A recent report from the Mayo Clinic remarks that the palliative and evidence-based therapies used to treat many diseases and injuries are not as effective as patients and physicians desire. Unfortunately, medical science has been incapable of treating the root causes of manifold diseases, although doctors in pain management and other specialties have long sought cures for health conditions to avoid long-term use of prescription drugs or assistive machines.
Regenerative therapy is a new branch of treatments that could allow healthcare practitioners to effectuate permanent tissue and organ recovery. The treatment methods offer a beacon of hope to those with health conditions that many now view as irreparable.
Health conditions that could benefit from regenerative therapy
A comprehensive list of medical conditions treatable with this new field of medical science is provided by the National Stem Cell Foundation. It includes the following diseases, among others:
- autoimmune disease
- brain injury
- cerebral palsy
- Crohn’s disease
- diabetes
- epilepsy
- heart damage
- leukemia
- lupus
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- rheumatoid arthritis.
Keep in mind that the above compilation is just a partial list. The NSCF references the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which notes that regenerative medicine is at the forefront of scientific efforts to find workable treatments for health conditions negatively impacting millions of people around the world. According to HHS, all types of diseases characterized by “‘malfunctioning, damaged or failing tissues’” could be improved through regenerative techniques.
The basic method of treatment within regenerative medicine is stem cell therapy. Typically stem cells are either harvested from the patient’s own body or from umbilical cords (sourced to avoid ethical concerns), then reintroduced at the site of damage. Stem cells are both capable of regeneration and of developing into certain types of cells based on what is most needed by the body.
The NCSF argues that once the science has been fully developed to steer stem cells toward specific types of development, practitioners will be able to use stem cell therapy to treat third-degree burns, birth defects, and traumatic damage (alongside chronic disease). Studies are being conducted today to use regenerative methods to heal damaged tissue in the heart, brain, pancreas (to treat diabetes mellitus type 1), and retinas (to treat macular degeneration and other eye conditions).
Stem cell therapy as part of a broad treatment plan
The science on regenerative medicine is incredibly exciting, with a trifold effort provided by cutting-edge pain management facilities: rejuvenation, replacement, and regeneration. Beyond treatment with stem cells, we offer a full range of multidisciplinary treatments from the fields of medicine, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. Get your free consultation today.
