Stem Cells
STEM CELLS – AN OVERVIEW
AND THE HERBS IN OUR STEM CELL TONIC
Stem Cells: What Are They and 8 Ways to Activate Them
Chances are you’ve heard about stem cells and stem cell therapy before. You’ve heard about their potential to treat some serious diseases and some controversies around these therapies. But do you know what stem cells are and how they may benefit your health?
In this article, you will learn about stem cells. You will understand what stem cells are and how they work. I will explain what stem cell therapy is and the reasons to use this form of therapy. I will also share 8 ways you can activate your stem cells naturally.
What Are Stem Cells
Stem cells are found in your body. While most cells in your body have specific functions, a stem cell doesn’t have a specific purpose and can turn into any cell if needed. They are undifferentiated cells or raw materials that can turn into cells with specialized functions as your body requires them.
When the conditions are right, your stem cells can divide into several daughter cells that can turn into new stem cells through the process of self-renewal. They can also turn into specialized cells, such as blood cells, brain cells, bone cells, or heart muscle cells through the process of differentiation. Self-renewal or differentiation can occur in your body or in a laboratory.
Research scientists and medical professionals are interested in stem cells because they may help them to understand how our cells and body functions, why and how we get certain diseases, and find potential treatments or cures. Research is on-going, but stem cells show promise in treating certain diseases with no currently known cure, including spinal cord injury, MS, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, MND, etc (1, 2).
Types of Stem Cells
There are several types of stems cells categorized based on their potential to differentiate, including:
• Totipotent stem cells: Totipotent cells first appear at the zygote stage and are able to differentiate into any all kinds of cells.
• Pluripotent stem cells: Pluripotent cells appear at the early embryo stage and are able to differentiate into almost any cell.
• Multipotent stem cells: Multipotent cells can differentiate into a closely related family of cells. For example, adult hematopoietic cells can turn into platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
• Oligopotent stem cells: Oligopotent cells can turn into a few different cell forms. Lymphoid and myeloid stem cells are two examples of oligopotent stem cells.
• Unipotent stem cells: Unipotent cells can only differentiate into their own type of cells. For example, adult muscle stem cells are unipotent.
Sources of Stem Cells
Stem cells mainly come from two main sources: adult body tissues and tissues of embryos. However, scientists are working on other options as well.
Adult Stem Cells
Every person has adult stem cells, also called somatic or tissue-specific stem cells, that exist in your body from the time you were an embryo. These stem cells can be found in your bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, brain, skin, skeletal muscles, and liver.
They stay in a non-specific state until your body needs them to turn into a specialized cell used for a specific role. Researchers used to believe that adult stem cells can only change based on their tissue of origin, however, it seems like they can turn into other cells as well (3).
Embryonic Stem Cells
After a sperm fertilizes an egg at conception, an embryo is formed into a ball of cells called a blastocyst. A blastocyst already contains stem cells called embryonic stem cells at 4 to 5 days old. Before implantation, a blastocyst has 150 to 200 cells.
The other mass of the blastocyst will form the placenta and the inner layer will develop into a human body. Embryonic stem cells, or totipotent cells, are located in the inner cell mass. Through the right stimulation, these totipotent cells can turn into any cells from blood to skin cells as needed. Since embryos have a lot of development to go through, embryonic stem cells are able to differentiate into more different types of cells than adult ones.
Embryonic stem cells used for research come from extra embryos from in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Embryonic stem cell research is a highly controversial issue. In 2001, President Bush banned funding for stem cell research, while President Obama has lifted some restrictions. However, researchers started using pluripotent stem cells in 2006, which doesn’t carry the same ethical concerns (4, 5).
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) originate from the connective tissue or stroma around your body’s organs and tissues. Scientists have explored using them for new body tissues, including fat cells, bone, and cartilage.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS)
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) cells are created from skin cells and other tissue-specific cells in a lab to be used similarly to embryonic stem cells. Samples are extracted from adult or embryonic tissue and are placed in a controlled culture where they can divide and reproduce without specializing.
Later they can be stimulated to change into specialized cells through directed differentiation in a lab. While it is easier to grow a large number of embryonic cells, there is progress with both cell types. When it comes to iPS cells, research is on-going and further development is still necessary.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy (SCT) is a type of emerging regenerative medicine used to repair damaged cells by lowering inflammation and regulating the immune system. Stem cell therapy has been used for a variety of medical conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn’s disease, lupus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and more. While stem cell therapy is not a cure for any disease at this point, it has a premise to help your body to repair itself and reduce or eliminate symptoms for long periods of time and increase the quality of life of people receiving stem cell therapy.
Stem cells for stem cell therapy may come from various sources, including adipose or fat tissue, placental tissue, umbilical cord tissue, or bone marrow. Stem cells can be administered intravenously through IV Stem Cell Therapy, directly into the spinal cord through intrathecal treatment, and through site injection into affected areas, such as the hips, knees, or hands.
