How does the body heal?
Your body heals in three stages: inflammation clears damage, cells rebuild tissue, and a slow remodel makes it stronger. That process is called tissue regeneration. According to the book Beyond Stem Cells, regenerative medicine aims to support it, using tools like PRP, mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes.
Key points
- Tissue regeneration is your body's own repair process. It starts the second you get hurt.
- How does the body heal? In order: clean up (inflammation), rebuild, then remodel.
- Acute vs chronic inflammation: the first wave delivers immune cells and nutrients. Chronic inflammation is when it does not shut off.
- Neutrophils arrive in minutes. Macrophages clean up, then switch to rebuild mode, a step the book calls a checkpoint.
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) comes from your own blood and carries growth factors that signal repair.
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) send signals that calm the immune system and help new blood vessels form. Donor cells, such as umbilical cord tissue, can be used.
- Exosomes are tiny messages between cells that may help damaged cells get back to normal.
- What is regenerative medicine? Care that works with the repair system you already have. Remodeling of tendons and ligaments can take months, even years.
How the Body Heals
Read the full transcript · Download the MP3 · Voices are AI-generated from a script based on the book.
What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine is care that works with the repair system your body already has. According to the book Beyond Stem Cells, it uses tools like PRP from your own blood, donated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes, which may help support the body's natural healing stages. Researchers are still studying how and when each one helps.
What are the stages of tissue regeneration?
The tissue regeneration process has three stages. First, inflammation clears damage and brings in immune cells and nutrients. Second, cells rebuild the tissue. Third, a long remodeling stage slowly swaps weaker collagen for stronger collagen, which for tendons and ligaments can take months or even years, according to the book. Healing does not work the same for everybody: age, health, diet and the size of the injury all play a part.
Stage one: inflammation is the delivery truck
Inflammation sounds like the bad guy, but the first wave is your body sending in the delivery trucks. Immune cells, nutrients and repair material head straight to the injury. Inflammation also cleans up dead tissue and germs.
When inflammation does not shut off
Chronic inflammation is what happens when that first wave never switches off. It is the ongoing pain behind problems like arthritis and tendon trouble. In that sense, healing is largely a question of timing.
The cells show up in order
Neutrophils arrive first, within minutes, like firefighters. Macrophages follow as the cleanup crew, and partway through they switch jobs, moving from clearing damage to rebuilding. The book calls that switch a checkpoint. If it does not happen, healing can stall.
Remodeling is the long stage
After clean up and rebuild comes remodel. The body lays down a weaker collagen first and slowly swaps it for the strong kind. For tendons and ligaments that can take months, even years, which is why something can feel fine and still not be fully healed.
What is the difference between PRP, stem cells and exosomes?
Three terms come up again and again in regenerative medicine. Here is what each one means, according to the book.
PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
PRP comes from your own blood. The blood is spun down so the platelets become highly concentrated. Platelets carry growth factors, which are small signals that tell the body to start repairing. They also help make new blood vessels and collagen.
Collagen: what holds tissue together
Collagen is the strong, stretchy material in tendons, ligaments and cartilage. It is what holds them together.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
MSCs can turn into bone, cartilage and muscle. According to the book, the bigger deal is what they send out: signals that calm the immune system, help new blood vessels form and cut down on scarring. They are rarely rejected, even from a donor, so donor cells such as umbilical cord tissue can be used. The book also says timing matters, with MSCs tending to work best early, in the first few weeks after an injury.
Exosomes
Exosomes are tiny messages that cells send to each other, like little packages. The idea is that they may help damaged cells get back to normal.
What you can do on your own
Healing is not only something that happens in a clinic. The episode lists a few everyday habits that support it.
- Omega-3s: your body uses them to help turn inflammation off.
- Movement: the right amount of load helps new collagen line up and get stronger.
- The basics: sleep, stress and what you eat all add up.
These ideas go alongside your own provider's care, not instead of it.
Chapter 1 in one line
Your body already knows how to heal. You just want to work with it.
Episode 1 transcript.
Read along, or skim the parts you care about most.
EliseOkay so, chapter one. And this one's basically, like, how healing actually works?
GuideYeah.
EliseWhich, I'll be honest, I've never once thought about.
GuideNobody does! You cut your finger, it heals, you move on.
EliseRight, exactly.
GuideBut there's this whole... thing going on in there.
EliseOkay, so I get hurt. Then what happens?
GuideSo, the second you get hurt, your body's already on it.
EliseAlready?
GuideOh yeah. Like, right away. It's called tissue regeneration. But, um, it doesn't work the same for everybody.
EliseYeah, some people bounce right back and some people just... don't.
GuideRight. And a lot of that is, did your body get the right support at the right time? Your age, your health, how you eat—
EliseMm-hm.
Guide—how bad the injury was. And that's kind of the whole idea behind regenerative medicine. Helping the repair system you already have.
EliseOkay. So what's step one?
GuideInflammation.
EliseWait. Isn't that the bad guy?
GuideEverybody says that! No, that first wave is basically your body sending in the delivery trucks.
EliseOkay.
GuideImmune cells, nutrients, repair stuff. Straight to the injury. And it cleans up too. Dead tissue, germs, all of it.
EliseSo when does it go bad?
