Using the Body’s Built-In Response Mechanisms to Treat Injury and Illness
When you are injured or become ill, your body does not simply remain dormant. Your body makes innate responses to protect you and help you heal. A simple example is the way your skin regrows after a cut or abrasion. However, studies show that the body’s ability to regenerate goes beyond healing from external wounds and can apply to internal organs. The field of regenerative medicine seeks to use your body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate in response to injury or illness.
What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine focuses on finding ways to help the body heal itself. Scientists have long observed the powers of the body to regenerate:
- Research conducted in the 1970s found that children under the age of 10 can often regrow fingertips lost in accidents.
- Scientists have known for more than 80 years that the human liver has the ability to regenerate.
- A small percentage of men who have vasectomies discover that the vas deferens (the tube that is severed to prevent conception) can grow back.
Thus far, regeneration in the human body has been shown to take place at three specific levels:
- The regeneration of cells and cell structures, such as neurons or axons, which are integral to cell growth and reproduction;
- The regeneration of molecules, which are the building blocks of your DNA; and
- The regeneration of tissue, including skin, bone, muscle, and blood.
How Does Regenerative Medicine Work?
Scientists have also discovered that, while some body parts can regenerate on their own, there are medical procedures that can help facilitate regeneration, including the transplantation of stem cells, the implantation of lab-grown tissues or organs, and the implantation of bio-artificial tissues. Such a process is referred to as induced regeneration.
The most advanced form of regenerative medicine is stem cell therapy, in which technicians grow specialized stem cells in a laboratory and then implant them into your body. For example, heart muscle cells can be injected into the heart muscle of a person with heart disease. The transplanted cells can then help the injured heart muscle repair itself.
What Medical Conditions Are Treated with Regenerative Therapy?
Medical professionals use regenerative techniques to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including:
- Skin wounds
- Certain types of cancer
- The repair of brain tissue after a traumatic brain injury
- Type 1 diabetes
- Cardiovascular damage
- Organ transplants
Contact InjuredCare.com to Connect with an Experienced Medical Professional
To find a doctor who can discuss the potential benefits of regenerative medicine with you, contact us online or call our offices today at 866-952-7045.
