Natural Awakenings Houston February 2022

Page 19

health tip

Q: How are stem cells currently used in healthcare? A: We know stem cell therapy encourages new, healthy skin tissue to grow. It also enhances collagen production, stimulates hair development after incisions or loss, and helps to substitute scar tissue with newly developed, healthy tissue. Some of the potential uses for stem cells include:

Stem cell therapy has been around for a couple of decades, but scientists are continually finding new ways to apply it. Since stem cells gathered from human cells can transform themselves into almost any type of cell the body needs, they offer a tremendous opportunity for healing multiple medical conditions.

Growing new cells (in a laboratory environment) to replace damaged organs or tissues. n Correcting parts of organs that don’t work properly. n Researching the causes of genetic defects in cells. n Investigating how diseases occur or why certain cells develop into cancer cells. n Testing new drugs for safety and effectiveness before they are given to humans.

Sandra Burnett is a qualified healthcare practitioner whose interest in stem cell therapy guided her into promoting this method of achieving better health. After completing two years of college in Raleigh, NC, and a three-year RN program in England, Sandra saw the value of taking a holistic approach to wellness instead of a reactive one. She discovered how activating stem cells could increase oxygenating capillary blood flow, and now focuses on teaching her clients to be proactive with their own health.

People who could benefit from stem cell therapies include patients with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Read this interview with Sandra to learn more about stem cell therapy and how reactivating your own stem cells can help your body heal itself.

Q: How can we boost our body’s own stem cell activity?

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Understanding Stem Cells, and What They Can Do for You by Sandra Burnett, RN

Q: What exactly are stem cells?

A: Stem cells are human cells that can adapt to many different types of cells ranging from muscles cells to brain cells. They are the “building blocks” of our human bodies, and their ability to transform means our bodies can use them wherever we need regeneration. The cells can also divide and replicate themselves over a long time.

Q: What types of stem cells do we have?

A: Our bodies produce different types of stem cells, which can all be used for different purposes. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from human embryos during the first three to five days of age, using in-vitro fertilization. These cells can be used for literally any purpose because they can transform into any type of cell needed, in any location in the body.

Q: Do all stem cells come from embryos?

A: Not at all. Adult stem cells can be collected from anybody, including infants and children. They come from organs and tissues in the body and are mainly used to repair or replace damaged cells in the same area. Some adult stem cells are found in bone marrow, and when these are transplanted (also known as a bone marrow transplant), they make new red and white blood cells to treat leukemia. Some adult stem cells can also be made to behave like embryonic stem cells. These are called induced pluripotent cells, and they can potentially be developed into new cells for any organ or tissue. Researchers hope to eventually create cells from a person’s own skin that doctors can use to treat diseases affecting them. Then there are cord blood cells and amniotic fluid stem cells, which are gathered from an umbilical cord after childbirth. They can be frozen for future use and have treated children with blood cancers and other genetic blood disorders with remarkable success.

Stem cells exist throughout the body, but they multiply better in the bone marrow, brain, and gut. In other places, the cells need specific conditions to reproduce. Some factors that cause them to thrive include: Intermittent fasting and caloric restriction, which encourage stem cell production in the body. The overall functionality of the cells also improves, which could explain why so many health experts recommend correct fasting and a healthy diet for general wellness. n Increasing omega-e fatty acid intake, which reduces Triglycerides (TGs). TGs store unwanted carbohydrates that can cause metabolic syndrome and suppress stem cell activity. n Doing more regular aerobic exercise, which helps stem cells transform into new bone and muscle structures, instead of fat. n Reducing glucose from consuming processed sugars, which fuels diseases. The reduction of glucose in our systems also increases stem cell longevity. n Minimizing our intake of foods like processed food, soda, and alcohol, because the inflammation they cause inhibits stem cell activity and reduces the therapeutic benefits. n

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