So what does this platelet-rich plasma do? Plenty.
In PRP therapy, the platelet-rich plasma is either injected into the region of the patient’s body that requires treatment, applied topically or administered through microneedling-a minimally-invasive procedure in which ultra-fine needles are inserted into the skin.
The removal of red blood cells leaves us with platelet-rich plasma-plasma so rich in platelets, in fact, that it contains 10 times as much as whole blood. As the blood spins at a very fast rate, red blood cells are separated from plasma (the clear liquid that transports blood throughout the body) and platelets. In PRP, a small amount of blood (30-60 milligrams, or two to four tablespoons) is drawn from the patient and placed into a centrifuge. First discovered in the 1970s in the field of hematology, PRP began to be used a decade later, initially in maxillofacial surgery before moving into a variety of medical procedures, including cardiac surgery, gynecology, oral surgery and ophthalmology.īut what, exactly, is PRP-and how does it work? The therapy, widely known as PRP, utilizes injections of a patient’s own blood to jumpstart the healing process and rejuvenate specific areas of concern. Overall, the human body is a miraculous creation, designed for curing itself and tremendous resilience.Īnd we can harness this power even more by using platelet-rich plasma.
Proof of this emerges in myriad ways, from scabs that eventually form fresh skin to an (albeit exasperating) itch-a sure sign that blood is moving towards a wound in the name of healing. Here in the realm of naturopathic medicine, we live by the tenet that our bodies are built to heal themselves.
Blood may not be the sexiest topic but your own blood may be the secret to health and vitality.