Defend Yourself During Flu Season (UBI)

by: Olivia Nugroho, RN

Flu season is here. I want to introduce you to a new way for you to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu virus.

Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (UBI)

UBI is an old and easy-to-administer form of ultraviolet (UV) light therapy. It was used many years before antibiotics were introduced. In early 1920’s a physicist named Dr. Emmet Knott developed a technique to treat patients suffering from blood-borne bacterial infections by taking some of their blood, treating it with ultraviolet light, and putting it back into the patients’ bodies. This treatment resulted in patients recovering from infection within 24 hours of treatment.

The current procedure utilizes a combination of ozone and UV light to help eliminate chronic and acute bacterial infections, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and chronic yeast overgrowth.

How does UBI work? A small portion of a patient’s blood, approximately two ounces (35-60 cc), is withdrawn and mixed with normal saline. A small amount of ozone is also infused into the bag containing blood and normal saline. This mixture is then exposed to ultraviolet lights through a machine containing two types of UV light, UVA and UVC. The UV light treatment destroys bacteria and viruses in the blood. The blood is then reinfused into the patient’s body.  The treated blood acts like a vaccination because the attenuated (weakened) germs are introduced to the immune system, which stimulates the body to produce B cells. B cells are responsible for forming antibodies, which contribute to a strong, long-term immune response against the pathogen.

As I mentioned above, there are two bands of light that are used in UBI treatment, UVA and UVC. These two UV lights have different purposes. The UVA is very helpful in treating diseases that cause inflammation such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The UVC light has been proven to be very effective in treating bacterial and viral infection such as shingles, MRSA, HIV, influenza, hepatitis, and many more.

The use of ozone in UBI treatment is to add oxygen to blood, which then can stimulate a self-healing response in the body. Giving more oxygen to the body can also improve the immune system and decrease inflammation.

Ozone therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of other health problems such as acute and chronic Lyme disease or an upper respiratory illness caused by bacterial or viral infection. According to Dr. Rowen, it is also very beneficial for people with heart disease, immune diseases, injuries, and chronic degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (Mercola, 2012).

There should not be any adverse effects from UBI treatment when it is done properly. The most common side effect is flushing of the skin, which is caused by increased blood flow. Another common side effect is called a Herxheimer reaction. This is caused by rapid death of large numbers of infectious organisms and may cause flu-like symptoms, which usually is short-lived.

The only contraindication for having this procedure is if you are currently taking a sulfa drug (such as Bactrim). Research has shown that sulfa drugs interfere with UBI treatment by absorbing the ultraviolet energy and reducing the effectiveness of this treatment.

Another very important thing to know before you do this therapy is to make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after treatment. Drinking water will help increase your blood flow, keep you hydrated throughout your treatment, and also assist your body in flushing out toxins.

UBI can be a safer and more effective option to prevent or treat the root cause of the flu virus rather than getting a vaccine. It can help you avoid the dangerous effects of the preservatives used in the flu vaccine. You might wonder why this treatment isn’t as widely used as antibiotics or vaccines in traditional medicine. Sadly, most physicians are more likely to promote drugs and surgery first even when safer, more natural alternatives exist.

Now that you know more about the UBI treatment, you have a more natural and safe alternative to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu and harmful pathogens. The UBI therapy usually takes less than an hour, so it can easily fit your busy schedule.

To learn more about the UBI therapy that is offered at the Riordan Clinic, you can visit our website at or call 316-682-3100 to make an appointment today.


Lowe, Tom. Today’s Medicine and the Power of Light. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Mercola, Joseph. “Dr. Rowen on the Uses of Oxidative Medicine.” N.p., 14 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.