04/07/2024
Regenerative medicine Linda A. Kiley, MD, FACOG,URPS
Let’s define regenerative medicine. I like to think of it as the application of multiple methods to help the body regenerate or renew function. The cells in our bodies are in a constant cycle of breakdown and repair. Understanding how this cycle works allows us to take steps to improve every cell’s ability to repair itself properly. The tools at our disposal include proper nutrition, proper exercise, proper sleep, and replacement of or augmentation of certain nutrients that we may require to push the cell’s machinery into more efficient functioning and improve its ability to repair itself.
Our environment is constantly challenging our bodies with multiple toxins, hormone disruptors, heavy metals, infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi) and so forth. The genes we inherit may either be supportive in helping us repair damage from these different environmental challenges or may put us at a disadvantage when we face a certain problem. Some of us are more susceptible to certain types of infections, others to metabolic problems like diabetes or heart disease, still others from gene mutations that hinder our ability to clear toxins from our bodies. We can affect our genetic abilities to deal with these challenges through epigenetics (literally “above the genes”).
Epigenetics refers to anything environmental that impacts the function of our genes. While the environmental challenges we face may cause problems for us, we have the ability to affect how our cells deal with these challenges by providing additional support through specialized nutrients, probiotics, and other compounds that help redirect cells back to proper repair and functioning. Functional medicine is the discipline through which we work with the body using as many natural means of support available to help restore and support normal functioning. Because the field of knowledge is growing at such a rapid pace, we are continuously able to update that information and adjust our therapeutic plans based on individual needs.
There are over 50 years of data regarding the profound effects of the gut microbiome (microorganisms living within our GI tract) on our health and well-being. Likewise, we have seen an explosion in knowledge of how our cells work, the mechanisms of aging and disease, and the molecules responsible for either damage or repair of our cells. We are able to work with nutrients, probiotics, biological messengers (molecules that send a specific signal to our cells), and certain components and byproducts of cells to help optimize cell function and improve overall health and well-being. For more information on regenerative medicine, call us at Ultra Health & Wellness, 561-701-2841.
