We finally have a proof acupuncture can repair lost tissue

[Eulenspiegel]

Slightly off-topic, but I thought I'd mention that TCM and acupuncture are problematic fields, because what is taught in China now is mostly a modern invention. Before Mao Zedong, there used to be many forms of TCM, but the late Qing government already had issues with it, banning it several times. It was only revived by Mao because of a scarcity of Japanese trained(Western Medicine) doctors. Up until 400 years ago, they did not have the technology to make fine needles, and "needling" before that likely meant bloodletting. There is even a scholar of Chinese medicine by the name of Paul Unschuld, who speculates that the practice may have originated in Greece/Arabian countries, as acupuncture is basically astrology(the one developed in the aforementioned regions) mapped onto the human body.

 

[nicklebleu]

I had a tennis ellbow for some time in the past - and it was pretty bad. I tried everything - heat, cold, steroid injections (that worked, but only for a short time, and then I was back to square one). At some stage I was hardly able to lift a cup.

I talked to one of the orthopedic surgeons I worked with, who suggested I inject my own blood into the site where it hurt most. I must have looked at him a bit perplexed, but he said that he had done some research on that and that in his experience it was the only therapy with a good track record for this affliction.

So I did that once every two weeks, and within about 6 injection the pain was completely gone. A short time after that I began developing the same symptoms on the other side - I promply began these injections again, and again within a few injections, the pain was completely gone. A while later I developed tendinitis in my Achilles tendon (I guess my body was trying to tell me something, although I am not sure I really got the message) - autohemotherapy fixed that, too, although injecting blood into the Achilles tendon is not for the faint of heart, it is very painful.

I asked the same surgeon about what he thought the mechanism was, and his answer was stem cells. The so-called “tennis ellbow” or “epicondylitis” is not really an -itis (aka inflammation/ infection), but an -osis, denoting a degenerative process. So injecting your blood into a tissue actually creates an inflammation, and this stimulates stem cells, and they rebuild the local tissues.

I have never used this technique for other purposes, but I am interested in learning more about it - just ordered the book Laura mentioned from Amazon. Interesting stuff!

 

[Seamus]

There's a lecture about auto-hemotherapy by Dr. Luiz Moura on Youtube:

Thanks for the videos hiker! Once a week treatments are similar to what most people in the states get with acupuncture.

Actually, there is a LOT more to auto-hemotherapy than just that and I would suggest that it may not be superior to acupuncture, but it sure can be dramatic and deals with other issues as well. Reading the literature about it suggests that it is a form of "auto-immunization" (this term is actually used) also, since the body is being forced to react to a situation that is very specific: a person's own blood and all it contains in terms of markers, antibodies, etc. If there is a pathogen there, the body is having this forcibly brought to its attention and must deal with it. The body thinks there is an injury, and mobilizes all repair actions. The body thinks there is an invasion and mobilizes defenses.

Acupuncture may, indeed, activate stem cell systems, but not as dramatically as auto-hemotherapy.

Thanks for clarifying Laura!

 

[Laura]

About 10 to 12 cc's once a week does the job. Right in the gluteus maximus: whole body coverage!

 

[Chu]

Impresive testimony, nicklebleu.

So injecting your blood into a tissue actually creates an inflammation, and this stimulates stem cells, and they rebuild the local tissues.

Yes, as far as I understand, the idea is that if you suffer from a degenerative and/or chronic/autoimmune disease, your immune system is always on the alert, but in the wrong places, or sluggish, tired of constant battles, or even attacking healthy cells. With auto-haemotherapy, the immune system perceives the injection as an emergency injury or inflammation, and the macrophages multiply by 20 during 5 days, after which they go back to standard levels (hence the need to do it once a week). The advantage is that the blood contains what is ailing you chronically and that the immune system stopped fighting so much. So, the shot is like a wake-up call that tells your immune system that it's time to act with force. Stem cells are activated for that purpose and help wherever they are needed. Some people perform an injection every week in a muscle (gluteus, the arms...), for general purposes, and others inject the blood in smaller quantities very close to an actually injured area, like you did.

An interesting point about it too is that apparently it is being used for people with serious mental issues. I don't know what the exact mechanism is, only that after three or so injections, the blood that is activated with all those macrophages is thinner and crosses the blood-brain barrier more easily.

No idea how this would compare to acupuncture, but that's my explanation for Dummies anyway.

 

[Seamus]

Slightly off-topic, but I thought I'd mention that TCM and acupuncture are problematic fields, because what is taught in China now is mostly a modern invention. Before Mao Zedong, there used to be many forms of TCM, but the late Qing government already had issues with it, banning it several times. It was only revived by Mao because of a scarcity of Japanese trained(Western Medicine) doctors. Up until 400 years ago, they did not have the technology to make fine needles, and "needling" before that likely meant bloodletting. There is even a scholar of Chinese medicine by the name of Paul Unschuld, who speculates that the practice may have originated in Greece/Arabian countries, as acupuncture is basically astrology(the one developed in the aforementioned regions) mapped onto the human body.

