Whether or not you have received stem cell treatments personally, most people at least know of someone who has, or have heard of stem cell therapy in some capacity. While stem cell therapy is still in its infancy, with only a handful of treatments approved by the FDA, it seems as if this growing field of research is gaining momentum by the day. Most stem cell research is reserved only for academic purposes. The reality is that many individuals are receiving treatments from other locations outside of the United States.
Regardless of whether stem cell therapies have been received in an American FDA approved clinic or not, there is a growing cross demographic of individuals who are seeking alternative means to achieve optimal health. Among the most popular means to heal the body, and promote cellular health is sauna bathing. If you are not ready to leave the country for stem cell therapy can you still improve stem cell availability naturally, or perhaps with the aid of heat therapy?
Despite some controversy over the use of stem cells to heal the body, the reality is that there is a growing number of individuals who are using this in conjunction with saunas. Those individuals will need to make sure that they do so safely and in a manner that will support their health.
Find out what stem cells are, how they are used in treatments both in the US as well as in other countries, what the interplay is between stem cell production and heat may be, and if you can rely on sauna use to help create a milieu within your body for positive cellular growth.
What Are Stem Cells?
Sometimes some verbiage is thrown around so much in conversation, particularly in the field of wellness that it becomes so commonplace that no one wants to ask the obvious question of what are stem cells? The answer to this question is that there are several different types of stem cells, namely Embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells (cells that have already been differentiated toward a specific gene code for particular tissues, or organs in the body), and pluripotent stem cells. (1)
If you hear people talking about stem cell therapy for their knee joint for example, they are referring to pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells are exactly what their name describes. Pluri stems from plural, or many and potent meaning potential power of manifestation. So, Pluripotent stem cells are a specific type of cell that given the right environment can become any kind of cell in the body, and replicate via self duplication, or mitosis.
A peer reviewed article published by the National Library of Medicine entitled: ‘Stem Cell Basics’ defines Pluripotent stem cells here.
“Pluripotent stem cells are undifferentiated; they do not have any tissue-specific characteristics (such as morphology or gene expression pattern) that allow them to perform specialized functions. Yet they can give rise to all of the differentiated cells in the body, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells, and nerve cells.” (1)
Stem cells have unique regenerative properties that make them ideal for bio-medicine treatments. Stem cells provide the possibility for ‘renewable bioresources’, which is exciting in the world of regenerative medicine. Further research is required to ensure that stem cells therapy and all of its potential can be carried out safely in clinical practices.
Here is the basic mechanism for how stem cells can become differentiated under the right circumstances to become the appropriate cell for the desired tissue or organ according to the previously mentioned article ‘Stem Cell Basics’.
“As long as the pluripotent stem cells are grown in culture under appropriate conditions, they can remain undifferentiated. To generate cultures of specific types of differentiated cells, scientists may change the chemical composition of the culture medium, alter the surface of the culture dish, or modify the cells by forcing the expression of specific genes. Through years of experimentation, scientists have established some basic protocols, or “recipes,” for the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into some specific cell types.”
Stem cell research is exciting for anyone with damaged cartilage, connective tissues in the joints, for example a meniscus tear in the knee joint. As of right now stem cell therapy is reserved only for Hematopoietic, which is a disorder that affects the replication of blood cells.
While the FDA has strict guidelines surrounding stem cell therapies and treatments for uses other than blood cell replication impairment, many other countries have legalized stem cell therapies. This is the reason why many individuals eager to receive stem cell therapies will travel abroad to receive stem cell therapy.
So, for anyone who has received stem cell treatments for any reason at all and is wondering if they can get back into their sauna, it is important to understand how stem cells once differentiated and injected into the appropriate area of the body will respond to the heat of a sauna, or the heat of infrared light.
At this time it appears that saunas may help to integrate stem cells into the tissues or organs of the body effectively; however, not enough data or research is available to conclusively state when an individual can return to sauna use after stem cell therapy has been administered.
