Ozone Therapy for Long COVID and Post-Viral Recovery
- August 28, 2026
- Written by : Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS
Key Takeaways
- Ozone therapy is not FDA-approved for long COVID, but early research suggests it may support recovery through three mechanisms: improved oxygenation, activated antioxidant defenses, and reduced spike protein activity.
- Most long COVID patients complete around 10 sessions total, at a pace of 2–3 sessions per week.
- Pre-treatment screening is required to rule out contraindications like G6PD deficiency, POTS/dysautonomia, and MCAS — all common in the long COVID population.
- A temporary Herxheimer reaction (fever, chills, fatigue) is common after early sessions and typically resolves within a few days.
- IV Elements offers medically supervised ozone therapy for post-viral recovery in-lounge (Hoboken, Parsippany, Asbury Park, Marlton) and via mobile service across NJ, NYC, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA.
There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for long COVID symptoms like adrenal fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath, but some researchers and patients have been exploring ozone therapy as a potential integrative support option. Like other treatments, it should only be used under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider. Here’s what you should know about ozone therapy for post-viral recovery and where to find it in NJ, NYC, and Philadelphia.
Important: Ozone therapy has not been approved by the FDA to treat long COVID or any other health condition. Always talk to your licensed healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.
Can ozone therapy help with long COVID?
Quick answer: Ozone therapy has not been proven to treat long COVID, but early research suggests it may support post-viral recovery through three mechanisms — improving oxygen delivery to tissues, activating the body’s antioxidant defenses, and interfering with lingering spike protein activity. It should be used only as an integrative complement to standard care, under medical supervision.
Researchers haven’t yet determined if ozone therapy may support recovery from long COVID. But some evidence suggests that the treatment could potentially help people recover by improving oxygenation, activating antioxidants, and reducing spike proteins.
Improving oxygenation
COVID-19 can cause a significant drop in oxygen levels. Some researchers think that long-term oxygen deprivation in muscles and organs over time may contribute to some of long COVID’s symptoms. Ozone therapy is designed to help your body absorb oxygen more efficiently. This could possibly help people manage some of the effects of long COVID, though more research is needed.
Activating antioxidants
When ozone enters your bloodstream, it triggers a controlled amount of oxidative stress. Your body responds by releasing natural antioxidants to fight off free radicals. Some researchers are exploring whether this increase in antioxidants may help manage the chronic inflammation linked with long COVID.
Reducing spike proteins
A spike protein is a protein that appears on the outer surface of a virus, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. It allows the virus to damage healthy cells and replicate itself so it can spread throughout the body.
In an average COVID-19 infection, the immune system makes antibodies that block spike proteins and eliminate the virus. But in long COVID, spike proteins may linger for months or years, getting trapped in tissue reservoirs and causing chronic inflammation. In laboratory studies, ozone appears to affect spike protein structure and interfere with its ability to bind to healthy cells. Human studies are needed to determine whether this effect could benefit COVID patients.
In addition, the controlled oxidative stress caused by ozone therapy can activate the Nrf2 cellular pathway, which helps stimulate the body’s cellular recycling system. This may make it easier for your immune system to break down and get rid of trapped spike proteins, thereby helping you recover from long COVID symptoms. However, we need more large-scale human trials to confirm these effects.
Together, these potential benefits could make ozone therapy an effective complementary treatment for people recovering from long COVID. A 2026 study found that ozone therapy may help with long COVID symptoms like anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping and may improve quality of life. Similarly, a 2025 study found that 10-pass ozone therapy improved quality of life in the majority of long COVID patients studied, though a minority reported a decrease. Researchers are continuing to study how exactly the treatment might help with this condition.
Wondering if ozone therapy fits your long COVID recovery plan? Our clinician-led team offers private consultations to review your health history, screen for contraindications, and build a personalized integrative approach.
Schedule Your Consultation →How many ozone sessions should you get for long COVID?
Because ozone therapy hasn’t been approved by the FDA to treat long COVID, there aren’t any standard guidelines for the number of sessions you should get. However, many people get about 10 sessions altogether, with 2 to 3 sessions per week. The board-certified nurses at IV Elements can help you figure out the right number of sessions based on your specific health needs.
Is ozone therapy for long COVID safe?
Ozone therapy can be safe for long COVID patients, but it’s important to first rule out common co-occurring conditions that could make treatment more risky:
- POTS/dysautonomia: IV ozone therapy can trigger blood pressure changes that may worsen POTS symptoms.
- MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome): Ozone can trigger mast cell responses, which may include symptoms like flushing, itching, fatigue, or heart palpitations.
Many long COVID patients also report what’s known as a “Herxheimer reaction” following treatment. This reaction may involve temporary symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, sweating, muscle aches, and fatigue. Other common side effects of ozone therapy include dizziness, lightheadedness, and trouble concentrating. These effects usually go away within a few days.
