Language: Chinese (Traditional)
Stem Cell Therapy
Imagine that you have what it takes inside your own body to heal and regenerate your tissues and even organs without drugs and without invasive surgeries. How marvellous it would be. The human body does possess such an endogenous system through stem cells to accomplish such tasks. Blood-derived adult stem cells have demonstrated to be an amazing therapy for many diseases and conditions such as osteoarthritis, nerve damage, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases. It is also an excellent therapy for people who are seeking rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments. Simply extracting your own blood stem cells and re-injecting them back to where you need could perhaps be the perfect treatment that you are looking for.
Introduction
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells. They have the capacity to reproduce infinitely and to develop into different cell types under appropriate conditions. However, with disease and aging processes, the release of stem cells can be diminished and intervention is necessary.
There are two main origins of stem cells: embryo and adult. There are two main types:
1. hematopoietic – they mainly give rise to blood cells and heal injured tissues.
(Main source is bone marrow.)
2. mesenchymal – they don’t make new blood, but can differentiate into the structural parts of our bodies, such as bone, muscle, cartilage, tendon, ligament and fat.
(These are distributed throughout the body.)
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are found in many of our own tissues and organs including bone marrow, fat tissue, peripheral blood and umbilical cord tissue. The bone marrow appears to serve as the major reservoir of stem cells. But bone marrow extraction is an invasive procedure which can result in significant pain.1 Similarly, fat extraction through liposuction can be invasive with potential complications such as fibrosis, necrosis, skin unevenness and brown discoloration.1 Blood-derived adult stem cells are by far the safest and most accessible source, and have been documented to display stem cell properties.2
Autologous MSC i.e. harvesting the person’s own stem cells, as compared to embryonic stem cell, is emerging as the forerunner because of the ethical concerns, risks of rejection and tumor formation that are surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells.3 On the other hand, there are no indications of tumor formation over the last 40 years in the therapies of leukemia and lymphoma, which involve the use of adult stem cells. Indeed, the power of adult stem cells in the areas of clinical treatment and regenerative medicine is not a theory but a reality as it has produced many wonderful clinical results.
Clinical Application
At our clinic, autologous blood-derived adult stem cells have become a cutting edge treatment which is perfectly in line with the naturopathic philosophy of self-healing. Cellular therapy has long been a tradition in naturopathic practice using natural substances such as animal glandular tissues, homeopathic cellular preparations and frozen animal stem cells. Dr. Chow is certified by the Naturopathic Board for over 15 years in blood treatments such as autohemotherapy, which involves mixing ozone gas with extracted blood followed by reinfusion, auto-vaccination and photo-oxidation (i.e. treating venous blood with UV light). Extracting stem cells and activating growth factors from platelets for self therapy will be a logical progression as modern medicine advances. Nothing will be more natural than using your own cells to heal your own body.
Immuno-phenotype studies have been performed on the blood-derived stem cells processed at our clinic. Cell surface marker analyses were done at the British Columbia Cancer Agency’s flow cytometry laboratory. The progenitor cells exhibit antibody profile of stro-1, CD105, CD44, CD34, CD14, BMPR1A, vimentin, and collagen type I. This indicates a multipotent potential of these stem cells to grow into various cell lineages such as bone, cartilage, nerve, fat and muscle, under appropriate conditions.
Another fascinating characteristic of MSC is its ability to become identical to the surrounding tissue in its new found environment.4 For example, when MSC is implanted into a degenerated joint, it will grow new cartilage, and if it is injected into the skin, it will turn into skin cells. In addition, stem cells can repair tissues by secreting a wide spectrum of immune modulating and hormone-like substances that greatly contribute to the trophic effect in regeneration.5
Many clinical benefits have been observed for our patients who receive local stem cell transplants. Direct MSC injection at the mastoid area has improved facial muscles movement and less droopy appearance in a young man who suffers from facial nerve damage. The therapy has also improved stress incontinence of urinary bladder in a number of women. Many who suffer from joint diseases report better joint mobility and muscle strength. Gum tissues become healthier and less atrophied. Some excellent results are also obtained in facial rejuvenation with MSC in restoring volume, skin texture and elasticity. (See patients’ comments)
The treatment process
After a standard blood draw, both MSC and platelets are extracted from the blood in a sterile environment provided by a biosafety Level II containment facility. The patient receives their own stem cells and growth factors from platelets on the same day. The administration of stem cells is always accompanied with platelet-rich plasma to offer double benefits.
The stem cells are administered in two ways: intravenously and locally into the diseased tissues. Through an I.V. drip, infused MSCs would be preferentially attracted to migrate into sites of inflammation or injury.6 These freshly released stem cells will respond to the body signals and will find their ways to where they are needed! This innate body wisdom called ‘homing’ offers a ‘tune up’ of the entire body since many diseases are of a systemic nature (e.g. aches and pains of multiple joints, and normal aging).
The overall clinical results have been impressive. Many clients who have received the IV stem cell treatment notice a better sense of well being, improved metabolism, and enhanced muscle and joint strength. MSC can also affect facial muscle, breast and skin to restore volume, contour, skin texture and elasticity of once sagging and worn out atrophied tissues. Unlike botox or fillers injection which is toxic and temporary, stem cell is safe with no risk of rejection or scarring. It also offers a much more natural look.
Many people would like to know how long a stem cell transplantation lasts. When a stem cell is engrafted to a target site, it becomes an integral part of the tissues being repaired or replaced. It does not get disintegrated; it stays to rebuild. Therefore, one treatment can potentially last for years. In 2008, a woman in Barcelona received a brand new trachea grown from stem cells instead of a lung transplant. Recently in the U.S., cornea transplant with the patients’ own stem cells have successful restored the sight of those who were previously blind. Perhaps reversing the aging clock and organ regeneration are not a dream in the future but they are already a present reality!
Disclaimer
Despite all the research and documented clinical cases for many years, autologous adult stem cell transplanting is still considered to be experimental, and its clinical use has not been approved by Health Canada. Dr. Chow will not make any medical claims or guarantee of the effectiveness of such treatment.
However, the entire treatment procedure is performed according to the most updated medical scientific research. Dr. Chow endeavours to provide the most innovative, safe and effective therapy to her clients.