GuideWhen it doesn't shut off. That's chronic inflammation. That's when you get, you know, the ongoing pain, stuff like arthritis, tendon problems.
EliseHuh. So it's a timing thing.
GuideTotally. And the cells actually show up in order, which I think is so cool.
EliseIn order?
GuideYeah! First you get neutrophils. They're the first responders. They show up in minutes.
EliseLike firefighters.
GuideExactly like firefighters. And then the macrophages come in. That's the cleanup crew. And here's the wild part, halfway through they switch jobs.
EliseWait, what do you mean?
GuideThey start out clearing damage, and then they flip into, like, rebuild mode.
EliseOh, that's cool. And if they don't flip?
GuideThen healing kind of... stalls out. The book actually calls that switch a checkpoint.
EliseOkay, so where does PRP come in? 'Cause I hear about that all the time.
GuideSo PRP, platelet-rich plasma, that comes from your own blood.
EliseYour own blood?
GuideYour own blood. They spin it down so the platelets get super concentrated. And platelets carry growth factors, which are basically little signals going, hey, start fixing stuff.
EliseLove that.
GuideThey also help make new blood vessels. And collagen.
EliseCollagen's the, like, strong stretchy stuff, right?
GuideYep. Tendons, ligaments, cartilage. That's what holds 'em together.
EliseOkay, and stem cells. Because, I mean, that's the name of the book.
GuideFair. So, mesenchymal stem cells. People just say MSCs.
EliseThank you.
GuideYeah. They can turn into bone, cartilage, muscle. But honestly? The bigger deal is what they send out. Signals that calm the immune system down, help new blood vessels form, cut down on scarring.
EliseDo they have to be your own cells?
GuideNope. And that surprises people. They rarely get rejected, even from a donor. So donor cells, like from umbilical cord tissue, can be used.
EliseOh, huh. I did not know that.
GuideAnd the book says timing matters there too. They tend to work best early, like the first few weeks after an injury.
EliseOkay, let me see if I've got this. Clean up, then...
GuideClean up, rebuild, remodel.
EliseRemodel. Like a kitchen.
GuideKind of, yeah! And remodel's the long one. For tendons and ligaments it can take months. Even years.
EliseYears? Seriously?
GuideYeah. The body puts down a weaker collagen first, and then slowly swaps it for the strong stuff. That's why something can feel fine and still not be fully healed.
EliseOh, that explains my ankle.
GuideProbably!
EliseOkay, exosomes. I keep hearing that word everywhere.
GuideSo exosomes are like tiny messages cells send each other. Little packages. And the idea is they may help damaged cells get back to normal.
EliseOkay, so what can I actually do? Like, on my own?
GuideA couple things. Omega-threes. Your body uses those to actually turn inflammation off.
EliseOh, interesting.
GuideAnd movement. The right amount of load helps the new collagen line up and get stronger.
EliseSo, not just lying on the couch.
GuideNot always, no. And then the basics. Sleep, stress, what you eat. It all adds up.
EliseOkay. So if you had to sum up chapter one?
GuideYour body already knows how to heal. You just wanna work with it.
EliseI like that. And, quick reminder, this is general info, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
GuideAlways.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
Frequently asked questions.
What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine is care that works with the repair system the body already has. According to the book Beyond Stem Cells, it uses tools like PRP from your own blood, donated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes, which may help support healing. Researchers are still studying how and when each one helps.
What is tissue regeneration?
Tissue regeneration is your body's own repair process after an injury. It starts right away, and how well it works depends on things like your age, your health, how you eat and how bad the injury was.
Is inflammation good or bad for healing?
Both. At first, inflammation is how the body delivers immune cells and nutrients and cleans up damage. Problems come when it does not shut off. That is called chronic inflammation.
What is PRP?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. It comes from your own blood, spun down so the platelets are concentrated. Platelets carry growth factors, which are signals that help start repair.
Do stem cells have to come from my own body?
According to the book, no. Mesenchymal stem cells are rarely rejected, even from a donor, so donor cells such as umbilical cord tissue can be used. The book says they tend to work best early, in the first few weeks after an injury.
How long does healing take?
Remodeling is the long stage. For tendons and ligaments it can take months, even years, because the body slowly replaces weaker collagen with the stronger kind.
Where is Beyond Stem Cells located?
Beyond Stem Cells is at 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123, serving the Denver metro. This podcast is general education, not medical advice.
Want to see how this connects to care in the Denver metro? Learn about regenerative medicine at Beyond Stem Cells, stem cell therapy, exosome therapy, our medical team.
Further reading: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering: tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Want the whole book? Get the free Beyond Stem Cells book.
Regenerative care in Littleton and the Denver metro.
Beyond Stem Cells sits just off S Cody St in Littleton, an easy drive from Ken Caryl, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Englewood and Lakewood.
Questions about your own situation?
The podcast is general education. If you want to talk about your own health, request a consultation with our team.
Beyond Stem Cells · 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123 · (833) 720-7836 · info@beyondstemcells.com
Medical disclaimer: This page is general education based on the book Beyond Stem Cells by John Comandari and Neville Campbell, MD. It is not medical advice. Individual results vary and no specific outcome is promised. Talk to your own provider about your situation.