Breathing Ozonated Oil (BOO): How It Works and Safety

At a glance

For equipment guidance, see our guide to ozone therapy machines for home use.

• You CANNOT breathe ozone gas directly as it will irritate the lungs — but in BOO the gas reacts with olive oil first, and you breathe the oxygen and oil vapor that come out, which practitioners use for a variety of reasons 
• BOO is used for nose, throat, and lung issues, but does not appear to have a systemic or full body effect
• Much research is needed on BOO because most of the information about it comes from conversations with medical practitioners on their clinical experiences.
• Although a lot of people do BOO, the safety of BOO therapy hasn’t been conclusively researched (but you can read about the safety of other ozone therapies here)
• We cover the required equipment and recommended protocol 

Is it safe to breathe ozone? (ozone gas vs ozonated oil vapor)

No. Breathing ozone gas directly is not safe at any therapeutic concentration. Ozone irritates and inflames the lining of the airways, and even outdoor smog levels can cause coughing, throat irritation and chest tightness. (EPA)

BOO is different because the gas never reaches you as ozone. It is bubbled through oil first, and the ozone reacts with the oil almost instantly. What you breathe is oxygen carrying the vapor from the oil. No published studies have tested the safety of BOO itself, so start low, follow the protocol, and stop if you get a cough, chest tightness or a headache.

BOO - an ozone therapy for the lungs?

Ozone is commonly known to be an irritant to the lungs, because it’s an oxidant and the thin fluid lining the lungs has little antioxidant capacity to buffer it.

But once the ozone gas is bubbled through olive or another natural oil, it’s dismembered and no longer has that oxidizing value on the lungs. The ozone reacts with the oil and forms ozonides, which mostly stay in the oil. What you breathe is oxygen carrying the oil’s vapor, which most people say is safe.

In full transparency, BOO is not a well-researched topic from a scientific standpoint.  Many home users and practitioners do it and it appears to be safe according to anecdotal reports by doctors and patients.  However, as is the case with all information on this website, this article is for educational purposes only.  It’s recommended you consult with your medical practitioner if you’re considering any ozone therapy.

Why do BOO?

Typically clinicians refer patients to BOO therapy when there is a lung, sinus, or throat infection. 

Some clinicians, such as Dr. Lee Cowden, also use it alongside care for lung cancer and other lung-based issues.

It does not seem to be a systemic or full body treatment.  

Indications

Unlike most ozone therapies, none of the scientific organizations have produced an official document on BOO.  This limits a lot of the information about BOO to clinical experiences by medical professionals and patients.  

Scientific societies have focused their guidance on methods with a larger research base, such as IV, rectal and topical ozone, so for BOO we rely on what practitioners report.

With that in mind, here are the reasons clinicians refer patients to BOO.  It’s not a complete or comprehensive list, but will serve as direction:

• Lung infections
• Sinus Infections
• Throat infections
• Some practitioners use it alongside lung cancer care
• Some practitioners use for asthma
• Some practitioners use for COPD
• Some practitioners use for mold exposure and toxicity

Benefits

BOO is a pretty straightforward therapy.  Ozonated oil is antiseptic on the skin, and practitioners use BOO for airway infections based on clinical experience, though no study has tested that.  

Although it’s not certain, BOO ozone therapy is speculated to help speed healing time.  Ozone oil on the skin has been shown to stimulate growth factor, so some think breathing the oil vapor may do the same thing.

• Practitioners use it for infections of the lungs, sinus, and throat.
• May speed healing time of affected tissues

Safety

No good safety studies have been done on BOO, despite a lot of medical practitioners using it.  

However, a lot of safety studies and research has been done on other forms of ozone therapy.  We have an in-depth article looking at the safety of ozone therapy.

We did run some basic checks to see if any ozone gas could be detected after bubbling through oil, and none was detected. These were informal checks, not a published study.

That fits the chemistry: ozone is unstable and bonds with the oil almost instantly. The ozonides it forms mostly stay in the oil. What comes out of the bubbler is oxygen carrying the oil’s vapor and the lighter compounds released by the reaction. (Travagli 2010)

How is BOO done?

You need an oxygen tank and regulator, a medical ozone generator, an oil bubbler (a bubbling flask, sometimes sold as an “ozone bubbler”) filled with olive oil, and a nasal cannula.

1. Fill the bubbling flask with olive oil.
2. Run the gas from the generator through the oil at a low flow, so it bubbles steadily.
3. Breathe the vapor through the nasal cannula, sitting comfortably.

Typical starting point: about 15 minutes, 3 times a week, at a low concentration for the first week, then 20 to 30 minutes, up to 5 times a week.

How often: 3 to 5 times a week.

Safety essentials: you can never breathe ozone gas directly. The gas must pass through the oil first, where it reacts with the oil. If you get a headache, shorten the session or lower the concentration.

Looking for ozone oil on the skin rather than breathing it? See our guide to ozone oil benefits and uses. For sinus, ear and throat problems, see ozone therapy for ear, nose and throat conditions. New to home ozone? Start with our free guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is breathing ozonated oil (BOO)?

Breathing ozonated oil (BOO) is an ozone therapy in which medical-grade ozone gas is first bubbled through oil, so the ozone reacts with the oil before anything is inhaled. It is used to support lung, sinus, and throat health.

Why can ozonated oil be breathed but ozone gas cannot?

Ozone gas is a lung irritant, but when bubbled through oil it reacts immediately with the oil, so what comes out no longer has the oxidative properties of ozone gas and is reported to be tolerated when inhaled.

What conditions is BOO therapy used for?

BOO is commonly used for lung infections, sinus infections, throat infections, mold exposure, asthma, COPD, and other respiratory conditions based on clinical experience and anecdotal reporting.

What equipment is required for breathing ozonated oil?

Required equipment includes a medical-grade ozone generator, oxygen tank, oxygen regulator, and an oil bubbling device so the ozone reacts with the oil before inhalation.

What ozone concentrations are typically used for BOO?

Our clinic protocol uses 10–30 µg/mL with a gas flow of about 1/2 LPM, starting with 15-minute sessions 3 times a week and building to 20–30 minutes, 5 times a week, as tolerated.

Is breathing ozonated oil considered safe?

Formal safety studies are limited, but clinical experience suggests BOO is generally well tolerated when protocols are followed. Direct ozone gas inhalation must always be avoided.