I agree with some of what you wrote here. You might be interested in Bridie Andrew's book The Making of Modern Chinese Medicine http://a.co/2kaZtTO. She was one of my first professors in school and she helped me to think of Chinese medicine as a living tradition that has changed and evolved over time. As far as I'm concerned there is no super secret "true" ancient acupuncture and if you meet someone who tells you that they are the keeper of that flame I would advise caution.

You might also be interested in Chris Kresser's series on acupuncture, its well referenced and a quick read: https://chriskresser.com/acupuncture/

A New Theory of Acupuncture – Wells Chiropractic Corp. by David Wells is good too.

 

[Seamus]

About 10 to 12 cc's once a week does the job. Right in the gluteus maximus: whole body coverage!

Sounds like fun!

I don't have phlebotomy training yet but I might have to get it so I can try it out.

 

[Gaby]

I've tried like 18 auto-hemotherapy sessions, took a small break, and re-started 3-4 weeks ago. It has been really beneficial and I can feel most benefits by the 3rd day after the injection: more energy, more smooth skin, more agility, less brain fog, etc.

I came down with a very bad cold this Winter, after being overworked and after being exposed to multiple people with the flu. The worst was over in 24 hours. Not that bad.

My allergies also improved during this time period. Who would have thought!

I always do 5 cc as 10cc seemed too much for me, and I was getting more acne and gaining weight. 5cc seems to work better for me.

The psychiatry study where they practiced auto-hemotherapy in psychotic patients was mind blowing! People that were hospitalized for years with the worst possible prognosis recovered their functionality to such an extent that they went back to work (!!).

I attached 3 fascinating papers: the psychiatry study, tennis elbow study, autohemotherapy for herpetic infections.

Yes, it works wonders in herpes zoster (shingles) in the elderly. No super overpriced anti-viral drug has that track record.

 

[Galaxia2002]

This is really a fascinating topic. So in a very general way this kind of therapy is fighting "inflammation" with "inflammation", Similia similibus curantur. The less understand healing principle.

I have read that when the acupuncture and I suppose the same is true to any needle inserted in muscles/connective tissues, a very complicated mechanism of neurotransmissors and receptor is triggered ,and as chu said, this can drive repairing mechanisms. On the other hand I believe that more that stem cells (how much stem cells can be in 10 ml of blood?) is the perturbation what triggered that repairing mechanisms, factors that are already in the body. It will be interesting to compare the same treatments with rich platelet plasma.

 

[Galaxia2002]

Oh I have just to start to reading autohemotherapy , there a lot of answers there. Thanks for that info!

 

[Keit]

I asked the same surgeon about what he thought the mechanism was, and his answer was stem cells. The so-called “tennis ellbow” or “epicondylitis” is not really an -itis (aka inflammation/ infection), but an -osis, denoting a degenerative process. So injecting your blood into a tissue actually creates an inflammation, and this stimulates stem cells, and they rebuild the local tissues.

Amazing how it works. Couple of months ago a husky dog was brought in to the clinic after a serious ran over by a car. Our surgeons dealt with pneumothorax and other injuries, but the poor dog developed traumatic necrosis of the bladder. And this was very bad news. Usually it means euthanasia.

But it wasn't an option, also because the owners were colleagues, and they have created a giant support campaign on the web, so the clinic was asked to do the impossible.

In turn the clinic asked for help from the most experienced, and at the same time the most "unorthodox" therapist we have. But she gets the job done. And this case was no different.

It took two months of complex therapy, but what was most effective is autohemotherapy and daily injections of Actovegin. Despite the dire prognosis, the treatment led to an almost complete regeneration of the bladder mucosa layer! Couple of days ago the doggie went home.

You can read about Actovegin here. Just consider that this is "mainstream" take on its effectiveness.
Actovegin - Wikipedia

 

[Laura]

So the Actovegin is sort of like the calf-blood stuff they make for eyes? I forgot what it's called.

 

[Laura]

Found it (have some in my bedside basket). Here's the scoop:

Solcoseryl Jelly and Ointment contains deproteinized calf blood extract 20 g.
1 g of Solcoseryl Jelly contains: 4.15 mg of protein-free haemodialysate from calves’ blood, chemically and biologically standardized; 1.73 mg of methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218); 0.27 mg of propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216).

A comparative clinical study of Solcoseryl Eye-Gel and Cysteine Eye-Gel 2.4% in the treatment of foreign-body injuries of the cornea. - PubMed - NCBI

A comparative clinical study of Solcoseryl Eye-Gel and Cysteine Eye-Gel 2.4% in the treatment of foreign-body injuries of the cornea.