Despite high levels of restrictions placed on stem cell therapies in the US, is it possible to encourage healthy cell rejuvenation in damaged or injured parts of the body naturally?
“Note: Currently, the only stem cell-based products that are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States consist of blood-forming stem cells (hematopoietic progenitor cells) derived from cord blood. These products are approved for limited use in patients with disorders that affect the body system that is involved in the production of blood (called the “hematopoietic” system). These FDA-approved stem cell products are listed on the FDA website. Bone marrow also is used for these treatments but is generally not regulated by the FDA for this use. The FDA recommends that people considering stem cell treatments make sure that the treatment is either FDA-approved or being studied under an Investigational New Drug Application (IND), which is a clinical investigation plan submitted and allowed to proceed by the FDA.” (1)
Can Saunas Induce Spontaneous Stem Cell Healing Naturally To Repair Injured or Damaged Tissues and Organs?
- Improved mitochondrial metabolism
- Accelerated antioxidant disbursement
- Elevated Levels of Heat Shock Proteins
All adults have a pool of available stem cells within their own body that are ready to repair damaged tissues and organs as needed. Some of these stem cells are pluripotent, and some are differentiated adult cells already within the given tissues and organs. It is not known if saunas can cause stem cell regeneration or not; however, it is known that heat stress can improve the milieu of the body and therefore create an ultimate ‘culture’ in which all cells, including stem cells,may thrive.
Until further research is done the relationship between stem cell regeneration and saunas is not fully understood. There is significant data to suggest that thermal therapy creates an opportunity for mitochondria to thrive (particularly if you are using a full spectrum sauna with color light therapy), improved antioxidant disbursement, and elevated levels of heat shock proteins. This cocktail creates a ripe environment for cells to replicate and thrive.
According to a publication by the National Library of Medicine entitled: ‘Enhancing spontaneous stem cell healing (Review)’, (2) it is possible under the right circumstances to cause stem cell healing to occur in adults. This means that, similar to what occurs in a lab when growing stem cells in culture dishes, if you are able to create the correct recipe for your body for cellular regeneration, then yes, you can supply your body with more available stem cells naturally:
“The pool of active stem cells is readily available for tissue repair, regeneration and maintenance. To heal and maintain the various tissues of the body, including the skin, multiple stem cell types are often involved and secrete a number of factors into the tissue to induce the healing response. Thus, stem cells in the human body may migrate to the area of diseased or damaged tissue and two or more stem cell types release their respective stem cell released molecules (SRM) into the damaged tissue . Each stem cell type releases its own pool of SRM, each pool being a different collection of molecules, with a certain degree of overlap between pools.” (2)
Mitochondrial Metabolism
The mitochondria are an organelle that exists within every cell of the body and is responsible for ATP production. Where there exists healthy mitochondria, there also exists a healthy body. The death-birth cycle of a cell is dependent upon a healthy mitochondrial metabolism, and this applies to all cell types including stem cells.
The mitochondria are sensitive to long wavelength light, namely red and infrared light. There exist photon receptors along the membrane of the mitochondria that pick up the frequency of infrared light. This light is then converted into usable energy for the body.
According to Dr. Glen Jeffery in his article published by the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Does photobiomodulation influence ageing?’ (3) he writes.
“Mitochondria play key roles in regulating the ageing process. When their membrane potential and function declines, their production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reduces and they can signal cell death.” (3)
If you have access to an infrared sauna, especially one with red light therapy, you can improve stem cell availability in your body. Further, even if you cannot access an infrared sauna, you can go outside as the sun rises and sets to access the full range of infrared light and positively affect the life-death cycle of each and every cell in your body.
The mechanism by which mitochondrial metabolism is positively affected by long wavelength light is called photobiomodulation. Dr. Glen Jeffrey succinctly summarizes the benefits of photobiomodulation in this statement.
“Some of the key advantages of photobiomodulation therapy relate to its economy and safety, as it can be delivered with commercially available light emitting devices at energies well within the human safety range. Moreover, a major strength of this therapy is that it can offer a potential clinical application where there is little alternative available.” (3)
Before booking a flight to Mexico to receive a stem cell treatment perhaps you should consider the power of long wavelength therapy first to induce positive cellular replication, including stem cells.