Stem cell therapy is a non-invasive therapy. Its goal is to replace damaged cells and allow repair. This process uses mesenchymal stem cells and has shown great potential for reducing inflammation and becoming a potential therapy option for a variety of diseases. For example, a 2017 study has found that mesenchymal SCT may be an effective therapeutic application for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
What’s fascinating about stem cells is that they have a unique property that lures them to inflammation sites in your body. They not only find particular inflammatory sites (e.g. in organs), but as research has shown they can help to lower inflammation at these sites, regulate the immune system, and regenerate damaged or diseased tissue in your body. By allowing tissue repair and reduced inflammation, stem cell therapy can help patients to live a healthier and better quality of life (6, 7, 8, 9).
Reasons For Using Stem Cell Therapy
As you’ve learned, SCT can help to lower inflammation and modulate the immune system. It can help your body’s damaged and disease tissue to repair and regenerate. It basically empowers your body to repair itself and allow a better quality of life.
Researchers believe that, in theory, there is no limit on what diseases may be treated with stem cells. SCT shows great potential for the treatment of certain cancers and blood-related disorders, such as leukemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, a variety of autoimmune conditions and digestive health issues, such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, MS, and lupus, neurodegenerative issues, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s disease, spinal cord injury, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, tooth regrowth, blindness and vision impairment (e.g. AMD), arthritis, musculoskeletal issues, and more. It may have potential in veterinary medicine as well in bone, tendon, joint, muscle, and neurodegenerative repair.
At this point, the FDA has only approved certain blood-forming stem cells (hematopoietic progenitor cells) derived from cord blood for certain health issues. However, research is on-going and we are likely to see many advancements in stem cell therapy and research in the coming years (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22).
8 Ways to Naturally Activate Stem Cells
What’s exciting about stem cells is that they are already in your body and ready to help with repair and healing. Stem cells fulfill the classic statement that your body inherently wants to maintain right function (i.e. to heal itself if it becomes ill). You can activate them naturally to improve your health. These strategies are not as therapeutic or powerful as stem cell therapy but they are very helpful for the body’s healing process.
While research is still ongoing in this area, we know enough to recommend certain lifestyle and nutritional factors. Here are 8 ways to naturally activate your body’s regenerative cells:
- Get Into Ketosis
Under regular circumstances, your body gets its energy from glucose (sugar) through carbohydrate-rich foods you consume. However, if you are fasting, following a low-carb ketogenic diet, or experiencing glucose deficit for any other reason, your body will learn to rely on and get energy from the fat you consume and stored fat (i.e. ketones).
This is when you experience ketosis, a metabolic state in which your body gets most of its energy from fat. Ketosis has many benefits. For example, according to a 2018 study, a ketogenic diet can improve your cognition.
A 2019 diet also found that ketosis helps to achieve intestinal stem cell homeostasis and adaptation allowing self-renewal in your body. You don’t have to be in ketosis all the time to get these benefits.
If you aim to get into nutritional ketosis a few times a year for a few weeks or so at a time, you can drive up stem cell production during that window. To learn more about ketosis and how to achieve it, see my web page (23, 24). - Intermittent and Extended Fasting
Fasting is another great way to achieve ketosis and also activate your stem cells. Fasting stimulates a process called autophagy, which means self-eating. During the autophagy process the body recycles its own cellular components to make new healthier cells. This mechanism of self-renewal is also associated with the development of stem cells.
According to a 2015 study, prolonged fasting may support stem cell-based regeneration and cellular renewal and reverse immunosuppression. According to a 2018 study, even a 24-hour fast can boost stem cell regeneration.
Extended fasting can last for a few days or longer when you are not consuming anything else but water and perhaps certain liquids, such as herbal tea. Intermittent fasting cycles between periods of fasting and eating within one day. Most people find the most benefit when fasting for 16 hours and leaving an 8-hour eating window.
To learn more about the benefits of intermittent fasting and the best intermittent fasting strategies, and to learn more about extended fasting and water fasting, see my web page on the keto diet (25, 26). - Partial Fast or Fasting Mimicking Diet
If you are not ready to embark on an intermittent fasting or extended fasting journey, you can try partial fasting or a The Fasting Mimicking Diet® (FMD®). FMD® is a high nutrition, low protein, low carbohydrate meal plan in which calories are restricted for five days out of a month.
Through this diet, you can experience the benefits of fasting, including stem cell activation, without depriving yourself of food. FMD® is a form of partial fasting. Other partial fasts with similar benefits include the Daniel Fast, bone broth fasting, keto fasting, and juice fasting.
I don’t recommend this FMD diet as it doesn’t train you to change your lifestyle, hence it usually fails, and people feel they have to spend more on the program – a familiar circle of such programmed diets. Staying long-term in ketosis is what I recommend helped by our Stem Cell Tonic (25, 26). - Regular Movement and Exercise
Exercise is critical for your health and well-being. According to a 2008 review, exercise helps the activation, mobilization, and differentiation of various types of stem cells, as well as tissue regeneration and function. I recommend that you exercise up to 5 days a week for 20 to 30 minutes at least.
