Hematogenous oxidation therapy (HOT) was first introduced in 1956 by the Swiss physician Prof. Dr. F. Wehrli. It is a photochemical procedure used in the sense of autologous blood therapy. Both the enrichment of blood with oxygen and the irradiation with high-energy light were known. However, in 1957 Wehrli succeeded in developing a device that combined both methods and could be used in practice. Like ozone therapy, hematogenous oxidation therapy belongs to the oxygen therapies and achieves a similar circulation-promoting and immune-stimulating (defense-strengthening) effect via reactive oxygen. The therapy is also referred to as “blood washing.”
Indications (areas of application)
- Peripheral arterial circulatory disorders – e.g., peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVD); increasing narrowing of the arteries supplying the legs due to calcium deposits.
- Central arterial circulatory disorders – e.g., at the heart in the form of coronary artery disease (CAD); narrowing of the heart vessels and thereby endangering the blood supply of the heart muscle; the treatment thus represents a prevention against heart attack and hypertension
- Eye diseases – macular degeneration (disease of the human eye that affects the macula lutea (“the point of sharpest vision”) – also called “yellow spot” – of the retina and is associated with a gradual loss of function of the tissue located there) or diabetic retinopathy (eye disease that leads to deterioration of vision and even blindness, caused by the high levels of glucose (sugar levels) in diabetes mellitus (diabetes)).
- Adjuvant tumor therapy – concomitant therapy in cancer.
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Chronic gastrointestinal diseases – e.g. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Diabetes mellitus – especially the treatment of circulatory disorders caused by diabetes is in the foreground
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Prevention of apoplexy (stroke)
- Diseases of the venous vascular system
- Lipid metabolism disorders (disorders of lipid metabolism).
- Migraine
- Chronic dermatoses – skin diseases, such as acne (eg acne vulgaris), psoriasis (psoriasis), fungal diseases.
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Diseases of the rheumatic form
- Wound healing disorders
The procedure
In HOT according to Wehrli, a certain amount of venous blood (about 60-80 ml) is first taken from the patient, for example, from a vein in the arm, and sodium citrate is added. Sodium citrate prevents the blood from clotting. The blood is then foamed several times with pure oxygen and irradiated with UV light. To prevent infections, this takes place in sterile disposable containers. The enriched blood is then injected back into a vein. This procedure is called autologous blood therapy. Treatment of autologous blood only by ultraviolet irradiation (UVB) is also used.The effect of hematogenous oxidation therapy is based on the following effects:
- Improvement of cellular respiration – the oxygen supply to the cells is improved.
- Vasodilation – dilation of blood vessels.
- Improvement of macro- and microcirculation – blood flow in the large and very small vessels is improved
- Immune stimulation (defense increase)
- Metabolic activation – especially the own blood activated with UV light is a stimulus that stimulates numerous metabolic processes.
The treatment is performed 1-2 times a week for a period of about six weeks. The individual therapy planning depends on the severity of the disease or the general condition of the patient and should be done by an experienced therapist. To consolidate the success of the therapy, monthly sessions may follow the regular treatment.
Benefits
Hematogenous oxidation therapy is a method that activates the metabolism and the defense system. The procedure is mainly based on improving blood circulation and is therefore versatile.
