ozone oil is more likely to cause you irritation because it is too potent for your skin or because it contains hazardous byproducts like formaldehyde.

Make sure to use high quality, third-party-tested products that have been produced to the highest standards or else you run the risk of exposing your body to these byproducts.

OXYGENATING

It's not simply the release of oxygen into the skin that leads to oxygenation, but the resulting increase in oxygen metabolism. This means that ozone oils go beyond just the skin-deep effects and actually awaken cellular activity that continues to promote healthy skin even after the ozone is gone.

HYDRATING

The cause of dry, itchy skin is in large part due to the inability of the skin to retain moisture. Soft, supple skin is elastic in nature because there is an ample supply of collagen giving your skin the structured support that it needs to stay youthful.

Most products used for cosmetic purposes simply supplement collagen, but this study discusses the ability of ozone olive oils to upregulate collagen.

LIGHTENING

Age spots are a constant reminder of....well, age. The primary culprit of age spots is ultraviolet rays absorbed by the skin which leads to deposits of melanin. While it's not exactly apples to apples, a study was performed with ozonated glycerin that successfully lightened the spots through the oxidation of the melanin.

Who can use ozonated olive oil?

I should probably answer this question by stating who CAN'T use ozonated olive oil, because it really can be used on everyone. If you have very sensitive skin, you may experience a breakout, so I would recommend that you test it on a small area first.

Generally, ozonated oils are tolerated well even for those with sensitive skin, so I wouldn't hesitate to try it.

It can be used on babies through adults and even on your pets.

After all that I've said about how you don't want to ozonate your oil into a paste, (i.e. fully ozonate your oil), if you purchase the Ozone Apothecary Ozonated Olive Oil, you'll find that it's the consistency of a paste. This is because we mix our ozonated olive oil with organic beeswax to improve absorption and ensure the proper titration.

How to use ozonated olive oil

If you have ever used ozone oils, you'll know that it's greasy. Because of that you'll want to take time to gently massage it into your skin and really work it in so that it doesn't take quite so long to absorb. Even after you have done that, it will take a little time to fully absorb.

When using it on the skin, you can spot treat by scooping a thin layer up on your fingertip and gently working it into the area or you can take a pea size amount and spread it over your entire face before working it in. The area being treated will determine the amount that you need, but a little bit goes a long way.

If you plan to use it in the ears, I would highly recommend that you use our organic ozonated olive oil ear drops.

I wouldn't recommend the ozonated olive oil for application directly into the hair as it will leave it extremely oily. It's a much better idea to use the ozone shampoo which has ozone oil as part of the formula.

Ozonated olive oil can be applied 1-2 times per day and since it is oily and has a unique smell, I wouldn't apply it before a first date or prior to your wedding. Just choose the right times and places.

The bad side of ozonated olive oil

If I were to tell you that ozone oils are all good and no bad, that would be a lie. Everything has drawbacks and ozonated olive oil is no exception.

In 2014, a "scientific paper" was published in PubMed called, Ozonated Olive Oils and the Troubles. It's really an awful paper and I'm not quite sure how it made its way into PubMed. It talks about the problems of ozonated oils that are not "fully ozonated" and continues to heap misinformation upon misinformation as to the issues of ozone oils.

I guess the reality is that you also need to be discerning when it comes to the "science" that's out there as well. The actual issues that he shared in the paper aren't really issues at all. So what are they?

I'm going to share a few practical issues with ozone oils that are somewhat annoying.

TEXTURE

As you may expect, ozonated oils are oily. Practically, that can be annoying because it just doesn't absorb very quickly. It can sit on the skin for hours as it slowly absorbs. It also creates that shiny look to your skin that may not be the look that you are going for.

MESS

Because it's oily, it can leave residue on your clothing, furniture or anything you brush up against, so make sure you work it into your skin well or cover it with a bandage. You'll need to wash your hands after you apply it so that you don't transfer the oil to another surface.

SMELL

Rancid. That's the word that I hear most commonly when someone is not used to ozone oils. Ozone oxidizes the oil which is precisely what happens as an oil ages so it makes sense that this is the smell that people would be familiar with. While I don't find the smell something I would bottle up as a perfume, I also don't think that it's that bad either. It's unique.

TASTE

If you plan to use the ozonated olive oil for oil pulling or applying to your gums and teeth, you can expect an unpleasant taste. I guess you could say that it tastes like it smells. Not aweful, but just not a great taste either. If you plan to use it in the mouth, our Ozone Toothpaste and Mouthwash + Oil Pulling Solution are two products that you can use.

Ozonated olive oil for pets

Sometimes it's confusing as to whether a product can be used both for humans and animals. In general, the answer is that it can be. Especially when it comes to a simple ozonated olive oil, there's no problem in using it on your pets and in fact, it's used by thousands of pet lovers every day throughout the world.

The exception to the rule is our toothpaste. The Ozone Apothecary Ozone Toothpaste is formulated with xylitol which is not good for pets to ingest. The tiny amount likely wouldn't be any problem but we still don't recommend that you use it on your pets which is a shame because it's such a fantastic product that contributes to a healthy mouth biome and strong teeth.

One consideration with pets that have thick fur is to use the Pet Skincare Cream instead of the regular Ozonated Olive Oil because it absorbs so much better.

Conclusion

It's okay to use ozonated olive oil long term and it can be used for many different reasons and applied to pretty much any spot on the body. I wouldn't be caught dead without my ozonated products because they are really a great, natural way to promote healthy skin and rejuvenate your body.

It's better to purchase pre-ozonated oils rather than trying to make ozone oils at home. I've dealt with that issue in this blog if you want to dive down that rabbit hole.

One of the most common myths about ozone oils is that they have to be ozonated until they turn into a paste. That's just flat wrong. In fact, the best ozonated oils AREN'T ozonated to that level because it makes the product less stable.

I would be happy to discuss this with you if you are interested. You can always reach out to info@ozoneapothecary.com or call us at 517-331-9334.

References

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242322964_Olive_Oil_History_Production_and_Characteristics_of_the_World's_Classic_Oils
2. https://microtalco.com/textos/vossen_olive_oil_production.pdf
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10856119/
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451910321000119
5. https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article-abstract/153/6/1096/6636641
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2910505/
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10451717/
8. https://portlandpress.com/bioscirep/article/37/6/BSR20170658/57893/Ozone-oil-promotes-wound-healing-by-increasing-the
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4576797/
10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9544616/