Try a mix of cardiovascular, strength- and resistance training, and low impact exercise. Also the wide range of benefits of weightlessness using a rebounder (mini trampoline). Stay active throughout the day by taking regular walks, playing with your kids or pets, stretching regularly, taking the stairs, opting for walking or biking instead of driving when possible, taking breaks during work for a quick stretch, going for hikes, gardening, and dancing to your favorite song (27). - Prioritize Good Sleep
Sleep is one of your basic human needs. A 2018 study found that sleep helps the regeneration capacity of stem cells and tissue regeneration. Make sure to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day to support your circadian rhythms.
Avoid electronics, foods, stress, caffeine, and alcohol in the evening. Develop an evening routine and engage in relaxing activities. Make sure that your bedroom is a peaceful, comfortable, and sleep-promoting sanctuary (28). You can take SleepMore Tonic to help you relax and deepen your sleep – find it in our webstore. - Avoid Harmful Medications
Medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, corticosteroids, and immune-suppressants, can be harmful to your body. Most come with unwanted side-effects. They may interrupt your gut flora, which leads to inflammation, reduces regeneration, and increases the risk of disease.
While in certain cases, medications may be appropriate or necessary, in most situations, there are usually better solutions. Working with a natural medicine doctor, like a herbal practitioner, can help you uncover the root cause of your symptoms and find natural solutions without medication. If you are on any medications, don’t just stop it, but work closely with your natural practitioner to reduce or stop medication use in a safe way under medical guidance and supervision. Book an appointment to see Alan Hopking. - Polyphenolic Compounds
Research has shown that polyphenolic compounds may also help to activate your stem cells. They do this by controlling the activation of inflammatory cytokines, reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis, turning on autophagy, protecting and enhancing mitochondrial function and regulating migration and differentiation of stem cells (29).
While there are many polphenols the ones that are most well studied include resveratrol, quercetin, EGCG and curcumin. Here are the studies that support these nutrients to enhance self healing in the body.
Resveratrol (Knotweed root)
Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol and antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes and particularly Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). According to a 2019 study, resveratrol may help the survival, self-renewal, lineage commitment, and anti-aging effects of stem cells.
According to a 2014 study, resveratrol taken only for thee weeks may increase the frequency and total numbers of normal bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in the body. Using a resveratrol strong herb e.g. Japanese Knotweed which is in many of our tonics, and in the Stem Cell Tonict may help to improve your health (30, 31). Take our multiherbal Stem Cell Tonic – find it in our webstore.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a powerful flavonoid found in various plants and food. According to a 2017 rat research, quercetin may help the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into β-cells.
A 2018 study found similar results, that quercetin may help bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) differentiation in mice. Supplementing with quercetin is a great way to support your health (32, 33).
Curcumin
Curcumin is the active compound of the spice turmeric. It is full of anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. According to a 2008 study, curcumin helps adult hippocampal neurogenesis and promotes neural plasticity and repair. A 2019 study has found that curcumin helps the differentiation of stem cells (34, 35).
To experience the benefits of curcumin, it is a great idea to add turmeric to your soups, stews, vegetable dishes, curries, smoothies, juices, and dressings, and to sip on turmeric tea regularly. Additionally, taking a curcumin supplement is a great way to boost your health.
To experience the benefits of resveratrol, quercetin, and curcumin, I recommend taking our Stem Cell Tonic. This tonic supports a healthy inflammatory response, protects you against oxidative stress, offers antioxidants benefits, and supports your healthy circulation and lymphatic function. - Use Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy (RLT) is a powerful therapeutic technique and an alternative healing method. It uses red low-level wavelengths of light for a variety of therapeutic purposes. It may help with wound healing, scars, and other skin issues, inflammation, pain, hair growth, and sleep quality. According to a 2007 rat study, red light therapy may support mesenchymal cell differentiation.
According to a 2014 study’s experimental findings, 660nm red light therapy may help the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, increase cell transportation in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage treatment. If you want to experience the benefits of red light therapy for stem cell activation and healing, Mito Red Light Therapy Device may be found useful. (36, 37).
Final Thoughts
Stems cells are found in your body. They don’t have a specific purpose and can turn into any cell with specialized functions as your body needs them to repair itself. They help cellular and tissue repair, rejuvenation, and healing.
I hope this article has been found useful. For more info on how to activate your body’s innate healing ability, we need to activate autophagy see my keto page on my website.
With thanks to Dr D. Jockers DC for large portions of this article
Herbs in our Stem Cell Tonic
There has been a lot of research into herbs and stimulating regenerating aging cells to improve longevity and overcome many diseases, and to repair damaged organs and tissues. You can request a complete list of the herbs in our multiherbal Stem Cell Tonic. Herbs that are included in this tonic are chaga, lycium, baikel, astragalus, eucomia, broomrape, morinda, ligustrum, moringa, curcumin, japanese knotweed, lions mane, green coffee bean.
You can buy this tonic at our webstore.
