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What
is
in
the
Prolotherapy
injections?
There are a number of
different types of
injections which have
proven to be successful
in
Prolotherapy.
Although they work in
different ways,
motivating the body to
heal itself through a
variety of natural
responses, the end
result is the same: to
cure pain by building
new tissue and
stabilizing the joints.
All of the solutions
used in Prolotherapy are
designed to have a
"double-edged" effect: a
combination of
anesthetic and
proliferant qualities.
The anesthetic agent
alleviates the "pain
trigger" while at the
same time the
proliferant agent begins
to strengthen the
ligaments
and tendons at
the
trigger
points
or tender
point.
Some prolotherapists use
mild chemical irritants,
such as phenol, guaiacol
or tannic acid, to
trigger the healing
process. These
substances attach
themselves to the walls
of the cells wherever
they are injected,
causing irritation that
stimulates the body’s
reactive healing
process. Others prefer
to use chemotactic
agents, primarily
morrhuate sodium, a
fatty acid derived from
cod liver oil. Most
closely aligned to the
compound Sylnasol used
by
Dr. Hackett in his
pioneering efforts,
these proliferants
attract immune cells
directly to the injected
area.
The dramatic sounding
"osmotic shock agents"
are actually simple
compounds like dextrose
and glycerine.
These are the most
commonly used
ingredients in the
arsenal of Prolotherapy.
Extremely safe and
water-soluble, they are
easily excreted from the
body after having their
initial desired effect.
They work by causing
cells to lose water,
which leads to
inflammation
and the
subsequent stimulation
of the healing response.
Particulates such as
pumice flour are
microscopic particles
that attract
macrophages, tiny
organisms which gobble
them up, in turn
secreting polypetide
growth factors that
result in
collagen
production.
Besides these general
differences, the
specific combinations of
chemicals and substances
used are as varied as
the "schools" of
Prolotherapy using them.
Some practitioners add
co-factors, such as the
anti-oxidant mineral
manganese, or a
combination of
glucosamine sulfate and confroitin sulfate which
is believed to aid in
the repair of arthritic
joints, or other
co-factors believed to
increase the efficacy of
the compounds they are
used with.
Despite the enormous
success of the compounds
used today, the most
exciting advances in
Prolotherapy may be just
around the corner, in
the form of Growth
Factors or Growth
Hormones. In addition,
fetal stem cells have
been injected.
Growth factors cut to
the chase, so to speak,
acting directly on the
cells and joints of the
body to stimulate the
proliferation of
fibroblasts and
regeneration of collagen
and
cartilage.
The most important
variable of all,
however, as in all
medical practices, is
the ability and
experience of the
therapist one chooses.
Besides being a licensed
medical doctor, it is
important that the
prolotherapist also be
in tune with the
underlying premise of
homeopathy. It is not
our duty to cure, but
rather to entice the
body into curing itself.
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DARROW
WELLNESS INSTITUTE
