Regenerative medicine involving stem cells holds great possibilities, no doubt. But there are certain myths and misconceptions that surround it. The therapeutic possibilities of stem cell therapies for medical conditions are often misrepresented.
Similarly, concerns about its safety and validity are also not well understood. It’s time to dispel the various stem cell therapy myths so you can make informed decisions about your treatment.
Debunking Stem Cell Therapy Misconceptions
Stem cell therapy has been around for decades. However, it is surrounded by certain myths. Check out the following stem cell therapy misconceptions:
Myth 1: Stem Cell Therapy & Research Is Illegal In The United States
Research into stem cells isn’t illegal in the United States. However, there are research guidelines and standard procedures for stem cell research.
This is not surprising. Research into human health generally involves certain guidelines, restrictions, and funding. But there’s no federal law that bans stem cell research.
The role of stem cells in therapy is currently among the most widely investigated research interests in medicine. Even the National Institute of Health (NIH) that established the guidelines invests more than 1 billion dollars annually into stem cell research.
Myth 2: Stem Cell Research Will Result In Human Cloning
Human cloning is considered unethical. The goal of stem cell research is to find safe and effective cures for degenerative diseases and other disease types using regenerative procedures.
Stem cell research follows due protocols. Therapeutic cloning may only be allowed for medical purposes for studying diseases and organ transplantation.
Myth 3: Stem Cells Will Be Rejected By The Body
Stem cell therapy uses the host’s cells to achieve healing. There’s virtually no risk of rejection during therapy. Also, stem cell treatment uses safe procedures so there’s no risk of infection after treatment with stem cell therapy.
Myth 4: Stem Cells Can Only Be Obtained from Human Embryo
Although stem cells can be harvested from embryos, the fact is that they’re also widely distributed throughout the body. They’re in muscles, tissues, fats, and even organs.
In fact, stem cells used in regenerative medicine are mostly adult stem cells harvested from the patient’s host cells, and they’re safe and effective in treating degenerative diseases such as arthritis.
Myth 5: Stem Cells Can Cure All Diseases
Converging lines of evidence and case studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of stem cell therapy for certain types of diseases.
In fact, stem cells can serve as an alternative to surgery for certain cases of osteoarthritis. Yes, stem cell therapy holds great promise for different diseases. However, it is still currently being investigated for many other types of diseases.
Stem Cell Therapy Is Unsafe & Proven
Stem cell therapy is a safe procedure and has been used successfully for the treatment of arthritis and even leukemia. Patients are first evaluated to prove their candidacy for stem cell treatment based on their current condition and goal of therapy. Since stem cells are harvested from the host’s cells, the risk of rejection by their immune system is very low.
We provide advanced regenerative medicine procedures at Stem Cell Carolina. Contact us for stem cell therapy in Charlotte, NC.