The Controversy Over Stem Cell Therapy

There are currently three ways to harvest stem cells – bone marrow, blood and embryos. The preferred method is from using the blood, as it is thought to be safer and can be done with no anaesthesia. Harvesting stem cells from bone marrow is the preferred source when the blood cannot provide sufficient cells. Harvesting embryonic stem cells is really where the controversy with stem cell therapy lies.

Removing stem cells from blood can be accomplished by processing the blood of either the patient or an outside donor. The procedure consists of placing an IV in each arm – through one, IV blood is drawn from the body, then processed by a machine which extracts the stem cells. The blood is then returned to the body through the second IV. Harvesting stem cells from blood can be done time after time until there are sufficient stem cells to begin the anti aging therapy that they are being harvested for. There may be discomfort in the bones as the marrow works overtime to generate more blood and white blood cells. Once enough stem cells have been harvested, the pain quickly subsides.

Usually, before harvesting stem cells from the blood, the patient gets a drug that increases the production of white blood cells in his bone marrow. Although blood is the preferred source for stem cells, there are very few of them in the blood. The drug that is given stimulates a massive overproduction of white blood cells that spill over from the marrow into the blood where they are harvested. Stem cell treatment for any purpose requires millions of stem cells to work correctly. Timing the harvest is constantly monitored to determine exactly when to start the process as the drug causes such a rapid production of white blood cells that they age and begin to die very quickly.

Harvesting stem cells from a human embryo causes the death of the embryo – hence, the moral dilemma. Many people consider this method of stem cell extraction tantamount to murder. Research continues and it is looking more and more promising that a stem cell can be extracted from the embryo and the remaining cells can be reintroduced into the womb, thereby preserving the embryo.

Regardless of how the stem cells are harvested, they show tremendous promise in treating disease as far removed from one another as cancer and aging. Along with alternative therapy, such as IV vitamin therapy, researchers continue to work toward enhancing, and perhaps extending, life.

Patients Report Positive Effects from Stem Cell Anti Aging Therapy

Studies into anti aging therapy are on-going and probably will be for many years to come. As people age, the stem cell production begins a slow decline and the body's cells reduce their ability to regenerate, thereby slowing tissue repair. Changes in the human body which are age related can be seen in the skin, the internal organs, those glands related to the sex drive, the immune and blood forming systems and muscles. These symptoms of aging are all due to the loss of stem cells and the robust nature of the cells.

As new scientific breakthroughs are made, a better understanding of the potential of stem cell therapy will gradually appear. One thing is for certain though; cells lose their strength over time and die, thus, replacing aging cells with new cells is an effective remedy against aging.

There is considerable evidence of the effect of stem cells as an anti-aging agent being reported in various well respected medical journals. In one recent report, preparations made from stem cells showed marked improvement in the immune function and a re-balancing of certain hormones in patients who were involved in cosmetic procedures. The results enhanced the cosmetic effect considerably.

Reports from patients consistently suggest unexpected positive results when undergoing anti-aging stem cell treatments. Depending on the patient's age and overall wellness at the time of treatment, the results of course differed, but some of the more common results that were noted and reported are:

•    Improved overall feeling of fitness, increase in energy and vigor
•    A marked improvement in mobility, endurance, strength and coordination coupled with a desire for an increase in physical activities
•    A reduction in the symptoms seen in arthritis and an improvement in the function of joints
•    An improvement in overall mental capacity, including enhancement in one's ability to concentrate, a longer span of attention, clearer thinking, articulation and memory
•    An elevated mood, a more positive attitude coupled with a decrease in irritability, apathy and better sleep patterns
•    General feeling of being physically and mentally refreshed upon waking
•    A restoration in the activity of damaged tissue and organs
•    Improved appetite
•    Improved sex drive

There is little doubt that as research into stem cell technology continues reinforcement of these and other positive benefits will emerge. Perhaps the day will come when a cocktail of anti-aging therapies and treatments will never stop the clock but make old age something to honestly look forward to.

