73240085
Some woman are paying more than $300 to pump their vaginas with "toxic gas" in the name of wellness. It's called vaginal ozone therapy. Getty Images

Well, here’s a new one: Some women are paying to essentially have toxic gas pumped into their vaginas in the name of health. The process is called ozone therapy, but it could lead to death in rare instances, according to the American Cancer Society.

The “treatment” is a naturopathic remedy that can supposedly remedy cancer, HIV infection, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular diseases. On lighter side, ozone gas (O3) can allegedly increase vitamin B-12 in patients.

None of this have been proven by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though.

READ: Erin Andrews Says Cervical Cancer Changed Her Relationship With Her Fiance

So what is ozone therapy? Extra oxygen is pumped into the body, in some cases, through the vagina. The idea behind the therapy is that the increase in oxygen helps the body destroy disease-causing cells.

“Ozone gas may be mixed with air or liquids and introduced into the body,” the American Cancer Society writes. “It may be given under pressure into the rectum, vagina, or other body opening or injected into a muscle or under the skin.”

Ozone gas can also be pumped into a patient’s blood, injected into muscles and joint, or put into the bladder or rectum, as Forbes noted.

Not only has ozone therapy not been proven to work, it could be fatal. “Available scientific evidence does not support claims that putting oxygen-releasing chemicals into a person’s body is effective in treating cancer,” the American Cancer Society writes. “It may even be dangerous. There have been reports of patient deaths from this method.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration added that “ozone is a toxic gas with no known useful medical application.”

Vaginal ozone therapy was created by Alchemy Holistic Clinic, a group of “three socially conscious global entrepreneurs.” They claim their holistic spa “has become a magnet for expats and conscious travelers seeking physical, mental and spiritual detoxification and rejuvenation.”

“Alchemy Holistic ‘s team of gifted doctors, nurses, acupuncturists, nutritionists, colonic therapists, fasting councilors, intuitive guides and energy healers can assist on your path towards vibrant health and spiritual well-being,” they claim on their site.

Still want to try it? You’ll have to travel to Ubud, the spiritual capital of Bali. Not only will it cost people a plane ticket to Indonesia, but they will also have to pay nearly $315. On their website, they write that vaginal ozone is “a great treatment for all kinds of problems from endometriosis to thrush.”

READ: Why Smoking Causes Cancers In Some People

While the American Cancer Society says ozone therapy is potentially dangerous, the U.S. National Library of Medicine wrote ozone therapy is a method that has been around for more than 200 years. Doctors during World War I reportedly used medical oxygen to treat infected wounds.

A reporter from Vice, who had the vaginal ozone therapy done, explained what it was like to have the procedure done. Since some of the editors at International Business Times might scoff at describing what happens during the procedure, readers can check out the article here.

Follow me on Twitter @mariamzzarella