Studer O.
Abstract
Solcoseryl, a protein-free haemodialysate, promotes tissue regeneration and improves utilization of oxygen in the cell. In a randomized, double-blind, clinical study, Solcoseryl Eye-Gel was compared with Cysteine Eye-Gel in the treatment of foreign-body injuries of the cornea in a total of 99 eyes. In order to facilitate objective evaluation of the effects of the treatment, the area of the lesion before the start of treatment and on the following day was determined by means of slit-lamp photographs. Healing of the lesion and relative reduction of the area of the wound were observed much more frequently in the group treated with Solcoseryl Eye-Gel than in the reference group. Maculae corneae after the end of the treatment were significantly less frequent under Solcoseryl Eye-Gel than under Cysteine Eye-Gel. The tolerability of the test preparation was good; an itching sensation was reported in only 2 cases. Under Cysteine Eye-Gel, on the other hand, a burning sensation was reported by a number of patients and very fine deposits in the epithelium were also observed in a few cases. Thus complete closure of the epithelium over the lesion after 1 day was observed much more frequently in the group of patients treated with Solcoseryl Eye-Gel than in the reference group (63 vs. 53%).

 

[Laura]

Kept looking and found this and yep, I was right, same thing. I never used it because I didn't really know what it was or what it did.

Buy Solcoseryl Injections, gel UK, USA ⋆ Medixlife.com

Solcoseryl is an accelerating regeneration and metabolism processes in tissues medication. Solcoseryl is an analogue to actovegin.

Actovegin is an extract from lamb blood without protein.

Solcoseryl is used locally, intramuscular or intravenous.

Description:

• Restores tissues
• Oxygen and glucose transmission to cells during hypoxia
• Creation of blood vessels (angiogenesis)
• Tissue revascularization
• Collagen synthesis and development of granulation tissue
• Accelerated recovery of epithelium

Solcoseryl has membrane stabilizing and cytoprotective properties (defends normal cells from cytotoxic medication and radiation).

Uses:

• Trophic ulcer
• Burns of I and II degree
• Dermal plastic surgery
• Bedsore (chronic skin ulcer)
• Vascular permeability in lower limbs
• Chronic venous insufficiency in lower limbs
• Keratitis
• Eye erosion (surface defect of mucous membrane)
• Ulcer
• Chemical burns

Description:

• Antihypoxic
• Membrane stabilizing
• Angioptotective
• Cytoprotective
• Healing
• Regenerative

Directions:
Solcoseryl injections:

To treat occlusional diseases of peripheral arteries at III and IV Fontan degree: inject 20ml intravenous daily. Intravenous dropping injection ( isotonic solution of chloride sodium or 5% glucose solution) is possible as well. The course of treatment, depending on the clinical findings, is 4 weeks.

To treat chronic venous insufficiency accompanied by trophic disorders (ulcera crusis): inject 10ml intravenous 3 times per week. The course of treatment, depending on the clinical findings, is 4 weeks. It is recommended to apply pressuring bandages to prevent venous edema.

If there are trophic disorders of tissues, it is recommended to use Solcoseryl gel and then Solcoseryl ointment.

To treat ischemic and hemorrhagic insults in severe and extremely severe forms: as the maine course of treatment, inject 10ml or 20ml intravenous daily during 10 days. After the main course of treatment is over, inject 2ml daily intravenous or intramuscular during 30 days.

To treat cranial-cerebral traumas (head injure in severe form): inject 1000mg intravenous daily during 5 days.

If intravenous method is hard to perform, inject intramuscular way using 2ml per day of the non-mixed solution.

When injecting the non-mixed solution, do it slowly as the solution is a hypertonic.

Solcoseryl gel and ointment

Apply directly to the wound that was preliminary cleaned with antiseptic solution.

Trophic ulcers and suppurative infected wounds should be surgically treated before using Solcoseryl.

To treat fresh wounds, wounds with moist discharge, ulcers with oozing lesion: apply a thin layer of Solcoseryl gel 2-3 times a day. The areas with started epithelization should be treated by Solcoseryl ointment. Keep using Solcoseryl gel until granulation tissue creation and when the wound srtated drying up.

Solcoseryl ointment is primarily used for treating dry (non oozing) wounds.

Apply a thin layer of Solcoseryl ointment on a wound 1-2 times a day. It can be applied under bandages as well. The course of treatment by Solcoseryl ointment should be provided until full healing of a wound and its epithelization.

To treat severe trophic skin and tissue injuries, use parenteral dosing of Solcoseryl.

Side effects:
In rare cases, Solcoseryl may cause allergic reactions (rash, hyperemia, edema, fever). If these symptoms occurred, immediately stop using Solcoseryl and ask a doctor.

 

[Keit]

Solcoseryl is used locally, intramuscular or intravenous.

Yeah, it's the same. It just that in Russia when you say Solcoseryl people understand it to be a skin ointment or an eye gel, and when you say Actovegin, these are intravenous injections or tablets.

And yes, Solcoseryl ointment appears to be very effective in dry wounds when the granulation process already began. And also for corneal scarring!