FAQ

Regenerative Medicine is the process of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace tissue or organ function lost due to damage, disease or congenital defects. This field holds the promise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in the body by stimulating previously irreparable organs to heal themselves. (Wikipedia)

Stem cell therapy is a rapidly evolving and exciting area of regenerative medicine that has shown considerable promise in treating many degenerative conditions.

Additionally, we use various eclectic modalities of complementary and alternative medicine including–but not limited to– oral and IV nutrition, growth factors, herbal extracts, hormones, oxygen therapy and acupuncture to limit diseases and aid the body in repairing itself. We leave no stones unturned in obtaining the best possible results.

Stem cells are cells in the body that have a remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types and tissues. In many tissues, stem cells serve as a type of internal repair system, dividing and regenerating themselves without limit to replenish and repair other cells in the body. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, organ cell or a brain cell, just to name a few.

There are two important characteristics that differentiate stem cells from other types of cells in the body. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions.

Stem cells can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions and diseases. Please see “Conditions” for a list of what we treat. If you suffer from a condition not listed, please contact us and have one of our specialists evaluate and discuss whether or not you may be a potential candidate for stem cell therapy.

FDA approval is not required outside the USA.  The FDA has guidelines about treatment and manipulation of a patient’s own tissues.  In the past our practice existed in the United States under FDA guidelines but we found that the procedures and guidelines approved by the FDA extremely limit the scope of stem cell treatments and their efficacy in the USA.  Therefore, we relocated to Guatemala in order to have the flexibility to give treatments that are more ethical and safe as well as very effective.

No. Only adult mesenchymal stem cells from the patient’s own body (autologous) and/or allogeneic stem cells from endometrial tissue and umbilical cord blood. Mesenchymal stem cells are capable of forming bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, ligaments, blood vessels, and certain organs and other tissues. Embryonic stem cells are associated with ethical considerations and limitations, as well as potential risks.

There are several methods to collect stem cells.  

We collect bone marrow aspirate from the patient’s posterior iliac spine and adipose tissue by using a mini-liposuction technique.  We use very light local anesthesia and conscious sedation in both cases to keep the patient comfortable.  Depending on the patient, the doctor will determine the most appropriate location for the aspiration of tissue.

Typically, the lower abdomen or the flanks (also known as “the love handle” area) is used to collect the fat tissue. The procedure generally takes about 30 minutes. The process is minimally invasive and typically not painful. Pain medication may be prescribed for those who need it, but most patients will not require any medication and with minimal to no downtime.

Although SCHI uses all three types of stem cells including endometrial stem cells and combinations depending on the patient, we have devised a proprietary method of very safely and effectively obtaining young non-toxic, healthy and very potent autologous (self) adult mesenchymal stem cells with unprecedented numbers for a single treatment.

We do this under a very short duration of sedation to keep the patient very comfortable.  This makes the process more timely and less painful, eliminating extra-risk of contamination through culturing (incubation).  These bone-marrow derived stem cells can form many different types of cells including bone, cartilage, tendon (connective tissue), muscle, blood vessels, nerve tissue and others.  Furthermore, we at SCHI don’t stop there.  We often combine your stem cells (autologous) with allogeneic, endometrial stem cells for a very comprehensive treatment for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

Adult mesenchymal stem cells are not known to cause cancer. However, there are reports of embryonic stem cells creating tumors. These tumors are known as teratomas and are a rare but possible occurrence with the use of embryonic stem cells.  At SCHI, we do NOT use embryonic stem cells for any of our treatments and unless it is necessary for a specific patient or condition we use autologous stem cells taken from the patient’s own body.

PL is an abbreviation for platelet lysate.  It is a much more advanced version of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) whereby the patient’s own plasma is enriched with isolated and concentrated growth factors.  PL is much more potent the PRP and a much lesser number of sessions is required to obtain the same results in what may take several treatments with PRP as a stand-alone treatment.

PL has been investigated and used as a clinical tool for different medical treatments, including nerve injury, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, cardiac muscle injury, bone repair and regeneration, plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and oral surgery.  We typically mix PL with stem cell treatments to increase the efficacy of the treatment using your own body’s cells. 

As we say at SCHI: “we use the body’s own resources to stimulate it to heal itself”.

