That's Fit

Pixie dust. That's what Ohio resident, Lee Spievak, says helped grow his finger back. But the truth is a little less magical and quite a bit more scientific. Spievak accidentally cut the tip of his finger off in the propeller of a model airplane. The finger was cut down to the bone and the missing tip wasn't found. With such damage and nothing to reattach, doctors told him the tip of his finger was lost for good. But Spievak was lucky enough to have a brother who works in the field of regenerative medicine.

His brother sent him the "pixie dust" (otherwise known as extra cellular matrix). Extra cellular matrix is an experimental medicine made from the cells in the lining of a pig's bladder. The material has yet to go through a complete clinical trial, but scientists hope that the sheets and powdered versions of extra cellular matrix will help reduce scar formations after injury or surgery and help regrow tissue.

In the case of Lee Spievak, that's exactly what the experimental material did. Spievak sprinkled the dust on his fingertip for 10 days. Within four weeks, his fingertip regenerated -- with full functionality, nerves, nail and all. Even his fingerprint grew back intact.

Based on stories that sound more like magic potions than medical science, researchers are looking into the benefits of powdered pig extracts in regrowing fingers.

It's no small matter. Missing fingers make it difficult, or even impossible to do simple tasks -- like picking things up, or brushing your teeth. Research into animals that are particularly effective at regrowing body parts may also lead to helping people regenerate damaged hearts or spinal cords.

The idea of using animal extracts to restore fingers isn't all that far out. Scientists have grown extra arms on salamanders and found mice who seem to be able to heal themselves. More amazingly, Lee Spievack, a hobby store salesman in Cincinnati, chopped off the tip of his finger, but grew it back -- completely -- solely with the aid of pig powder.

To date, there's only anecdotal evidence, but the possibilities seem truly remarkable.