Your body can heal itself after a cut or when you break a bone. However, when it comes to chronic conditions such as diabetes, stroke, or heart disease, the body often cannot resolve the condition by itself. This could change in the future thanks to regenerative medicine, an innovative field that aims to treat health conditions by supporting and assisting the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Continue reading to find out more about regenerative medicine.
How Regenerative Medicine Works
Regenerative medicine is a type of clinical therapy that seeks to repair organs or tissues damaged due to illness, injury, or aging and restore their normal function. This treatment prompts your body to elicit a self-healing response to heal and repair the condition. While different types of regenerative research are still in their infancy, some are already in use.
The Types of Regenerative Medicine
Though regenerative medicine is a relatively new field, it’s a promising treatment with endless possibilities. As the field continues to grow rapidly, medical researchers are developing new ways how to cure different health conditions using this methodology. So, if you are wondering about the types of regenerative medicine, here are some available therapies:
Cellular therapy
Cellular therapy uses stem cells that are manipulated to function like a specific cell. Stem cells can build any tissue in your body, and they’re found in dental pulp, blood, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, and fat. These cells are then injected into the part of your body that needs repair and may develop into healthy tissue or promote faster healing.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy may treat damaged joints, connective tissues, and other musculoskeletal conditions. This therapy may also treat degenerative disk disease, whiplash, and arthritis. The doctor will inject a solution into the injured area, which triggers your body to start the healing process and grow new tissue.
Platelet-rich plasma
Platelet-rich plasma is based on the theory that plasma and platelets in your blood can repair and heal injuries. This therapy is popular in sports medicine and may repair tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joint injuries. The doctor draws your blood and spins it in a centrifuge to reach the right concentration. Once they reach the right concentration, they inject the solution into the injured area with the help of an ultrasound. This solution prompts the regeneration of the tendons or ligaments.
Artificial devices
Doctors usually recommend an organ transplant when your organ fails but getting a matching donor may be challenging, or the waiting list may be too long. Due to the urgency of this situation, your doctor may opt for regenerative medicine that uses robotics and engineered devices to replace or supplement a damaged organ. This includes devices such as the Ventricular Assistive Device (VAD) or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) to support a failing heart.
Conclusion
Regenerative medicine aims to support your body’s healing process using stem cells, prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma, and artificial devices. These therapies prompt your body to regenerate and repair injuries or are used to replace damaged organs. As research continues in this exciting field, it holds the possibility to treat diseases that were previously uncurable. Consult your doctor for information and to determine if regenerative medicine is best for you.