Stem Cells

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to both differentiate into different cell types, as well as self renew.

There is controversy, mainly regarding the ethics of embryonic stem cells, but mesenchymal stem cells have shown promising results.  I have seen the most information on stem cells from Wharton’s Jelly from discarded umbilical cords that generally end up as medical waste.  While the USA currently doesn’t allow the use of these stem cells, they are being used in other countries regularly, and osteoarthritis is one use (and due to the “loose joints” of EDS patients, we have accelerated, widespread osteoarthritis).

Stem cells also have been shown to regulate inflammation. In the US, stem cells are often taken from a person’s own fat or bone marrow, but these are “older” stem cells.  Currently, US citizens are traveling to such places as Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico to get treatment with Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (I have known some!)

I have found that this book gives good background and information on stem cells, and is not too clinical:

• Stem Cell Therapy: A Rising Tide By Neil H. Riordan, PA, PhD
• https://www.neilriordan.com/stem-cell-therapy-a-rising-tide/
• The Pros and Cons of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapies
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6719501/