I Tried Ozone Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: My Honest Experience as a Mom with RA

Why I Decided to Try Ozone Therapy

Motherhood was already a big adventure—I was 32, learning how to care for my sweet 2-year-old, Ken, and my 5-week-old newborn, David. My husband and I thought sleepless nights and diaper duty would be the toughest part of this chapter. But life had other plans.

Out of nowhere, I experienced my first rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flare-up. Overnight, daily life changed in ways I never expected. Fast forward three years, and I’ve walked a winding road of treatments: prescription medications, infusions, acupuncture, functional medicine, gut-healing diets, giving up alcohol, and completely overhauling my lifestyle.

And yet—I’m still searching for remission with high spirits.

That’s why, when I kept hearing about ozone therapy for RA on podcasts, my curiosity lit up. Could this alternative therapy reduce inflammation, boost energy, and bring me closer to a pain-free life? Naturally, I did what any mom would do—I went down the Google rabbit hole.

Today, I want to share why I chose to try ozone therapy, what it actually is (in mom-to-mom terms), and what my first sessions were like—so other moms with RA don’t feel alone in exploring new options.

What Is Ozone Therapy? (In Mom-to-Mom Terms)

Ozone therapy uses medical-grade ozone—a special form of oxygen—that can be introduced into the body in different ways, like IV, injections, or insufflation. The idea is simple: boost oxygen levels in the blood, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system.

Of course, if you Google it, the first thing you’ll see is a big bold disclaimer: not FDA approved. Yep. Call me slightly bold and a little desperate—but as a mom living with RA pain, I’m willing to explore safe, supervised options that might help me feel better.

Some early studies and patient stories suggest ozone therapy may help with autoimmune conditions like RA. While it’s not considered a mainstream treatment, many functional medicine doctors use it as part of a “root cause” approach. Reported benefits include improved energy, less brain fog, and reduced joint pain.

But here’s the real question: what does that mean for a busy mom who barely has time to sit down? That’s exactly what I set out to discover.

Why I’m Trying Ozone Therapy for RA

So why ozone therapy? Well… here’s what led me here:

I’ve tried multiple RA medications with only limited relief.
I want to support my body naturally, not just mask the symptoms.
I value time and peace—and flare-ups steal both from me.
As a mom, I need therapies that don’t just “look good on paper,” but give me more energy and mobility to keep up with my kids.

Ozone therapy became my next step because it aligns with what I believe: my body has the capacity to heal, and I don’t have to settle for just surviving.

For moms with rheumatoid arthritis, every flare, every moment of fatigue, every hour lost to pain is time we don’t get back with our families. That’s why I’m willing to try something new—because I want more mornings with energy, more afternoons without pain, and more evenings where I can play with my kids instead of collapsing on the couch.

My First Ozone Therapy Session: What It Felt Like

I’ll be honest—I’m the type of person who prefers not to know every little detail before something medical. (Thank you, anxiety!) When I delivered my second baby, the nurse asked if I wanted a mirror so I could “watch the process.” Ummm… hard pass. I had a general idea of what was happening—no need for a front-row seat. Same goes with needles: I’d rather look away and focus on staying calm.

So walking into my first ozone therapy IV session, I had a mix of nerves and curiosity. My functional medicine doctor gave me the green light, and the nurse practitioner at the clinic created a plan: one session per week for four weeks. Each session would last about 90 minutes and include ozone therapy through IV followed by ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI) to help reduce inflammation and boost my immune system.

Here’s how it went down:

Step 1: They drew about a cup of my blood into a saline bag. Sounds simple, right? Not for me. I learned I’m “hypercoagulable,” which basically means my blood is thicker (a common issue for people with autoimmune conditions like RA). The line kept clogging, so two nurses hovered over me, gently rubbing my arm and pushing saline through the tube to keep things flowing. It took 30 minutes instead of 10, but we got there.
Step 2: Once my blood was collected, the nurse introduced the ozone into the bag. Then my ozonated blood slowly dripped back into my vein. This part was surprisingly peaceful—it just felt cool as it went in.
Step 3: After that, they placed a tiny filament into my IV and hooked me up to the UBI machine. For about 20 minutes, UV light circulated through my blood, which is said to help fight oxidative stress and pathogens.

