Stem cells are often surrounded by controversy. However, there are different types of stem cells and they can be incredibly beneficial in various ways, such as treating chronic back pain, joint pain, and migraines. So if you’re not sure what stems are, but have heard a lot of ethical talk on the subject, as well as potential benefits, we’re here to explain it all.
At Dynamic Health Center, we believe in providing exceptional and affordable medical care along with superior customer service. Many people think that stems cells are just used to replace organs, but there are dozens of uses. If you have been struggling with chronic pain or were injured in an auto accident, there is a safe and ethical solution for your pain. Read on to learn more about the science behind stem cell treatments and get in touch with the team at Dynamic Health Center today.
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are often called the “building blocks of nature.” We’ll discuss the types of stem cells and where they come from below, but for now, here’s some basic information on what they are. When stem cells are divided, called daughter cells, they can either become a specialized cell (differentiation) or they can become a new stem cell (self-renewal).
Under the right conditions, unspecialized stem cells are able to transform into any of the 220 types of specialized cells that are found in the human body, such as blood cells, brain cells, heart muscle cells, or bone cells. When stem cells are used in certain organs, they can divide and repair or replace damaged tissue. These stem cell treatments are what scientists are especially interested in. When a patient is struggling with knee pain, for example, stem cells can regenerate any damaged tissue, resulting in a more natural healing process.
Types of Stem Cells and Where They Come From
There are several types of stem cells, including amniotic, embryonic, adult, perinatal, and induced pluripotent. At Dynamic Health Center, we only use amniotic stem cells and we never use embryonic stem cells because they are illegal.
Embryonic Stem Cells
As the name suggests, these stem cells come from embryos and are a significant reason why they are controversial. Embryonic stem cells are generally derived from eggs that have been through in vitro fertilization, when a cell is fertilized outside of a woman’s body in a clinic. Embryonic cells do not come from an egg that was fertilized naturally in a woman’s body.
Even if they are created in a lab, using embryos for stem cells and stem cell research is a serious moral issue. There are differing beliefs on when human life begins, but the majority of people believe that embryos have the potential of developing into a human being and therefore they deserve special respect. At Dynamic Health Center, we absolutely do not use embryos as a stem cell source under any circumstances.
Adult Stem Cells
Also known as multipotent, these cells can be found in several organs and tissue in an adult body, such as the brain, bone marrow, blood vessels, skin, teeth, gut, liver, heart, and more. These cells are unspecialized and are able to renew themselves to become a specialized cell that can develop into tissue or an organ. The purpose of adult stem cells is to repair the tissue or organ they were found in.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
These are adult stem cells that have been genetically reprogrammed so that they fit the defining properties of embryonic stem cells. Scientists are still exploring the benefits and uses of iPSCs, but they hope they can be used for medical transplants.
Perinatal Stem Cells
These cells are found in amniotic fluid that was drawn from a pregnant woman, or they can be found in umbilical cord blood that is extracted after a live birth.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
We touched on this slightly above, but stem cell therapy, or stem cell treatments use these building blocks of nature in regenerative medicine in order to help patients recover from injuries. By injecting stem cells into a certain part of the body, the cells work to renew or regenerate damaged tissue. Stem cell injections can be used for knees, shoulders, neck and hip pain as well as osteoarthritis and more. If you’re considering stem cell treatments, here are some of the biggest benefits:
- Safer than surgery
- Therapy is regulated for safety
- One-time treatment
- Cost-effective
- Quick recovery
- No chance of adverse reaction with amniotic stem cells
If you’re wondering if stem cell treatments are right for you, get in touch with the team at Dynamic Health Center. Serving the Aurora and Denver areas, as well as people all over the world, we are passionate about helping patients increase their overall quality of life in a safe and effective way.