Autologous Blood Therapy

Autologous blood therapy is a naturopathic procedure also known as non-specific stimulation therapy. Its first application was by the Berlin surgeon August Bier in 1905, who studied and theorized the effect on the healing process of fractures (broken bones). All variants of this therapy are similar in the basic procedure. A defined amount of blood is taken from the patient, which is then injected back into the patient either treated or untreated. The basis is that the patient’s own blood has a stimulating effect on the organism and stimulates or promotes healing processes. In addition, the autologous blood can be prepared with various components before injection. This is done, for example, with oxygen or ozone.

Indications (areas of application)

The procedure

Autologous blood therapy has mainly an immunomodulatory effect. As a non-specific foreign body stimulus, the blood is able to influence the defense. It also contains valuable information about infection that has already passed. Various local and systemic effects are attributed to autologous blood therapy. First and foremost, as already mentioned, it stimulates the immune system. When the blood is injected into a tissue, it represents a foreign body and causes a local inflammatory reaction, which in a mild form spreads to the whole organism. This reaction can be seen as an improvement of the local and systemic defense situation. This is followed by a holistic improvement of the immune defense. In parallel, there is also a metabolic activation. Another effect is the overall vegetative switch. In the form of a re-tuning therapy, the autologous blood causes a profound stimulation of the vegetative nervous system (unconscious nervous system, which, for example, supplies the organs and modulates body reactions such as sweating). In the first phase, the sympathetic nervous system is excited. This leads, among other things, to a rise in temperature and metabolic activation (the sympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that has an excitatory effect and is very active during anxiety, for example). In the second phase, the parasympathetic nervous system (antagonist of the sympathetic nervous system) predominates, which initiates a recovery phase. After multiple applications of the therapy, the following effects were observed:

  • Longer and deeper sleep
  • Improvement of the physical and mental general condition
  • Improvement of depressive states – eg climacteric (menopause).
  • Appetite stimulation
  • Faster convalescence – the recovery is accelerated
  • Antiphlogistic effect – anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Reduction of fever
  • Analgesic effect in chronic pain conditions – reduction of pain.

Practically, autohemotherapy is used in several ways. First, the compatibility is tested with smaller amounts to prevent side effects and unpleasant reactions such as circulatory collapse. The amount of blood taken is varied according to the indication. Injection of the patient’s own blood is performed:

  • Intravenously – into a vein
  • Intracutaneous – into the skin
  • Subcutaneous – into the subcutaneous fat tissue
  • Intramuscular – directly into the muscles

Treatment intervals depend on the disease and the general condition of the patient. In acute disease, the injections can be daily, but in chronic disease weekly. After the first treatment, a so-called first worsening is not uncommon.It is an expression of the body’s reaction to the stimulus from the autologous blood and can manifest itself in fever, fatigue, listlessness, a slight feeling of illness and local irritation of the injection site. The different variants of autologous blood therapy differ mainly in the treatment or enrichment of the blood with other active substances:

  • Unmodified autologous blood – native blood is injected back in small amounts (0.5-3 ml).
  • Hemolyzed autologous blood – Sterile distilled water is added to the native blood. This leads to hemolysis (destruction of erythrocytes).
  • Ultraviolet irradiation of the autologous blood.
  • Hematogenous Oxidation Therapy (HOT) – The autologous blood is irradiated with UV light and foamed with pure oxygen.
  • Ozone therapy – The autologous blood is enriched with ozone.
  • Potentiated autologous blood – The blood is further processed in a homeopathic manner after collection.
  • Activated own blood according to Dr. K. Windstosser – The blood is mixed with a so-called serum activator, which triggers immune reactions.
  • Auto-Sanguis step therapy according to Reckeweg – This is a form of homeopathic potentiation of autologous blood.
  • Rarely used forms of autologous blood therapy: defibrinated autologous blood, autologous serum therapy, short-wave irradiated autologous blood.

Benefits

Autologous blood therapy is a very versatile naturopathic procedure that primarily strengthens the immune system, optimizing healing processes. It also activates the self-healing powers of the organism. Complementary to conventional medical procedures, autohemotherapy can increase well-being and thus improve the quality of life.