So many patients come to my office and tell me they’ve had “stem cells” at their hospital or doctor’s office and when I listen to what they have to say about their treatment, I find what they’ve had, and what they think they had is totally different. HCT, formally known as stem cells are specific, and must be explained to the patient in that way. Contact our North Scottsdale AZ chiropractic clinic today to learn more.

Let’s talk about what they are not.

If the procedure you had done, was to draw your blood, spin it down in a centrifuge, and inject the remaining plasma back into you, that, alone is not stem cells. That is called PRP or platelet rich plasma. It is processed to concentrate the platelets. PRP is rich in growth factors that promote healing and tissue regeneration. As we age, the platelets that promote healing are decreased. By age 60, they are at a very low concentration in our blood. They will help in healing minor cuts, and other things that need to heal in our body, but they are not at a level to specifically go into a joint and rebuild cartilage, or collagen for aesthetics. This procedure may have been done in conjunction with an HCT injection, however, if that was the only injection you received, you did not receive stem cells. This is misleading to the patient, as they now are expecting the results they would have received by having an HCT procedure. In our office, we rarely use PRP alone as a regenerative therapy. It is used in conjunction with at least ozone, or true HCT to give the patient the best chance possible for regeneration.

So again, are you really getting stem cells In North Scottsdale AZ?

The term, stem cells, is widely used, mainly because the public recognizes this term. The FDA requires that the terminology be changed to Human Cellular Tissue Product or HCT. This is because all the regenerative products do not always include actual stem cells, but other types of cells as well. Remember my analogy of asking a bartender for tequila, and he gives you a margarita. You tell him you asked for tequila, and he tells you yes, there is tequila in the drink, along with triple sec, sour mix, and sometimes more. That is like HCT, as there may be stem cells in the product, but there may be other extra cellular products as well in the latest, cutting edge formulas. In my office, we use cells that come from a prescreened mother who has had a Cesarean section live birth. She donates her baby's umbilical cord and placenta to the FDA regulated tissue bank and the cells are used. This is a safe, effective, ethical and legal source. The products are then kept frozen at minus 40-80 degrees Centigrade and shipped over night to my office. They are used within hours of receiving them. This is very important to know how they are stored, and when they are used in order for the products to be safe and viable.

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Leisa-Marie Grgula, DC
Chiropractic Physician

Accurate Care Medical Wellness Center
18261 N. Pima Rd. Ste. #115
(480) 584-3955