Recently, one mom recommended Stemtech AFA and out of curiosity, I decided to google and see what this product is. My personal view is to stick to moisturizing for eczema and consult a specialist for your child. Given that there is no cure nor quick fix for eczema, I will not give my child any oral medicine or in this case, dietary supplement, unless it is confirmed 100% safe by an independent doctor.
Here is the information on this dietary supplement, Stemtech AFA, obtained from its site:
– AFA is short for aquatic botanical Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae, an extract of blue-green algae
– Support release of stem cells from bone marrow and increase the number of circulating stem cells (that will travel to areas of body most needed)
– Dietary supplement, not required to be approved by FDA
– Company is founded in 2005 by Christian Drapeau and its products sold through network marketing
There is no google search linking Stemtech AFA to treatment for eczema, but there is a post on a Dr Dale Peterson’s website who pointed out that there is potential toxicity and that bone marrow cells promote cancer growth and metastases (spread of cancer growth). Here are extracts of the post:
– Dr Milena Bruno, leading authority in blue-green algae, replied that a substance present in blue-green algae, Microcystin-LA, has several chronic consequences, they are clastogenic, strong tumor initiators and promoters, they are also endocrine disruptors, and their effects are synergistic.
– Publication by Zhang, et. al. in the January 2007 issue of Environmental Toxicology which shows that microcystins not only accumulate in the liver and other tissues of adults, but are passed on to their offspring.
– Dr Donald Orlic, whose work is cited by Christian Drapeau, replied that noone, to his knowledge, has ever suggested that there is benefit derived from a daily supplement of a bone marrow stem cell releasing product when administered to normal individuals.
– There is an open lawsuit from a case of a girl who died from liver failure
– Various research cited by Dr Dale that bone marrow stem cells play a role in cancer growth
Above is what I googled and I don’t want to judge parents who opt for alternative treatments, knowing how stress we all are managing our children’s eczema. For me, I just stick to moisturizing and steroid use under doctor’s instruction.
2017 update: Stemtech International had filed for bankruptcy, read here