Considering the ailment, physical condition, and/or age of the patient, we at SCHI may implant the stem cells using a combination of the following implantation methods:

Intravenous (IV)

Intravenous application is one of the safest and simplest methods to administer stem cells throughout the body. Anesthesia is not required, but can be administered if necessary, depending on the patient. For neurological conditions, an IV administration of stem cells may also include an IV of a natural sugar called mannitol to allow stem cells to enter the central nervous system (CNS, that is the brain and spinal column). The administration of an IV application normally takes about 30 minutes.

Intrathecal (Lumbar Puncture)

Commonly, intrathecal administration is ideal for most neurological conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, among others and spinal cord injury. With a lumbar puncture, stem cells are very safely injected directly into the spinal canal through the lower vertebrae under local anesthesia and performed by a licensed and experienced anesthesiologist. Lumbar punctures are used for neurological conditions because the stem cells are injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid which bypasses the blood-brain barrier. This enables the cells to reach the spinal cord and the brain. This procedure normally takes about 30 minutes.

Intranasal Aspiration (spray into the nose)

A combination of IV, intrathecal, and intranasal methods are typically used and ideal for patients with neurological disorders. With the intranasal method of stem cell administration, stem cells are administered through the nose using an aspirator nozzle to spray the cells into the nose. The nasal cavity has two primary functions, olfaction (sense of smell) and warming, humidifying and filtering air we breathe. Inside the nasal cavities are turbinates, which are highly vascular and convoluted passageways lined with a warm, moist mucosal layer. These highly vascular turbinates allow for rapid absorption into the bloodstream because the capillaries within the turbinates are specifically designed to allow the rapid shift of fluids across capillary membranes. Additionally, the olfactory tissues relay sense of smell signals directly to the central nervous system. Olfactory mucosa is on the superior aspect of the nasal cavity and actually extends through the skulls cribriform plate and into the cranial cavity, therefore passing the blood brain barrier, which is what is believed to aid in the reparation of cells for patients with neurological disorders or ailments.

Intra-articular and other local Injections (into the joint)

These types of local injections are commonly used for cartilage repair in arthritis (degenerative and rheumatoid) patients as well as those patients looking to repair damaged ligaments and tendons.  Local injections are also placed directly into the skin for skin rejuvenation and repair.  The stem cells are injected directly into the affected area by a licensed physician and is a safe and very effective procedure that may require local anesthesia.

Intra-muscular and/or Localized Injections

The stem cells are injected directly into the muscle and/or location where the ailment exists.  For example, patients with eye disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa will receive a localized injection behind their eye, using a retrobulbar injection, which is an injection that targets the area behind the eye.  This particular injection is done by an experienced Ophthalmologist.

Intra-Organ and Peri-Organ injections

These injections entail injecting into or around the organ in question.  SCHI will take into consideration the condition of the patient as well as the of the damaged organ in order to deduce prognosis and efficacy of an intra-organ and/or peri-organ injection.

This is always done in conjunction with an IV of stem cells to ensure that these stem cells also get into the circulation of the organ in question.  These types of injections are commonly done in the case of diabetes (pancreas), liver & kidney damage, directly into the penis (for ED), vaginal atrophy/rejuvenation, only to name a few.  Normally, there will be a series of injections to cover a certain area/damage.

Intra-organ and/or peri-organ injections are always done under conscious sedation so that the patient is kept comfortable and there is no movement during the procedure.  The procedures are guided by fluoroscopy or ultrasound imaging techniques.  These techniques allow the direct visualization of the tip of the needle in real-time as it pierces the skin and enters the target site, which increases the accuracy of the injections.   

Subcutaneous injections

These injections are placed under the skin below the dermis and the epidermis layer.  We inject a bolus of our proprietary stem cell cocktail for a slow and steady release into the body.  We do this specifically for autoimmune conditions due to a very complex cascade of immunomodulation instigated by subcutaneous stem cell – and other factors – injections.  

This procedure can be likened to a non-invasive, very natural immunotherapy devoid of any negative side-effects and yielding very positive results.

