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Binetis Vrijes
Business: Neurotechnology – Neurotech
Inexpensive alternative to pills or injections
In his play ‘Memory’ an elderly man plays with his brain by conducting sounds through his head. Could this be the future of football? More and more athletes are getting IV infusions of blood plasma as an alternative to pills or injections, but why?
In an interview with BBC Radio, Dr. Jules Gennaro from University College London said the infusions are increasingly used as a substitute for taking medicine for injuries.
“There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best treatment for an injury. People say to me this is essentially an injection in the head and they are kind of right,” he said.
The IV IV solution, sometimes known as “epilepsy” is healthy blood plasma extracted from the recipient. After the extract, it’s placed in an incubator to replicate blood circulation through the body, similar to how an IV does. Each infusion last around 20 minutes and usually involves about six people.
“You’re having lots of brains communicate which is really cool,” he said. “You can hear the nerves. And some people can hear tiny noises that the brain is making while you are receiving the product.”
The results are similar to steroids injected into the body, as muscles and proteins from the bloodstream are transferred into the body. Experts say a healthy person’s red blood cells carry about 10 grams of platelets, normally found in the placenta. Red blood cells help carry oxygen to the tissues of the body, helping the body regulate the activity of many muscles, nerves and organs, so it’s thought that these products can “enrich the brain.”
“The more cells we have the more big molecules we can deal with,” Professor Dr. Sebastian Thomas told RedWatch.net. “The brain is an organ that needs these higher levels of chemicals. So why not have extra-large, extra-strong, extra-smart cells?”
Thomas is a FIFA-qualified astro-turf expert and a pioneer in girding surfaces for soccer. At the international level, the prosthetic is worn by one or two players, while in competition it’s used by around ten.
The result is that, though the product is toxic at high doses, it seems to improve performance in some people. It has also helped rugby players who have become more equipped with the ability to cope with sudden hits from stronger players.
As for how to get an IV, there is no physical exam and no test. But successful athletes will report increased performance, more energy, less tiredness and less headaches.
“I have a little saline [infusion] here on the right arm. It looks not dissimilar to a drip bag,” France forward Antoine Griezmann told FIFA.com. “If you feel like you don’t need to do anything, there is no reason to take a painkiller. If you feel you need to take a painkiller, it’s better to have a small one because it will help.”
The downside of the IV infusions is that it’s not as easy to recover. Sustained pain and fatigue occur after weeks if not months have passed since the initial injection. In addition, while people may not be aware of these symptoms, doctors are.
Grenade accident injuries being treated with Football Blood Plasma. How safe is it? @FootballBPD pic.twitter.com/0G2uFz78pt — Dr. Jules Gennaro (@JulesGennaro) March 23, 2018
Prof. Christian Bernad, a professor of sport medicine from the Universitat Sí Barcenas in Spain, says that it’s not a safe or ethical alternative to rest, rest, rest. In an interview with Redwatch.net, he explained that blood-pod infusions could include the following risks:
1) Suicidal thoughts: with the pressure of the brain floating around the brain, it’s possible that a person could fantasize about dying. A colleague of Prof. Bernad’s has experienced this.
2) Blackouts: Just by pressing the button, a person could temporarily lose consciousness.
3) Nervous breakdown: Adrenal gland activity, or blood flow to the brain can upset the system.
4) Brain damage: This is the risk of using a product that is exposed to components of the body, including contaminants.
Professor Dr. Sebastian Thomas wrote a paper to address these