Stem Cell Therapy/Tourism?
There are a lot of experimental and “alternative” treatments out there for autism, one of which is stem cell therapy. There are currently no clinical trials underway in the US for using stem cell therapy for autism and the treatment is not allowed in the US. A family wishing to pursue this therapy would have to travel outside the US, to Mexico, China, and Costa Rica (you can read here about one Florida’s family who is pursuing this therapy for their son, Matthew). Pure Pedantry comments on “stem cell tourism” and notes the lack of oversight about this treatment, and some medical risks that might result. Orac at Respectful Insolence suggests that stem cells are the “new snake oil“; in another post today, he considers stem cell therapy and the latest alternative treatment, ozone. Let the autism treatment seeker be wary……..
Tags: alternative medicine, asd, asperger, autism, China, costa rica, parents, pdd-nos, quackery, stem cell, wooRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Health, Junk Science, Science, Treatment
6 opinions for Stem Cell Therapy/Tourism?
daedalus2u
Mar 21, 2008 at 9:16 pm
There is not even a remotely plausible idea of how stem cells could help autism. None at all.
I hope no one gets injured or infected.
Daniel
Apr 1, 2008 at 7:26 am
Daedalus2u you do not know what you are talking about. Adult Stem Cell is working for my son Matthew.
http://www.recoveringMatthew.blogspot.com
lenora
Apr 1, 2008 at 8:03 am
Why did the clinic stop accepting autisitc patients?
daedalus2u
Apr 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm
lenora, if you have a plausible mechanism for how stem cells can help autism I would be happy to hear it. Autism isn’t caused by a lack of stem cells. There is no plausible mechanism by which providing more stem cells would make it better. There are many mechanisms by which stem cell therapy could cause harm, including multiple types of cancer.
I hope your child continues to improve and suffers no adverse side effects from stem cells. With no plausible mechanism for improvement mediated through stem cells, any improvement is likely to be via normal development.
Daniel
Apr 3, 2008 at 1:21 am
Lenora you should ask the clinic not me. Daedalus2u, you saying that it might cause cancer show me that you know very little about what you are talking about! Adult Stem Cell has no side affects! Embryonic does cause cancer.Adult Stem Cell restore the white matter in the brain. The misinformation you say hurts the 1.5mil who need Adult Stem Cell for there Autism. Read my blog and you will learn what adult Stem Cell can do for Autism http://www.recoveringMatthew.blogspot.com
Daniel Faiella
May 14, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Wow I love it, she did a great job. It is just how we feel about Matthew. Victoria was so great to say yes, when I asked her to write a song for my son Matthew. Click on her myspace to listen to “Godspeed” http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=85631462 also here is her official website http://www.victoriafaiella.com/bio.html
Daniel Faiella
http://www.recoveringMatthew.blogspot.com
Lyrics for “Godspeed”
words-Victoria Faiella
music-Barry Hartglass & Victoria Faiella
Do you know how much you’re loved?
More than all the Stars
More than words can explain
An eternity of telling you
Would prove to be in vain
I thought I understood Love
Absolute and True
Until fate brought me You
If our last hope
Hangs on a wire
Do anything I can
I’ll walk through the fire
No mountains’ too high
No valley too deep
To save my precious child
Wish me Godspeed
Do you know how much you’re loved?
More than life itself
More than words can express
An eternity of telling you
Would be wasted breath
Do you know that you’ll be loved
Till the end of Time
Love like this never dies
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