Day 258 of 365 - The Hype About Stem Cells
You have probably read magazine articles, heard news stories or watched documentaries about the promising effects of stem cell therapy for different conditions. We mostly heard in the past about star athletes having recovery from injuries from these kinds of treatments. But now, there is more news for it being used for various medical conditions, and even as an anti-aging treatment.
How did all this get started? First, there were other forms of injection cell therapies that were used with some success, again, mainly for sports injuries. Prolotherapy, where dextrose is injected into the injured area, tricks the body into healing itself. It has been found to work well for people who are basically in good health but have suffered an orthopedic injury or condition. It is still practiced by licensed physicians in Canada.
Then came platelet rich plasma therapy, PRP. Platelets are retrieved from your own blood and injected into the injured area to trigger your own stem cells to heal the tissue. It has been found to work better than prolotherapy, for acute and chronic soft tissue injuries, and again, has been mainly used by athletes. Some insurance companies cover it for certain conditions, but in general, it is felt that there is not enough clinical evidence.
In the last twenty or so years some clinics started experimenting with using bone marrow cells injected into arthritic joints and other damaged tissue and found even better results. These kinds of injections are thought to improve the microscopic health of tissue and have benefited people who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain. It is reported to work best for people who have pain but still have decent function. It does not, for example, restore the function of bone damage in a joint.
What is currently becoming more widely described in the media is the use of 'stem cell therapy' for anti-aging and cosmetic purposes. The theory is that stem cells can keep inflammatory processes at bay and thus reduce the risk of inflammation based diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Cosmetically, it is also reported to improve the quality of skin and hair.
In Canada, the only stem cell treatment authorized by Health Canada so far is for one type used to treat Graft vs. Host Disease and two gene-based therapies to treat certain cancers. Many private clinics throughout North America, and indeed the world, offer what are called regenerative medicine treatments. These are paid for directly by the consumer.
Why do people get excited about stem cell treatment? It's because stem cells are a primitive type of cell, but can turn into a target tissue cell or also a new version of themselves. In the presence of damaged tissue, they release signal proteins to tell the tissue to heal itself. This is what happens naturally, but, when you give an injection, it tricks the body into thinking there is a new injury and launches a healing cascade. It is used for issues where there has been sub-optimal natural healing.
Stem cells can come from bone marrow or fat, when the donor and recipient are the same person. Bone marrow tissue has been used for some time to treat cancer and joint problems. Fat-derived cell treatment is more recent.
Due to ethical issues and other clinical concerns, use of embryonic, umbilical or placental stem cells has fallen someone out of favor. There is more risk when using donor cells from someone else in any case.
We have naturally occurring stem cells throughout life, but they are less robust and less plentiful as we age. They are needed for healing and as we age, healing is slower, due to decreased stem cell activity. Thus, those interested in regenerative medicine and anti-aging techniques are willing to pay at private clinics to have their stem cell function enhanced via these injections.
The bottom line is that, most of the reported success continues to be with muscular and skeletal conditions and cosmetic and anti-aging treatments have mainly been explored by celebrities. The clinics which offer these private services make clear that treatments will not have long term effects if the consumer is basically unhealthy due to lifestyle issues such as poor diet etc.
We can activate our own stem cell production and enhance their function on our own too. How? Well, no surprise, as mentioned in other blog posts, by eating a healthy diet, exercising, getting adequate sleep and being in emotional balance. All those things reduce inflammation in the body too.
So, until there is more research, you might want to do your own regenerative therapy by addressing lifestyle issues, and save your money. Good health requires effort on our part and although stem cell treatments can sound like miracle cures, unless the baseline condition of the recipient is generally healthy, results will be questionable.
How did all this get started? First, there were other forms of injection cell therapies that were used with some success, again, mainly for sports injuries. Prolotherapy, where dextrose is injected into the injured area, tricks the body into healing itself. It has been found to work well for people who are basically in good health but have suffered an orthopedic injury or condition. It is still practiced by licensed physicians in Canada.
Then came platelet rich plasma therapy, PRP. Platelets are retrieved from your own blood and injected into the injured area to trigger your own stem cells to heal the tissue. It has been found to work better than prolotherapy, for acute and chronic soft tissue injuries, and again, has been mainly used by athletes. Some insurance companies cover it for certain conditions, but in general, it is felt that there is not enough clinical evidence.
In the last twenty or so years some clinics started experimenting with using bone marrow cells injected into arthritic joints and other damaged tissue and found even better results. These kinds of injections are thought to improve the microscopic health of tissue and have benefited people who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain. It is reported to work best for people who have pain but still have decent function. It does not, for example, restore the function of bone damage in a joint.
What is currently becoming more widely described in the media is the use of 'stem cell therapy' for anti-aging and cosmetic purposes. The theory is that stem cells can keep inflammatory processes at bay and thus reduce the risk of inflammation based diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Cosmetically, it is also reported to improve the quality of skin and hair.
In Canada, the only stem cell treatment authorized by Health Canada so far is for one type used to treat Graft vs. Host Disease and two gene-based therapies to treat certain cancers. Many private clinics throughout North America, and indeed the world, offer what are called regenerative medicine treatments. These are paid for directly by the consumer.
Why do people get excited about stem cell treatment? It's because stem cells are a primitive type of cell, but can turn into a target tissue cell or also a new version of themselves. In the presence of damaged tissue, they release signal proteins to tell the tissue to heal itself. This is what happens naturally, but, when you give an injection, it tricks the body into thinking there is a new injury and launches a healing cascade. It is used for issues where there has been sub-optimal natural healing.
Stem cells can come from bone marrow or fat, when the donor and recipient are the same person. Bone marrow tissue has been used for some time to treat cancer and joint problems. Fat-derived cell treatment is more recent.
Due to ethical issues and other clinical concerns, use of embryonic, umbilical or placental stem cells has fallen someone out of favor. There is more risk when using donor cells from someone else in any case.
We have naturally occurring stem cells throughout life, but they are less robust and less plentiful as we age. They are needed for healing and as we age, healing is slower, due to decreased stem cell activity. Thus, those interested in regenerative medicine and anti-aging techniques are willing to pay at private clinics to have their stem cell function enhanced via these injections.
The bottom line is that, most of the reported success continues to be with muscular and skeletal conditions and cosmetic and anti-aging treatments have mainly been explored by celebrities. The clinics which offer these private services make clear that treatments will not have long term effects if the consumer is basically unhealthy due to lifestyle issues such as poor diet etc.
We can activate our own stem cell production and enhance their function on our own too. How? Well, no surprise, as mentioned in other blog posts, by eating a healthy diet, exercising, getting adequate sleep and being in emotional balance. All those things reduce inflammation in the body too.
So, until there is more research, you might want to do your own regenerative therapy by addressing lifestyle issues, and save your money. Good health requires effort on our part and although stem cell treatments can sound like miracle cures, unless the baseline condition of the recipient is generally healthy, results will be questionable.
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