All in all, the process took the full 90 minutes. Honestly, it felt much less intimidating than I expected. I walked out thinking, “Okay, that wasn’t so bad. I can do this.”

Now here’s the real talk: after sessions 1 and 2, I didn’t notice much difference in my RA symptoms—no huge pain relief, but also no extra flare-ups. By session 4 though, I hit a wall. I felt extremely rundown, almost flu-like. Google later told me it might have been a Herxheimer reaction—basically, when your body is detoxing and the die-off of pathogens leaves you wiped. Moms, you know that feeling when you can barely keep your eyes open but still have to do school pickup? Yep, that was me. But hydration, nutrients, and rest helped me bounce back.

So where am I now? After 4 sessions, I wouldn’t say I’m magically healed—but I feel hopeful. And for any mom living with rheumatoid arthritis, hope is something we cling to.

Is Ozone Therapy Safe for Moms with RA?

If you’re like me, the very first thing you probably Google is: “Is ozone therapy safe?” And honestly, that’s a fair question.

Here’s what I learned (and what my functional doctor confirmed):

Ozone therapy is not FDA-approved for rheumatoid arthritis. That means you won’t find it listed in the standard RA treatment guidelines.
However, it’s widely used in functional and integrative medicine clinics, especially for autoimmune conditions, chronic infections, and inflammation.
Reported benefits include reduced joint pain, more energy, and better immune support—all things moms with RA are desperate for.
The main side effects of ozone therapy tend to be temporary fatigue, mild flu-like symptoms, or Herxheimer reactions (that “detox crash” I felt after session 4).

So is it “safe”? Here’s the truth: ozone therapy comes with risks and unknowns, like any alternative treatment. But when done under the care of a trained practitioner (like a nurse practitioner or functional medicine doctor), most patients tolerate it well.

As moms with RA, we’re often put in a tricky spot: conventional medicine doesn’t always give us full relief, yet trying something “outside the box” feels scary. What I remind myself is this—exploring alternative therapies isn’t failure. It’s advocacy.

For me, ozone therapy is about giving my body a chance to heal naturally, instead of just masking symptoms. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s one more tool I can try on this long road toward remission.

The Bigger Picture: Reclaiming Time & Peace

Here’s what I’ve learned after almost two years of chasing remission: healing from RA isn’t just about medications or alternative therapies like ozone therapy. It’s about building a lifestyle that protects your time, your peace, and your energy—because flare-ups steal all three if you let them.

For me, that’s meant making hard choices: saying no to alcohol, changing my diet, moving my body every morning (even on the tough days), and getting curious about root causes with functional medicine. It’s meant trying therapies that aren’t mainstream, like ozone, because I refuse to believe my only option is “just surviving.”

Do I know if ozone therapy will be my big breakthrough? Not yet. But I do know this—RA doesn’t get to take away the life I want to live as a mom. Every step I take, every experiment I try, is about reclaiming both time and peace so I can be present with my kids and still nurture myself.

And if you’re reading this, I want you to know: your healing path can look different from mine, and that’s okay. What matters is that you keep showing up for yourself. You are not behind. You are not failing. You are figuring it out—one choice at a time.

✨ Want to follow along with my RA journey (including what happens next with ozone therapy)?

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The information provided on Moms With RA is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. I Tried Ozone Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: My Honest Experience as a Mom with RA is not liable for how the information is used and cannot be held responsible or guarantee any results. You alone are solely and personally responsible for the results, and your success depends primarily on your own effort, motivation, commitment, and follow-through. I Tried Ozone Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: My Honest Experience as a Mom with RA is simply serving as a coach, mentor, and guide to help you reach your own health and wellness goals through simple holistic remedies and healthy lifestyle changes.