TheQuartering [3/20/2023]
On a recent podcast, when the host asked actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow what’s the “weirdest wellness thing” that she’s done, Paltrow responded, “I have used ozone therapy, rectally.” Now, the word “rectally” isn’t something that you typically add on to the end of sentences, such as, “Here’s your order, rectally,” or “How are you doing, rectally?” But that’s the word that Paltrow added at the end. She also added, “It’s pretty weird. But it’s been very helpful,” but didn’t really specify exactly how rectal ozone therapy has been helpful. That comment got a lot of “buts”, “whats”, and other skeptical comments on social media.
Just look at how folks responded to a video clip of Paltrow’s response posted @DearMedia on TikTok. That post got a whole lot of responses such as “Forget about ‘hole in the ozone’ have u heard about ‘ozone in the hole’” and “Tell me you’re rich without telling me you’re rich” and people wondering whether there was any evidence that she was healthier or doing better in any way from such a practice. A Twitterer named Kate Bevan called rectal ozone therapy “basically a reverse fart.” Clement Lee, MD, MSc, a pediatric hospitalist at Boston Children’s Hospital, tweeted, “My weekly reminder to you to stop putting weird things in your butt, including oxidizing atmospheric gases.” And Eric Burnett, MD, a hospitalist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, posted the following on Twitter in hindsight: “Thought this went without saying but: Friendly reminder to NOT put ozone up your rectum.”
Paltrow made this rectal ozone therapy reference on a podcast called “The Art of Being Well,” hosted by Will Cole, who describes himself as a “Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP), Doctor of Natural Medicine (DNM) and Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) on his website.” Keep in mind that Cole’s website includes the following disclaimer after he mentions his IFMCP, DNM, and DC credentials: “Therefore, I do not practice medicine and do not diagnose or treat diseases or medical conditions.” Cole’s website goes on to say, “My services are not meant to substitute or replace those of a medical doctor but my programs are meant to work in conjunction with them.” Also, keep in mind Maya Angelou’s quote, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
Now, if you Google “rectal ozone therapy,” you’ll get lots of websites making claims about this practice, otherwise known as Rectal Insufflation. By the way, if you accidentally leave out the word “ozone” when Googling, you’ll probably get some very, very different websites. So, as they say, be careful when you Google. Many of these websites making claims about rectal ozone therapy are, guess what, “wellness” spas, clinics, and so-called “gurus” trying to sell rectal ozone therapy services. They claim that rectal ozone therapy, “Decreases toxins found in the gut and body”, “Boosts the immune system and immune response”, “Restores gut health and function to an optimal state”, “Reduces chronic inflammation throughout the body”, and “Kills bacteria, parasites, viruses, and yeast.” This makes it seem like this treatment is the greatest thing since sliced bread, except that it goes in your rectum. But in the end, the big question is whether there is any scientific evidence that rectal ozone therapy will do any of the aforementioned claims. Or are such claims essentially blowing smoke up your you-know-where?