Hemotherapy is a type of treatment in which a predetermined amount of blood is collected from one person and, after processing and analysis, is transfused to another person, helping in the treatment and improvement of the patient.
In the case of autohemotherapy, on the other hand, the blood sample is taken and then returned to the person's own organism through injection directly into the vein or muscle, for example. This type of treatment is usually done to stimulate the immune system, so it can be used to relieve the symptoms of various health problems, such as arthritis, gout or allergies. Despite having benefits, autohemotherapy is not authorized by ANVISA nor by the Federal Council of Pharmacy and the Federal Council of Medicine due to the lack of scientific evidence.
Main benefits
The hemotherapy process can be done in several situations, being more often performed in the treatment of people who have suffered accidents and lost a lot of blood, during and after major surgeries and in people who suffer from blood-related diseases, such as leukemia, anemia, lymphoma and purple, for example.
In the case of auto-hemotherapy, as the objective is to stimulate the immune system, this type of alternative treatment can be effective in cases of:
- Rheumatoid arthritis; Gout; Bronchitis; Allergies; Crohn's disease; Herpes; Acne; Circulation problems; Eczema; Leg ulcers; Yeast infections.
In some cases, in the person's own injected blood, ozone or herbal preparations may also be added to obtain greater symptom relief. For example, ozone appears to improve blood oxygenation and, therefore, can help in cases of poor circulation. The use of medicinal plants, such as echinacea, can stimulate the body to fight virus infections.
Although theoretically it can be used as an alternative therapy for several diseases, auto-hemotherapy still does not have scientific proof of its benefits, and its practice is not authorized in Brazil.
How it is done
The hemotherapy process is carried out following the same blood collection process, that is, a tourniquet is placed on the arm to allow a better visualization of the blood vessel, and then 50 to 300 ml of blood are removed, which are placed in a proper container containing heparin, which is an anticoagulant substance, that is, it prevents blood from clotting.
In the case of autohemotherapy, this collected blood is reintroduced into the body itself, and can be done directly into the muscle or vein through an injection. Before being reintroduced, the doctor can put substances in the blood that facilitate the recovery process, such as ozone or herbal preparations, for example.
In hemotherapy, the collected blood is sent to the laboratory for blood analysis and compatibility with the person who will receive the blood, in order to avoid any transfusion reaction. Understand how blood transfusion is done.
Why can autohemotherapy work?
The beneficial effect of autohemotherapy seems to be related to the presence of antigens in the injected blood, which stimulate the body to produce antibodies, which makes the immune system stronger to fight the disease that is developing.
That is, when the blood is injected back into the body, the body begins to attack that blood because it contains traces of the disease that is developing. When this happens, the body gains greater resistance against the disease and, therefore, it is able to eliminate it more quickly. However, this theory has no scientific proof.
What are the health risks
Hemotherapy does not normally represent risks for the donor and the recipient, however, it is important that they are compatible so that there are no reactions related to the transfusion process.
Although it seems to have several benefits for the treatment of several diseases, auto-hemotherapy is not approved by ANVISA and, therefore, should not be used. This is because several tests are still needed to understand the effects of this treatment, as well as to identify possible health risks.
