For patients in South Africa

Ozone therapy in Turkey from South Africa: what it is and what it is not

Ozone therapy uses carefully measured amounts of medical-grade ozone, a form of oxygen, given by a doctor using controlled equipment. In Turkey it is offered as a complementary treatment under medical supervision. It is not a replacement for standard medical care, and research into where it is useful is still continuing. This page explains how it is given and what the trip from South Africa involves.

What ozone therapy is

Ozone is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms. In clinical use, a controlled dose is introduced into the body or applied to tissue so that it reacts with components of the blood and tissues. Because it is highly reactive, used improperly it can be harmful.

Ozone therapy is offered for areas such as circulation, wound care and some musculoskeletal pain, where it has been studied. We do not describe it as a cure for any condition. Whether it is appropriate for you is a medical decision made after an assessment, and you should keep following the treatment your own doctor has prescribed.

How it is given

The doctor chooses the method according to your assessment:

• Major autohaemotherapy: a small amount of your blood is drawn, mixed with medical-grade ozone and returned to you. This is one of the most commonly used methods.
• Injection: controlled doses injected into specific tissues, joints or muscles.
• Insufflation: ozone introduced into a body cavity with specialised equipment, in selected cases.
• Ozonated saline or water: ozone dissolved in a liquid for some protocols.

Each session follows the same pattern: medical assessment, choice of method, administration and monitoring during and after treatment. Sessions last about 20 to 45 minutes, and the number of sessions depends on the plan the doctor recommends.

What the stay includes

• Seven nights’ stay at Mandarin Grove Health and Wellness Retreat near İzmir
• Treatment in a fully registered private hospital
• 24-hour support, including a bilingual chaperone during your hospital visits

Because the package already spans a week, it can be planned alongside another treatment, such as NAD IV or other recovery boosters, if the doctor agrees. Flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours direct, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir. South Africans need an e-Visa, and Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa. Even so, the journey only for ozone therapy is hard to justify for most people.

Recovery, side effects and limits

Most people resume normal activities shortly after a session. Drink plenty of water and follow the doctor’s advice. Possible side effects include local irritation where an injection was given, temporary tiredness and some discomfort depending on the method.

Results vary from person to person, and ozone therapy is not a substitute for medical care. Tell your doctor in South Africa that you are considering it, and bring home a written record of what was given.

Our treatment guarantee covers medical complications arising from treatment for one year, treated in İzmir at no charge (flights and accommodation are your own cost). It is not a promise of a particular result. See our complaints page and clinic facts.

Cost and cover

What decides the cost is the method, the number of sessions and what the stay includes; your written plan sets this out before you travel. South African medical schemes generally do not cover complementary treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment, so check with both before booking.

What we will not do

We will not claim that ozone therapy cures or prevents any disease, we will not suggest you stop treatment prescribed by your own doctor, and we will not start without a medical assessment. Related options are in our skin treatments guide for South African patients; the UK ozone therapy page has further detail.

Frequently asked questions

What is ozone therapy offered for?

It is offered as a complementary treatment in areas where it has been studied, such as circulation, wound care and some musculoskeletal pain. It is not a cure for any condition and does not replace standard medical care.

How is ozone therapy given?

A doctor chooses the method after an assessment. Common methods are major autohaemotherapy, where a small amount of blood is mixed with ozone and returned, and controlled injections into tissues or joints.

How long is the stay in Turkey?

Our ozone therapy package is planned around seven nights at Mandarin Grove near İzmir, with sessions of about 20 to 45 minutes in a registered private hospital.

Should I stop my usual medication?

No. Ozone therapy is complementary. Keep following the treatment your own doctor has prescribed and tell them you are considering ozone therapy.

Will my medical aid pay for ozone therapy in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover complementary treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment. Check with both before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.