Some people also have rarer, more serious side effects such as vein inflammation and red blood cell damage. To lower these risks, we require all ozone patients to have a consultation before we start treatment to rule out any contraindications that could make treatment unsafe. These consultations help us determine if there are any other contraindications, such as a G6PD deficiency, which can make you more vulnerable to red blood cell damage.
Can ozone help with post-vaccine recovery?
Scientists are still trying to determine if ozone might help with worsened long COVID symptoms associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, which have been documented in some people. Like ozone for long COVID itself, ozone for post-vaccine recovery might work by influencing oxygenation, antioxidant defenses, and spike proteins.
Can I get ozone therapy for long COVID in NJ?
Yes. IV Elements offers medically supervised ozone therapy for post-viral recovery at our drip lounges in Hoboken, Parsippany, Asbury Park, and Marlton. Some types of ozone therapy are also available through our mobile service, which covers NJ, NYC, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA. All of our in-lounge and at-home treatments start with consultations and testing to make sure the treatment will be safe and effective for you.
Book medically supervised ozone therapy with IV Elements
If you’re searching for long COVID integrative treatments, turn to the clinician-led team at IV Elements. As proud members of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine (PAAM) and the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), we’re committed to providing safe integrative care, whether at one of our New Jersey drip lounges or at your home in NJ, NYC, or PA. We offer a variety of ozone therapy treatments — as well as complementary options like NAD therapy — so you can find the approach that meets your unique needs as you recover from long COVID. Book your consultation today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ozone reduce spike proteins?
Some lab studies suggest that ozone therapy may help reduce spike proteins by attacking their structural integrity so they can’t bind to cellular receptors. Ozone can also stimulate your body’s cellular recycling system, which may help eliminate lingering spike proteins linked with long COVID symptoms. But more research is needed to figure out if ozone actually has these benefits.
What is the best treatment for long COVID symptoms?
The best treatment for long COVID depends on the specific symptoms you have. For example, your provider may prescribe medications to help treat symptoms like anxiety, depression, headache, or cough. They may also recommend physical therapy for pain, pulmonary rehabilitation for breathing problems, and olfactory retraining to help restore your sense of smell and taste.
What’s the integrative approach to long COVID?
The integrative approach to long COVID uses holistic therapies to address the condition’s underlying causes. Many integrative health practitioners recommend treatments such as:
- Ozone therapy, which may help with long COVID by improving oxygen delivery, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and reducing spike proteins (though more research is needed)
- NAD therapy, an alternative medicine treatment that boosts NAD, a coenzyme that plays a key role in energy production
- Low-dose naltrexone, a medication that can calm overactive immune cells and boost endorphins
- Nutritional changes to address nutrient deficiencies or inflammatory triggers
- Yoga, meditation, or breathwork to ease mental health symptoms
Is ozone effective for post-viral fatigue?
Some researchers think ozone therapy may help with chronic fatigue caused by long COVID by improving oxygen delivery to tissues and helping your cells use oxygen more efficiently, which can support cellular energy production. It may also help get rid of trapped spike proteins that cause fatigue due to chronic inflammation, though more studies are needed.
Where can I get ozone therapy for long COVID in NJ?
You can get ozone therapy for long COVID in NJ at IV Elements’ drip lounges in Hoboken, Parsippany, Asbury Park, and Marlton. We also offer some of our ozone treatments as part of our mobile service that covers NJ, NYC, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Long COVID Basics. cdc.gov
- Diekman, C. O., Thomas, P. J., & Wilson, C. G. (2023). COVID-19 and silent hypoxemia in a minimal closed-loop model of the respiratory rhythm generator. bioRxiv. doi.org
- Yousefi, B., et al. (2022). Potential therapeutic effect of oxygen-ozone in controlling of COVID-19 disease. Medical Gas Research, 12(2), 33–40. doi.org
- de Melo, B. P., et al. (2025). SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and long COVID — Part 1: Impact of spike protein in pathophysiological mechanisms of long COVID syndrome. Viruses, 17(5), Article 617. doi.org
- Theoharides, T. C., & Papadopoulou, P. (2026). Pathogen effects on the brain: the case of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neuro COVID. Frontiers in Neurology, 17, Article 1853951. doi.org
- Kuculmez, O. (2026). Efficacy of major ozone autohemotherapy in patients with post-COVID syndrome. Frontiers in Medicine, 13, 1720578. doi.org
- Berkel, J. van, et al. (2025). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for long COVID: a prospective registry. Scientific Reports, 15(1). doi.org
- Asadi-Pooya, A. A., et al. (2024). How does COVID-19 vaccination affect long-COVID symptoms? PLoS ONE, 19(2), e0296680. doi.org
Share 
Tweet 
Share 
Email 
