Auto-hemotherapy is a therapeutic resource consisting of intramuscular application of the patient's own blood. In the procedure, 5 to 20 ml of blood is removed from the patient's forearm and this blood is immediately applied to the muscle of the arm or buttock.
When the blood volume is large (20 ml), that amount is divided between the arm and the buttock. Applications are made from 7 in 7 days, so that the rate of macrophages (defense cells) remain about 4 times higher than normal.
In theory, the blood, when it comes in contact with the muscle, causes a rejection reaction, stimulating the immune system to send to the site the macrophages, which are cells responsible for keeping the tissues free of foreign bodies.
Macrophages act on the defense against infections, "swallowing" and destroying invading microorganisms, in addition to cooperating with other defense cells, white blood cells (T and B lymphocytes).
Does Self-Hemotherapy Work?
The Brazilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cell Therapy (ABHH) does not recognize auto-hemotherapy from the scientific point of view, since there are no scientific studies in the national and international medical literature that demonstrate the benefits of this practice.
As the procedure has not been scientifically studied and validated, its possible side effects and complications are unknown, which may endanger the patients' health.
Resolution No. 1.499 / 98 of the Federal Medical Council prohibits physicians from using therapeutic resources that are not recognized by the scientific community.
There is a therapeutic practice, performed by hematologists and haemotherapists, which uses blood components and calls itself hemotherapy. However, this procedure is completely different and has nothing to do with auto-hemotherapy.
