25 Feb Benefits of Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is becoming more and more important to the field of medicine as a whole.  It is comprised of harnessing the body’s natural products to help heal various ailments.  Stem cells are the most well-known form of regenerative medicine in the general population.  However, after years of research, there are many other forms of regenerative medicine that can be used on their own or in addition to stem cell therapy.  Utilizing regenerative medicine may one day replace traditional treatments such as prescription medication and surgery.

After stem cells were discovered, there was a significant amount of funding and research poured into the cause.  As more research was being done on stem cells, it became evident there were other biologics naturally made that could contribute to the healing process.  This includes everything from growth factors and cytokines to the products of conception. Products of conception are sourced from consenting donors who are undergoing a scheduled c-section – these include umbilical cord tissue and amniotic fluid. Stem cells can also be derived from the patient’s own bone marrow or adipose tissues.

While stem cells are unique in their ability to differentiate into any kind of tissue in the body, they are not the only healing components in the body.  Regenerative medicine utilizes the body’s own products to help regenerate damaged tissue.  This can come in the form of platelet-rich plasma therapy,  umbilical cord tissue or other types of stem cell therapy.  There is little to no downtime for the patient after undergoing the procedure, and very few risks are involved.  In addition, while regenerative medicine is still being studied, there have been phenomenal patient testimonials.

Regenerative medicine offers countless benefits for patients.  One of the main benefits it offers is the ability to make stem cell therapy even more effective.  Regenerative therapies can be used with stem cell therapy, or on their own.  When used in conjunction with stem cell therapy, there tend to be even more positive results.  In addition, regenerative therapy offers patients a therapy with far fewer side effects than prescription medication or surgery.  Prescription medication can lead to dependence, abuse, and even addiction.  Surgery always involves the risk of complications, which could leave the patient worse off than when they started.  The biggest risk in regenerative medicine tends to be the therapy, not helping the patient improve.  However, far more often than not, patients do see a significant improvement.

There are many benefits that come along with regenerative medicine therapies.  From helping patients feel better to providing alternative treatments with far fewer risks, regenerative medicine therapies are greatly helping medicine advance.  There is still a significant amount of research that will be done before regenerative therapy is widely used in the general population.  However, as more research comes out, it has become apparent that regenerative therapies are the future of medicine.  It is only a matter of time before regenerative therapies are commonly used by physicians on their patients.