Regenerative Medical Services in Alexandria, Virginia
The field of regenerative medicine is relatively new, so don’t be alarmed if you’ve never heard of it before or if you don’t know how it works. Here is a brief explanation of the regenerative medicine services we offer and how they can potentially benefit you.
What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is the process of replacing or “regenerating” human cells, tissues, or organs to restore normal function.
By replacing damaged tissues or by stimulating the body’s own healing process, regenerative medicine holds great promise for the future. Regenerative medicine modalities include immunomodulation therapy, tissue engineering, and cell therapy. Cell therapy is where human cells and tissue are injected into the body.
Regenerative medicine is currently being used in clinical practice. Materials are used that assist in the healing process by releasing cytokines and growth factors back into the damaged tissues and organs. Research continues to expand, with the hopes of eventually treating many diseases and improving overall health.
What Can Regenerative Medicine Help?
Scientists estimate that approximately one in three Americans might benefit from regenerative medicine.
In practice, tissue therapy refers to the repair or replacement of portions of or whole tissues (i.e., skin, bone marrow, cartilage, bladder, blood vessels). The tissues involved must have specific mechanical and structural properties for proper functioning. The term tissue engineering has also been attached to biochemical functions that use cells within artificially created systems such as artificial pancreas and livers. These therapies can also bolster the immune system.
For example, human cells and tissue are currently being used as an effective alternative to knee replacement surgery. By performing human cell and tissue transplant therapies, the body is able to grow additional cartilage, thus restoring knee structure and function. Patients report increased mobility and less pain, even after the first set of injections.
This is just one practical example that is in current use. Researchers are investigating the use of cell therapies in Type 1 diabetics to see if they can stimulate the production of insulin in the pancreas.
As you can see, the regenerative medicine we offer holds great promise for the future and represents a positive step toward better health. Contact Virginia Family Integrated Medicine today to set up an appointment!