Stem Cell Therapy Combats the Effects of Aging

As one ages, there is a continuing depletion in stem cells in the body. However, research shows that replacement stem cells introduced into the body have the possibility and potential of reversing, or at least slowing down the aging process. Stem cell technology has also proven that stem cells have the unique ability to improve the immune system, regenerate and repair organs which have been damaged by free radicals and all of the various toxins the human body is exposed too.

A body makes use of its own stem cells in an effort to make the person stronger, healthier and more disease resistant. As the body ages, the stem cells are used to repair organs that get damaged; cells in the lungs which are injured as a result of smoking, as well as cells that are damaged due to over exposure to the sun's harmful rays are repaired by stem cells. Continued research is showing that stem cells are not only replenishing the various organs in the body, they are also effective for anti aging treatment.

The stem cells which are found in bone marrow are released slower and there are fewer of them. This results in a decrease in the body's ability to combat the effect of aging. This, however, can be reversed with adult stem cell therapy. Pliable, young looking skin is the result of epidermal stem cells that renew themselves throughout one's life. Even as the skin begins to show signs of aging – blotches, discoloration, loss of suppleness, etc., – the stem cells remain at a normal level. This fact indicates that skin aging is caused by a reduced number of stem cells being mobilized to respond to the signals that indicate repair is required. With this knowledge, the medical profession now knows that by increasing the quantity of stem cells in the body, a change in cell behavior is possible.

It is not only aging that can be slowed or reversed with stem cell therapy; it is a proven fact that stem cell retardation as a result of aging is responsible for coronary artery and cardiac muscle damage. With stem cell treatment, cardiac disease can also be treated.

The American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine suggests that stem cells are the most powerful weapon available to modern medicine at present and that supplementing stem cell production results in an increase in stem cells and the longevity of the cells.

Regeneveda Opens Flagship Stem Cell Therapy Clinic in Beverly Hills

Regeneveda Opens Flagship Stem Cell Therapy Clinic in Beverly Hills: Regenevéda (www.regeneveda.com) recently opened its brand new flagship facility in Beverly Hills. Founded by world renowned surgeon Dr. Thom Lobe, Regenevéda specializes in cutting edge anti-aging treatments such as Stem Cell Therapy, IV Vitamin Therapy, and HGH Therapy.

Stem Cell Treatment and IV Vitamin Therapy: Best Beauty Options

At present, there is an observable rise in the number of Beverly Hills anti aging clinics. This rise can be traced back to the current societal aesthetics norms and demands; that is, maintaining a youthful appearance. For the rising demand, modern science is doing its best to keep up by creating a variety of ways by which people, especially women, can maintain society's aesthetic standards. Although science is offering a variety of options, it is important to note that most of these beauty interventions are superficial and can only therefore provide short term solutions to the aging problem.

Taking into consideration not just the external appearance but also the health of people, science has provided society with various alternatives that aim to beautify and rejuvenate from within, such as IV Vitamin Therapy and stem cell treatments.

The IV Vitamin treatment is designed to introduce a cocktail of vitamins to the body through the veins instead of the typical oral intake. This way, the body will get what it is designed to absorb with minimal wastage of the necessary nutrients. Taking the vitamins orally is neither as efficient nor as effective as the IV intervention because much of the designated vitamins will be lost to misapplication and digestion. By receiving the vitamins intravenously, a patient's body will be resilient to diseases, physical and mental illnesses and various health discomforts – and effects are immediate.

Just like IV therapy, stem cell therapy is designed to improve an individual's aesthetics and health through internal rejuvenation. The concept behind this is the reinforcement of the existing stem cells of the body. The body has various naturally-occurring stem cell lines which keep it young and energetic. Aging and disease kicks in when this stem cell line thins out. The treatment is intended to reintroduce stem cells to the body thereby reinforcing the body's stem cell lines, and rejuvenating it and reviving its regenerative capabilities to guard against aging, disease, and injury. Upon receiving the treatment, a patient will observe general improvements in his health and wellbeing as well as in his aesthetics.

