Turning back the clock of aging is a dream that is as old as humanity itself. Physicians and alchemists of the past have been attempting partially bizarre methods to achieve this goal since antiquity. Chinese empresses seeking immortality were, for example, administered cinnabar components (mercury sulfide). The famous “founder” of China, Qin Shihuangdi, probably died of the effects brought on by such an “immortality pill”.
But even in ancient times, methods of rejuvenation were described that seem downright modern when a closer look is taken: The Argonaut Saga, for example, tells the story of Medea, a princess and sorceress from Colchis, who rejuvenated an aging king using sheep blood more than 3,500 years ago. Sheep blood contains bioidentical hormones as well as stem cells. A daily beverage made of tiger blood and seminal fluid that a Chinese empress used for strengthening and rejuvenation purposes more than 2,000 years ago can be considered plausible due to its high content of bioidentical testosterone and was probably effective.
As you know, I, as a physician with a treatment focus on aesthetic and regenerative medicine, concern myself with innovative methods used to slow down the aging process or even find ways to reverse it. In this regard, there are currently five major approaches, which I would like to present to you in the following articles:
- Hormonal regeneration using bioidentical hormones
- Treatment using stem cells
- Extension of telomeres
- Treatment using growth factors and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- A look into the future: Gene therapy
For individual recommendations regarding specific regeneration and rejuvenation treatments, a personal consultation and examination as well as an analysis regarding your health status and previous aging process are required.
DDr. Heinrich, MD