This EBOO 'biohacking' claim needs some serious scrutiny

What does this TikTok actually claim?

Lindsey Strong posted about getting EBOO treatment and feeling "pumped" about it, tagging it as biohacking and chronic illness content. She doesn't make specific medical claims in the caption, but the context suggests she's promoting EBOO as beneficial.

EBOO stands for Extracorporeal Blood Ozonation and Oxygenation. It's a procedure where blood is drawn from your body, mixed with ozone gas, then returned to your bloodstream. Proponents claim it treats everything from chronic fatigue to cancer.

The treatment typically costs $200-500 per session, and clinics often recommend multiple sessions. That's where the marketing gets aggressive and the science gets thin.

Does the evidence support EBOO claims?

The research on EBOO is extremely limited and low-quality. Most studies are small case reports or poorly controlled trials from decades ago. There are no large randomized controlled trials showing EBOO works for any condition.

A 2019 systematic review by Bocci et al. in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences looked at ozone therapy studies. The authors found "insufficient evidence" to support clinical use for most conditions. The FDA doesn't approve ozone for medical use because it lacks proven safety and efficacy.

What's concerning is that ozone is toxic to lung tissue. The EPA regulates it as a harmful air pollutant. When you inject it into blood, you're essentially putting a toxic gas into your circulatory system.

What are the actual risks here?

EBOO carries real medical risks that proponents downplay. Air embolism can occur if air bubbles enter the bloodstream during the procedure. This can cause stroke or heart attack.

Infection is another risk anytime you're drawing and reinfusing blood. Some clinics don't follow proper sterile technique. The CDC has documented hepatitis outbreaks linked to ozone therapy clinics with poor hygiene practices.

Ozone itself can damage red blood cells and cause hemolysis. A case report in Blood Purification (2018) documented severe anemia in a patient after repeated ozone treatments. The treatment she thought would help nearly killed her.

Why do people think it works?

EBOO often produces temporary feelings of energy or wellbeing. This isn't because it's healing anything. The procedure triggers oxidative stress, which can temporarily stimulate your sympathetic nervous system.

It's like getting an adrenaline rush. You feel energized for a few hours or days, then crash back down. That's why clinics push multiple sessions - they're chasing that temporary high.

The placebo effect is huge with expensive, complex-looking treatments. When you pay $300 for someone to hook you up to a machine and pump your blood full of gas, your brain wants to believe it's working. Confirmation bias does the rest.

What should you actually know about biohacking?

Real biohacking is boring stuff like getting 7-8 hours of sleep, eating protein with every meal, and exercising regularly. These interventions have thousands of studies showing they work.

The expensive, exotic treatments promoted as "biohacking" usually lack evidence. They prey on people with chronic illnesses who've exhausted conventional options and are desperate for something, anything, that might help.

If you're dealing with chronic illness, work with doctors who follow evidence-based medicine. There are legitimate treatments for most conditions. They just aren't as exciting as having your blood pumped full of toxic gas by someone calling themselves a "wellness practitioner."