Lymph Node injections

These injections entail deployment of our proprietary stem cell cocktail directly into specific lymph nodes in the body.  This is done specifically for autoimmune conditions, because Autoimmune Disease is the result of the body’s inability to recognize self and thereby attacking itself:  the cartilage of the joints in the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the myelin sheath in the case of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the substantia nigra in the case of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), only to name a few examples of autoimmune conditions.  

Our goal is to modulate and shut-off the autoimmunity by targeting the Immune System.

Because of recent innovations in technology and our office being located in Guatemala, SCHI is able to provide state-of-the-art and the most advanced outpatient stem cell treatment at a fraction of the cost of that which is seen in many overseas clinics. The fee covers stem cell harvesting, isolation and preparation into our proprietary stem cell cocktail and stem cell deployment, pre- and post-treatment nutritional cocktails (IV and oral) and complementary booster shots.  Accommodations, a personal driver which includes all transfers for you and a travel companion.  Fees vary depending on the condition, treatment, duration of treatment, and other factors (for instance, whether hospital facilities would be required (as with neurological conditions where an anesthesiologist would be required for Intrathecal Injections into the spinal column). Fees start at $13,000 USD+.

Depending on the condition being treated a degree of damage and compliance among other factors, permanent results can be obtained within weeks to several months.  Because regeneration of tissues takes time a general rule of thumb is three to six months to see substantial results. 

A reliable resource is the International Cellular Medicine Society (ICMS).  

You may contact us at [email protected] or call us at +1-209-690-7836 (USA) and +50242207297.

Because we use unprecedented numbers in a very potent, single stem cell cocktail most patients, especially those with orthopedic conditions, require only one deployment. Certain types of degenerative conditions may respond best to a series of stem cell deployments. The number and necessity of any additional treatments would be decided on a case by case basis. Financial consideration is given in these instances.

SCHI specializes in autologous bone marrow and allogeneic endometrial stem cell isolation, expansion, and differentiation. These processes can be applied to most disease conditions and anti-aging applications and therefore customized, respectively. We have a world-class team of specialists that provide treatment for various applications such as that for eyes (retrobulbar injection), intrathecal (lumbar puncture), and vertebral discs, just to name a few. 

There is not a so-called FDA-approved procedure for stem cell therapy anywhere in the world. However, in the USA there are FDA guidelines for what can and cannot be done with stem cells as the practice of medicine. First, the stem cells must be solely autologous (from the patient). Second, the stem cells must undergo less than minimal manipulation (hence, the stem cells can only be isolated, and cannot be expanded (multiplied) or differentiated to target a specific tissue. Third, the treatment must take place within the same treatment session (on the same day of stem cell harvesting).  Fourth, the stem cells cannot be combined with any other ingredient such as growth factors or nutrients – the combination of which can make a treatment exponentially more effective.

These factors in the eyes of the FDA are considered illegal.

At SCHI, we successfully isolate, expand, combine and manipulate autologous and allogeneic stem cells in our proprietary stem cell cocktails in order to target a specific tissue depending on the condition.

Adult stem cells have the inherent ability to regenerate damaged tissue. The stem cells are differentiated to display specific receptors for a specific tissue. Furthermore, damaged tissue secretes a class of substances called cytokines. These chemical messengers are specific for the particularly damaged tissue and therefore indicate to the stem cells where the damage is located and where regeneration is required.

At SCHI we believe in the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.  We will first opt for autologous (self) or your own stem cells, but in many cases we will combine with non-immunogenic allogeneic stem cells.  This eliminates the risk of rejection and the use of damaging immuno-suppressive drugs. 

The only biological agent we combine with the stem cells are our growth factors which enhance the treatment for efficacy. In some cases, autologous fats and or natural cross-linked hyaluronic acid, similar to that which is used as joint and facial fillers, is used as a matrix or scaffold for skin rejuvenation and joints respectively.

The time frame for improvement varies from patient-to-patient and from condition to condition. We have seen patients improving within days, to weeks, to months. We cannot predict when you will respond to your particular treatment, nor do we make any false guarantees.

Not everyone is a candidate for adult mesenchymal stem cell therapies. Various considerations are made in order to deduce candidacy and the patient must undergo an approval process.

Treatments at SCHI have resulted in varying degrees of improvement in symptoms in severely debilitating diseases such as ALS. 

In every case we have had positive results in varying degrees.  In severely debilitating conditions more than one treatment may be required for substantial results.