Accelerated Anti-Oxidant Disbursement
Saunas are known to reduce oxidative stress in a variety of ways. Namely, through detoxification of harmful substances to remove several factors leading to oxidative stress in the body. Moreover, through the mechanism of photobiomodulation it is now known that each cell of the body can synthesize melatonin, which when created via exposure to long wavelength light,serves as an antioxidant. (4)
As written in the publication ‘Melatonin as an antioxidant: under promises but over delivers’ a peer reviewed article published by the National Institute of Health:
“Melatonin has been effectively used to combat oxidative stress, inflammation and cellular apoptosis and to restore tissue function in a number of human trials; its efficacy supports its more extensive use in a wider variety of human studies.” (4)
By improving mitochondrial function, cellular melatonin synthesis as an antioxidant, and finally by improving heat shock protein production, it is possible to create the optimal culture in the human body for stem cell reproduction.
Elevated Levels of Heat Shock Proteins
Finally, saunas provide enough heat stress on the body to boost heat shock protein production. Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs), are necessary for the function of nearly every aspect of human health. HSPs are numerous in their variety, and serve as protein ‘chaperones’ or ‘escorts’ in the intracellular milieu. This means that in addition to collecting, folding, and delivering proteins, HSPs also keep the intracellular environment clean of potentially harmful oxidative stressors. (5)
Appropriate levels of HSPs can help to improve immunity, reduce toxins in the bloodstream, and overall keep traffic between cells operating efficiently. In short, a high supply of HSPs are necessary for an internal environment ripe for stem cell proliferation.
In concluding statements from the article ‘Enhancing spontaneous stem cell healing (Review)’ the authors Dr. Greg MacGuire, PHD and Dr. Peter Friedman, PHD write.
“The enhancement of the regenerative potential of dormant endogenous stem cells and their SRM may be a promising avenue of prevention and treatment of several age-dependent and immune diseases and other types of trauma that are characterized by tissue degeneration, leading to enhanced spontaneous stem cell healing and resulting tissue healing and regeneration, as envisioned by such early pioneers as the famous aviator and biomedical engineer Charles Lindbergh and his partner, Nobel Laureate Alexis Carrel.” (2)
Until Stem Cell Therapy Is Fully Legalized and Safe For Use in the United States Consider Sauna Therapy As Your Alternative to Improving Stem Cell Availability Naturally
While it is true that many individuals are receiving stem cell therapy in other locations where restrictions are less strict, it is also true that for those with a more conservative approach to treatment it may be possible to benefit from an increased supply of stem cells naturally.
The use of a sauna can create the ultimate culture milieu for healthy cell production, including stem cells, by improving mitochondrial metabolism, heightening anti-oxidant availability, and increasing the quantity of available HSPs. So, if you would rather wait for FDA approval before you receive your stem cell therapy, consider becoming your own laboratory and create an internal environment ripe for healthy cell regeneration.
The reality is that exposure to long wavelength light (infrared light) coupled with red light is responsible for photobiomodulation, and therefore mitochondrial metabolism improvement. So if stem cell generation is your goal, you will be better off choosing a full spectrum infrared sauna. If you already have a traditional sauna, then you can supplement this with exposure to infrared light naturally by going outside when long wavelength light is most accessible in the early morning, or as the sun is setting.
If you are looking for treatment for hematopoietic, then you have already been approved by the FDA for stem cell therapy.
Receiving stem cell treatment outside of the United States may not be the only way to improve your stem cell availability (please approach this with extreme caution, if at all). So, for now, perhaps consider therapeutic heat and long wavelength light to create healthy cell rejuvenation naturally.
Citations:
- https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/stc-basics
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3917745/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6188498/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27500468/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36813265/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8122786/
*** NIH Guidelines For Stem Cell Research:
*** A Warning From the University of Washington:
