By Walter Ang
November-December 2009 issue
Asian Dragon Magazine
A new dietary supplement, surgical oncologist Dr. George G. Eufemio
tells Walter Ang, can help the body boost its stem cells and
keep the organs and tissues functioning
Stem cells by the bottle
The use of human stem cells in medical therapies has been a topic of public debate. Most of the heated discussions revolve around the use of embryonic stem cells (stem cells gathered from human embryos).
However, stem cells can also be harvested from the bone marrow. "Recent developments over the past few years have established that adult stem cells have capabilities comparable to embryonic stem cells, not in the test tube, but in the actual human body," says surgical oncologist Dr. George Eufemio.
In adults, stem cells act as a repair system for the body, not only replenishing specialized cells, but also replacing dysfunctional cells (for example, of the blood, skin, etc.). Adult stem cells have been routinely used for many years to help treat leukemia. The research community believes in potential uses for stem cell therapy to treat diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and muscle damage, among many others.
"As you age, the number and quality of stem cells that circulate in your body gradually decrease, leaving your body more susceptible to injury and other age-related health challenges," he says. "Many studies indicate that simply releasing stem cells from the bone marrow can help support the body's natural process for renewal of tissues and organs. The Stem Cell Theory of Renewal proposes that stem cells are naturally released by the bone marrow and travel to the body's organs where they proliferate and develop into the cells of the target organ."
Dr. Eufemio notes that numerous studies performed by various scientific teams throughout the world, including the National Institute of Health, have clearly established that the higher the levels of circulating stem cells the better the ability of the body to maintain optimal health. "A recent publication in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that the level of stem cells in the blood was one of the best indicators of cardiovascular health," he adds.
Based on these findings, Dr. Eufemio is advocating StemEnhance, a dietary supplement that has been shown to support the release of stem cells from the bone marrow. "Just as antioxidants are important to protect your cells from free radical damage, stem cell enhancers are equally important in order to keep your organs and tissues functioning well by helping your body release stem cells, so that these stem cells can travel to areas of your body where they are most needed," he says.
StemEnhance was developed by business entrepreneur Ray Carter and botanical researcher and neurophysiologist Christian Drapeau based on years of intense research. They founded the company StemTech Health Sciences in 2005 and their research showed that the compound aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), a natural botanical extract, supports the body in naturally releasing more stem cells.
"Whole AFA has been used for more than two decades with a very good track record of safety and health benefits. It has been used as a natural anti-inflammatory product, to support the immune system, and to improve mental clarity and mental energy," says Dr. Eufemio.
StemTech's scientific team further isolated and identified the components of AFA that were responsible for these health benefits and concentrated these extracts in StemEnhance. "AFA has been found to contain phenylethylamine, responsible for providing a feeling of mental energy; phycocyanin for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as L-selectin ligand, which supports the natural release of stem cells (specifically, CD34+ cells) from the bone marrow, and Migratose, which may support the migration of stem cells out of the blood into tissues," he says.
"The formulation of StemEnhance is patented and is the first of its kind on the market. The AFA grows naturally in a fresh-water lake in Southern Oregon, and is not farmed nor manipulated in anyway, hence no genetic modification," say Dr. Eufemio.
Several clinical studies and trials have been conducted on the product, the results of which can be found in the website www.stemtechbiz.com. StemEnhance was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study where volunteers were given either StemEnhance or a placebo. "Since the study is blind, no one, not even the scientists doing the study, knew which pills were the placebos and no one knew who got the placebos," he says. "The results showed that those who received StemEnhance had a significant 25% increase in the number of circulating stem cells."
StemEnhance is available through independent distributors and part of the proceeds are donated to the StemTech Global Foundation, dedicated to the support of children's causes around the world. "As with all dietary supplements, consult your doctor before you begin taking StemEnhance," he notes.
Dr. George G. Eufemio is past Chairman of the Philippine Board of Surgery, former President of the Philippine College of Surgeons and former President of the Philippine Cancer Society. He is also past Chairman, Department of Surgery of the Philippine General Hospital. He received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (1992) and served as President (1979) and Governor (1999-2002) of the Philippine Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Presently, he renders consultancy work for Medical Center Manila and Cardinal Santos Medical Center.