Stem cells sound like something developed by a genius in a sci-fi movie –complete with green serums contained in big syringes. But they are anything but fiction. They could be the medical world’s saving grace when it comes to incurable diseases.
Scientists have toiled for generations to understand how these cells can advance the world of medicine. It’s been a dramatic journey colored with wins that came at a snail’s speed, disappointments, and lots of hope that one day, these cells will help millions of families celebrate a sick loved one’s recovery from what they were told was an incurable disease.
So, what are stem cells and what relationship do they have with regenerative medicine and exosomes? Read on to learn.
What are Stem Cells?
Here’s the simplest breakdown ever. Every cell in the body has a specific purpose. Stem cells do not. They work on a blank slate. In other words, they can turn into whatever cells the body requires and help in replacing or repairing defective tissue.
Under favorable conditions, stem cells split to form more cells called daughter cells in the body or a lab. The daughter cells can self-renew to become new stem cells or cells with a specialized purpose, for example, spinal cord cells, brain cells, etc. Only stem cells can naturally generate new cells on their own.
Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine
What does stem cell therapy have to do with regenerative medicine? The short answer is everything! Stem cell therapy is under the umbrella of regenerative medicine.
It is a non-invasive treatment where stem cells are administered in different ways –IV, Intrathecal (directly into the spinal canal) and site injections, for instance, into joints, arms, etc. according to particular needs.
This way, donor stem cells are introduced to your body and begin growing and dividing, so that the healing can start, and continue to create healthier cells over time.
Apart from regenerating and repairing defective tissues, stem cells are naturally attracted to inflamed areas in the body and reduce inflammation. They also regulate immunity, boosting health and improving the quality of life.
There are different types of stem cells. Totipotency stem cells generate all types of cells including germ cells. Pluripotency stem cells generate all types of cells except cells of the embryonic membrane.
Multipotency stem cells differentiate into more than one mature cell, and self-renewal stem cells divide without differentiation and create a never-ending supply, and plasticity stem cells can undergo differentiation.
Multipotent stem cells are most commonly used in regenerative medicine.
Stem Cell and Exosome Therapy
Exosome therapy is a precisely focused, adaptable treatment for illnesses such as osteoarthritis, long-term pain, and musculoskeletal damage. Genetic traits, prolonged and degenerative illnesses, and aging can interfere with the ability of your cells to communicate.
Exosomes come from stem cells. But it doesn’t mean that one term can be used in place of the other or that they serve the same purpose. In fact approximately 70 percent of stem cells activity comes from excretion of the vesicles containing exosomes. Researchers have found evidence that stem cells that do not have extracellular vesicles may not be beneficial. Exosomes are essentially a genetic key that fits into a lack of an injured cell and turns on the repair mechanism of that cell!
Exosome therapy, unlike stem cell therapy, does not involve placing donor cells in your body. Instead, exosomes are obtained and sterilized from either donated human mesenchymal or placenta stem cells (MSCs). OWM Integrative Wellness Medicine uses purified and concentrated placenta derived exosomes.
Exosome therapy can also be administered through IV or injections into the concerned sites.
When Exosomes May Be A Better Fit Then Your Own Stem Cells
When cells from an older organism are exposed to cells from a younger organism, exosomes from the young stem cells rejuvenate older cells.
Any degenerative disease is caused by the perpetual degradation of cells, which affects tissues. Even though stem cells are usually in charge of rejuvenating cells, external factors can interfere with this function. They might not provide all of the necessary info.
Promoting their activity with external exosomes may have a favorable influence through offering new info to aid in the healing process. Exosome therapy stimulates recovery by improving channels of communication between cells. Exosomes also serve as carriers of genetic info and proteins to other cells.
If you’re suffering from Lyme disease, chronic inflammation, an immune deficiency disease, or any other degenerative disease, you may benefit greatly by exosome therapy. It may also help in alleviating symptoms in the rare Meniere’s disease.
So you’ve been experiencing pain after mild exercise or would like to speed up your tissue recovery after your surgery? Get some exosome therapy. It will help you get back on your feet sooner than later.
About Exosome Therapy and Aging
The fact is 21 million men and 35 million men suffer from hair loss. If you’ve clocked 35 or are older – basically between 35 and 80 –you need to do more than eat eggs, berries and spinach or take biotin supplements for the sake of keeping a healthy mane for longer.
When your older hair follicles are exposed to younger exosomes, the younger exosomes provide essential building blocks which rejuvenate them which promote healing in the old cells. As they get healthier, so does your hair.
Aging is bound to happen and the skin is always the first to announce it –by sagging, developing blemishes and an unhealthy tan. You can also get your aging skin treated with exosomes.
Exosome therapy professionals can add exosomes to your skin using minimally invasive microneedling combined with growth factors, RNA and hyaluronic acid to promote healing and skin cell regeneration.
If you’re particularly concerned about sagging skin, you can also have dermal fillers when you go for an exosome facial. The procedure plumps and lifts the skin.
Because exosome anti-aging treatment rejuvenates skin cells, they also lead to a host of other benefits including.
- Facial contouring and shaping resulting in a youthful appearance.
- Enhancing the health of your skin, tone and texture
- Significantly reducing the appearance of dark marks, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation
- Improving the appearance of fine lines, crow’s feet, and other wrinkles
- Improving your skin’s elasticity
The Key Takeaway: Find Integrative Wellness
At OWM, we have comprehensive, non-invasive treatments designed to help you get back to optimal functioning by helping your body heal itself through the restoration of its vital functions and processes. We offer everything from nutritional counseling and physical training to Stem Cell and Exosome Regenerative Therapies. To learn more about our integrated approach, click here or call to speak with one of our concierge staff professionals at (716) 626-6301.
