celliant (diabetes)
TRANSCRIPT
Celliant
People with diabetes can develop many different types of foot problems. Most often these problems occur when there is nerve damage, also called neuropathy, which results in loss of feeling in the feet or lower legs. Poor blood flow may also cause additional problems including peripheral vascular disease. Even seemingly ordinary problems can worsen and lead to more serious complications.
About sixty to seventy percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy (NDIC, 2009). Symptoms of this can include numbness or tingling, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, problems with urination, erectile dysfunction and weakness, along with the emotional difficulties that develop from these symptoms. The risk of diabetics developing peripheral vascular disease is two to four times as likely as an otherwise healthy individual (Wikipedia, 2010). The effects of peripheral vascular disease can be devastating. In fact, seventy percent of nontramautic amputations are performed on diabetics with peripheral vascular disease. Currently diabetics with these conditions are treated with a multitude of medications or even surgery both of which can cause even more complications.
Hologenix, LLC, the makers of Celliant®, have developed a non‐invasive, completely safe way of treating diabetics suffering from vascular and neuropathic conditions. Wearing garments made with Celliant yarn or sleeping in a bed made with Celliant can dramatically improve circulation and increase oxygen levels in the body reducing pain and discomfort.
Celliant is a technology that improves transcutaneous oxygen (TCPO2) levels by embedding polyester yarn with photosensitive minerals. The minerals embedded in each strand of yarn use the electromagnetic energy emitted by the body in the form of infrared light and heat to vasodilate blood vessels. This allows more oxygenated blood to reach areas of the body that have poor circulation. Celliant is a bi‐component fiber. This means that the core of the fiber is separate from that sheath and the minerals can be added to only the core of the fiber. Most of the additives are under one micron is size. For reference, a human hair is typically anywhere from 17 to 180 microns. Because these minerals are so small and only found in the core of the fiber they can be treated like almost any other yarn when they are made into fabrics and garments. This means diabetics can treat their conditions without the risk of side effects and with no more effort than putting on their socks in the morning, or laying down in bed to go to sleep at night.
[Fig. 1. 2,000x magnification of a cross section of Celliant Fiber]
How can a non‐invasive product be so effective at treating these conditions when most medications do not even work as well? The key is near‐infrared therapy. The exact mechanism by which this therapy works is still being explored by researchers and scientists worldwide, but significant peer‐reviewed clinical testing has been published supporting the ability of low level laser therapy (Whelan, 2001) to affect biochemical processes in the body. Most significant of these is the ability to influence up and down‐regulation of nitric oxide levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is the primary means in which the body receives energy. Put simply, when the body has access to ATP it can produce energy much more efficiently decreasing fatigue and increasing muscle recovery times. Energy regulation is a great benefit but it is not the key benefit for diabetics. The key for them is nitric oxide. Nitric oxide has a half‐life of only a few seconds but it is an extremely important signaling molecule in the body. The signals it gives control the endolithium (smooth muscle walls of the blood vessels) causing blood vessels to either contract or relax. Contracted blood vessels are the key reason for the pain and tingling associated with peripheral vascular disease.
What we know from clinical tests among patients with diabetic neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease and other conditions, is that Celliant was shown to cause statistically significant reductions in foot pain. This is a big deal! The study was performed by Dr. Ian Gordon at the University of California, Irvine and was published in the Journal of Alternative and Contemporary Medicine in 2008. Dr. Gordon was able to show in a double‐blind study that patients showed a 2.7x reduction in pain on the McGill Short Form Pain Survey, an industry accepted scale for measuring pain relief that is used in FDA trials for pain medication.
Dr. Lawrence Lavery, DPM, MPH, a diabetic specialist who has published over 100 peer‐reviewed papers, performed one of three independent clinical studies
showing that Celliant causes an increase in TCPO2 levels in diabetic subjects. He had the following to say, “A ten percent improvement may be enough in many of these people to take them from symptomatic to asymptomatic, which for patients that are taking ten or fifteen drugs, to be able to wear a garment with no side effects, I think is a tremendous advantage.”
[Fig. 2. 2003 Dr. Lavery Oxygenation Study Results] For those people who are dealing with pain, the benefits are self‐explanatory. Even the simplest tasks like walking the dog or playing with grandkids can be difficult. For people with more serious problems, Celliant could be the difference between keeping your leg or needing an amputation.
At this point, much of the work in this area is still theoretical. Hologenix feels that it has a responsibility to further the understanding of this research and how it can help treat these conditions within diabetics. We look forward to working with the diabetic community to treat their needs. Celliant is available in many forms. The most obvious products that could benefit diabetics are diabetic socks or gloves. Beds, bedding and mattress covers made with Celliant also offer significant benefits. Celliant is also available in shoe linings, pillows, base layer garments, wraps & braces and even blankets. *Disclaimer – Celliant products are not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical treatment or advice from a qualified medical professional, nor are any claims made regarding the efficacy of Celliant products for an individual user. The statements made herein are general in nature and based on laboratory tests and observations. We recommend you always seek professional medial advice from a qualified professional regarding any diagnosed or suspected medical condition. Do not disregard any medical advice because of any information you read here. Celliant has not applied for nor received any approval, nor determination of safety from any regulatory agency.