Human Growth Hormone (HGH) therapy started as a treatment for children who were going grow up with dwarfism and it has been very successful in its usage. There has now been a move to help with the aging process. Certain signs of aging have shown signs of being reversed and this much-heralded treatment is being seriously examined.
Growth Hormone - Children
The growth hormone is produced in the body by secretion from the pituitary gland in the brain. When growth hormone is administered to children in controlled amounts it does exactly as its name denotes, it assists in the development of the body and growth rates of up to 4.5inches or 12 cm have been achieved. The rules as to who is treated are strictly controlled and it is only given to children who would become "pituitary dwarfs" without HGH treatment. Pituitary dwarfs are people who have a deficiency in natural growth hormone production and this is established from testing for subnormal levels of HGH. There are other problems, which cause short stature that may also benefit from the use of HGH therapy.
The side effects of HGH therapy are that it may interfere with growth, leukaemia and other conditions. Medical advice is essential throughout this process and care must be taken to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages.
There has recently been cause for concern that the growth hormone is not abused and used as a panacea to produce bigger and better children and athletes and also as an aid to reduce aging in adults.
Growth Hormone - Adults
The growth hormone helps the immune system to fight disease and infection and can regenerate cells in vital organs as well as in bones and muscles and it promotes tissue repair. Original tests carried out using prescription levels of HGH showed a dramatic change in lean muscle, which increased and body fat, which decreased but this was with prescription levels and it is not now possible obtain that treatment and so the other treatments will not be as dramatic.
The benefits from treating elderly people are obvious but unfortunately this is not a cure all. However there is a growing industry in producing HGH supplements and releasers, which claim to help reduce some of the aging effects although the effects will not be substantial.
Homeopathic HGH supplements contain very small amounts of synthetic HGH and the benefits are difficult to quantify exactly but the levels of HGH are so low as have been determined by the medical control agencies as to have no or minute side effects.
HGH releasers are basically amino acid vitamins and are the constituent parts of HGH but they still need the body to transform them into HGH. The efficiency of them will therefore depend on that being possible.
Some of the major research is trying to produce products, which will stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete more HGH in particular by an Insulin type growth product.
Medical advice can be taken but prescription HGH will not be an option unless there is a severe medical condition. The major products on the market are homeopathic or over the counter drugs with limited potency.