Scientists have designed many interventions for keeping people's youthfulness, energy, and beauty. However it is important to note that these treatments will prove superfluous if the health and the general wellbeing of a person are not equally maintained. This fact is the greatest advantage of the two discussed health and beauty interventions when compared to others is that they maintain your beauty and provide you with longevity to enjoy it.

What Is Stem Cell Technology?

The definition of a stem cell is very simple; it is an immature cell that can be a specialist cell for use in different parts of the body. Stem cell technology has come a long way since the scientific breakthroughs of the late 90s, but it all circles around the types of stem cells that exist; adult and embryonic. Embryonic stem cells form during the early division of newly fertilized egg and they can be made to change into any type of cell. The use of embryonic stem cells is quite controversial.

The use of the term adult stem cell is a misnomer because they are nothing but cells which are already in use in developed tissue, so they are found in infants and children as well. Adult stem cells may best be thought of as mature stem cells and they act as the body’s repair kit – dividing on a regular basis to take the place of cells that die or are lost. Adult stem cells have been found in blood, skin, muscle and bone. Adult stem cells are hard to harvest but recent developments make it easier and easier to get them from bone marrow and use them for stem cell therapy in the battle against leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases of the blood, as well as some tumors.

Because stem cells are found in all the different tissues in the body, they have the potential of being utilized for anti aging therapy as well as having applications in treating many health related problems. Studies are ongoing and new breakthroughs are happening in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, heart disease, Alzheimer's, arthritis and many ailments often associated with aging.

One of the original success stories was a bone marrow transplant, where the stem cells of the patient's bone marrow were replaced with healthy stem cells from a matching donor. Once treatment begins the stem cells’ migrate into the bone marrow of the cancer sufferer and the production of healthy new replacement cells begins. Stem cells are in the blood as well, but they are far more difficult to process because, although they are easier to harvest, there is far less of them.

A byproduct of giving birth is the umbilical cord which was at one time simply discarded. It has been found in the research labs that the umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells and treatment with umbilical cord stem cells shows great promise.

Three Reasons Why IV Vitamin Therapy Deserves a Second Look

These days, a lot of talk has been going around about the novel method of administering vitamins through injections and intravenous drips. The more traditional types were quick to dismiss IV vitamin therapy as downright silly and ineffective, without even taking the effort to get to know its basis. Others, who have only heard about this and that celebrity who's getting regular IV drips to be able to jump from one party to the next, simply put it down as yet another trend that will soon die down and never live up to its hype.

Don't you think these verdicts were reached a little too hastily? Read on and find three simple reasons why you should consider IV drips more closely before deciding to completely write them off.
1. IV vitamin drips are not novel at all.

The Institute for Healing Arts Research discusses the Myers' Cocktail – an early form of intravenous vitamin therapy developed by Baltimore native John Myers, MD more than 30 years ago. This intravenous vitamin nutrient supplement contains magnesium, calcium, vitamins B5, B6, and B12, as well as an average of 25 grams of vitamin C.
For years, the concoction has been used to alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome with or without the Epstein-Barr virus, as well as chronic depression, migraine, narcotic withdrawal, respiratory issues, and sinusitis, among others. Most say that the more effective transfer of nutrients from the blood to the cells is what makes IV-administered vitamins more effective than those which are taken orally.

2. IV drips can be tailor-made to cater to your specific needs.
Not everyone's body is the same – the nutrients needed by a middle-aged woman are most likely different from the nutrients required by an adolescent boy. This is where the beauty of IV vitamin cocktails shines through. A doctor can make an assessment of your body to determine which vitamins need to be included into your very own vitamin cocktail. That way, nothing will be found wanting and nothing will be put to waste. It's just like having your personal trainer evaluate you before giving you an exercise program at the gym.

3. If it's good enough for them, why shouldn't it be good enough for you?
Cheryl Cole, Rihanna, Geri Haliwell, Suzanne Somers, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Simon Cowell... all these big names make IV vitamin therapy an integral part of their respective beauty and wellness regimen. It sure looks like it's doing wonders for them, why should it be any different for you?