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Stem cell therapy is a relatively new form of treatment that can provide long-term relief that rivals what traditional therapies normally do.
It is a non-invasive procedure that has quick recovery times and takes advantage of the body’s natural ability to heal. Stem cell therapy uses specialized cells that naturally grow in the human body and relocates them to damaged parts of the body.
This is a treatment with incredible potential to heal a wide array of diseases. Because the therapy is still new, the full effectiveness of stem cells will take more time to fully understand.
There are still several undeniable benefits of stem cell therapy, which we’ll go over and also explain the treatment as a whole below.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy is at the forefront of regenerative medicine and is a powerful treatment that can provide incredible relief.
This treatment involves the use of stem cells, which are capable of transforming into virtually any other cell in the body. The therapy itself involves taking healthy stem cells and using them to repair damaged tissues in the body.
The use of stem cells has a degree of controversy surrounding it due to where stem cells are sourced from. There are two primary ways to gain stem cells, from healthy adult bodies and embryos.
There is not much of a problem with using stem cells from a person’s body to heal themselves, but the use of embryonic cells is more questionable.
They can only be found in a 3-5 day old embryo, but they are not fertilized in a woman’s womb. Instead, they are created via in vitro fertilization from eggs donated purely for science.
Adult stem cells are far less controversial and are found in several parts of the body, including blood vessels and blood marrow. One big problem with adult stem cells is that they are found in extremely limited supply.
How Does It Work?
These unique stem cells are taken from healthy areas of the body and are transplanted into damaged tissue.
The treatment itself is fairly straightforward, but there is a question as to whether adult stem cells are capable of replicating all cells in the body. Embryonic stem cells are far more versatile, but the ethicality of their use makes it difficult to use on a mass scale.
Your healthy stem cells will be taken, usually from bone marrow, and then kept in a lab to be manipulated into cells required for your damage tissue.
One common method of stem cell therapy involves taking stem cells from the hip and making them ready for use in just a few minutes. With the aid of image guidance, the cells are carefully injected into the area requiring treatment. (See also: The Future of Stem Cells in Dentistry)
What Ailments Is SCT Good For?
Since stem cell research is still new, the full list of ailments that it can help is unknown. The potential for stem cells seems limitless with enough research to understand it better.
Here are some conditions that have already been proven to be alleviated with the help of stem cells:
- Cartilage tears.
- Muscular tears.
- Rotator cuff tears.
- Tendon tears.
- Joint problems.
- Spinal issues.
If you are suffering from any of these problems, then stem cell therapy can provide relief. The use of stem cells will regrow and strengthen ailing muscles, joints, and tendons to restore loss functionality.
It typically takes a few weeks for a stem cell treatment to take full effect. Unlike surgeries, the recovery period of a stem cell therapy is very quick and provides a long-lasting solution.
While it has yet to be fully researched, there is a belief that stem cells can be used to treat serious ailments that don’t currently have good treatment options.
Here are some potential diseases currently in the process of clinical trials that might benefit from stem cells in the future:
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Leukemia and other cancers.
- Macular degeneration.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Huntington’s disease.
- Lou Gehrig’s disease.
- Spinal cord injuries.
Stem cells are not guaranteed to fix these diseases, but all of them have seen positive results in clinical trials and there is a good possibility that stem cells will be a viable treatment option in the future.
Closing Thoughts
Stem cell therapy is a fairly controversial treatment option that is one of the leading choices in regenerative medicine.
It uses the transforming ability of stem cells to move from healthy tissue to damaged tissue. This will allow the stem cells to stimulate healing in the affected area.
More research must be done to fully understand stem cells, but its potential as a powerful healing tool is undeniable. For now, it works best for patients suffering from joint, muscle, tendon, and spinal issues.
Stem cell therapy will provide relief and restore range of motion as a long-term solution without requiring as long to recover as surgery does.
About The Author:
Susan Melony is a freelance writer, digital marketer, and entrepreneur based in Kansas City. She often travels while working, and is passionate about the digital nomad lifestyle.
