Inflammation gets a bad rap. While chronic inflammation is a problem in many ways, acute inflammation is needed for repair of damage to tissues whether from infection or injury. Chronic inflammation that is not controlled by the body is a major part or cause of a number of diseases. Molecular damage that results from lifelong uncontrolled inflammation causes accumulated molecular damage that is largely responsible for aging. Immune system imbalance, especially overactivity, causes the body to start attacking its own tissues resulting in chronic inflammation. This is seen most commonly in arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers.
One of the most common activities that humans engage in is eating. Our foods can either be inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. We need to decrease our intake of inflammatory foods and increase our intake of anti-inflammatory foods. Foods such as red meat and refined carbohydrates cause inflammation in your body, so eliminating or reducing them in your diet can keep you healthier.
Increasing our intake of anti-inflammatory foods is an important strategy for reducing and preventing chronic inflammation. The body needs its own high levels of anti-inflammatory support molecules, called antioxidants. Milder levels of chronic inflammation can be kept under better control and not allowed to become worse. And, aging will be slowed down.
One of the best ways to maintain high levels of antioxidant, anti-inflammatories in the body is through our daily nutrition. You are what you eat. So, eating foods and nutrients that nature has provided, and are readily available, will go a long way to keeping you healthy. We are all recommended to have at least five – 10 servings of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables daily. Fortunately, most of these foods have flavor and are pleasant to eat.
Include the following flavorful and powerful foods regularly into your diet to help counteract inflammation.
Chocolate. No guilt dark chocolate with 70 percent or more cacao. Say no to milk chocolate, which is not healthy, due to the high content of sugar and fat.
Berries. These include especially blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. They are delicious and packed with flavor as well as fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Fatty fish. Seafood high in Omega 3 oils, including mackerel (1.8% omega-3’s), lake trout (1.6%), herring (1.5%), sardines (1.4%), albacore tuna (1.3%), salmon (1.1%), halibut (0.6%), river trout (0.5%), catfish (0.4%), cod (0.3%), snapper (0.2%), or tuna packed in water (0.2%) are preferred. Not everyone loves seafood or it’s too costly, so taking a daily fish oil supplement is an alternative.
Cruciferous vegetables. These include broccoli, cauliflower, kale and brussels sprouts and are high in those all-important antioxidants.
Avocadoes. This tasty fruit can be used in so many ways and is packed with healthy fat, fiber and antioxidants. Include it in salads, sandwiches and dips, for example, guacamole, served with chips and veggies.
Green tea. You may begin your day with a cup of coffee. Coffee contains some antioxidants, but green tea is a better choice. Green tea provides some of the caffeine you need to quick-start your day, but it has a much higher antioxidant level, and other molecules that help to protect against cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. And it is also available in a decaffeinated form while still preserving the other benefits.
Mushrooms, olive oil and tomatoes. These three foods are frequently used together in many healthy diets. Many Mediterranean diets include these ingredients. The combination has an impressive amount of anti-inflammatory compounds. Lycopene in tomatoes reduces inflammation and protects against various cancers. Also, cooking tomatoes in olive oil increases the amount of lycopene that is absorbed.
Mushrooms also contain anti-inflammatory compounds. But, cooking can reduce the anti-inflammatory benefits. So, nutritionists recommend eating raw mushrooms or only slightly cooked.
Turmeric. Turmeric is not eaten alone. This spice has been used to flavor Indian dishes for hundreds of years. Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient compound in turmeric. Curcumin is used to reduce the pain of arthritis and may also help prevent cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric absorption can be greatly increased if eaten with black pepper. Black pepper contains piperine or bioperine, which aid the absorption of curcumin.
Inflammation is the natural immune response of your body to anything it recognizes as a threat, and the reaction is meant to protect your health. Without a certain amount of inflammation your health would be at risk from invading microbes, viruses and bacteria. Some foods such as red meat and refined carbohydrates can cause inflammation in your body, so eliminating or reducing them in your diet can keep you healthier.
Fortunately, the healthy foods that fight inflammation are appetizing and easily available. Your best chance to live a long and active life is to avoid unhealthy foods that cause weight gain and inflammation, and educate yourself about which foods provide proper nutrition and antioxidants to help fight disease.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric
https://authoritynutrition.com/13-anti-inflammatory-foods/
http://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/anti-inflammatory-diet-pyramid/
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field. It is a unique type of medical treatment that uses highly concentrated and precise electromagnetic therapy to target the tissues of the body . This form of therapy produces countless health benefits to the body. As a result, it has a wide range of applications, from eye and vision issues to blood flow and circulation to even thyroid conditions.
By going straight to the source of nearly any disease or disorder (the blood) and working to correct any problems it is having repairing and regenerating existing cells, the only limit to the potential medical applications is the time and effort it takes to conduct the proper research and tests first. With a growing interest and demand for PEMF therapy across the entire medical spectrum, it may not be long before this type of treatment is standard.
Thyroid disease is a condition in which the thyroid glands have begun to malfunction for one reason or the other. It can be extremely difficult to maintain its proper balance once this has happened. What comes as a result of this is that the thyroid no longer produces the proper amount of hormones and chemicals which are necessary to keep your bodies’ systems operating correctly.
The thyroid secretes a chemical known as thyroxine. When this chemical passes through the liver and kidneys, it is converted into an active hormone. Its only purpose is to stimulate and increase the metabolic rate, which incidentally increases oxygen consumption. When tissues and blood cells do not have the proper oxygen levels, it can result in serious health issues and diseases. In the case of thyroid disease in particular, there are two main types, each with a range of severity from mild to moderate to severe:
In this condition, the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone. A few of the common symptoms and side effects include:
Whole Body Symptoms – sluggishness, lack of energy, fatigue and/or feeling cold
Developmental Symptoms – slowed growth and even delayed puberty
Hair Symptoms – hair dryness and/or loss
Other Common Symptoms – constipation, dry skin, brittle nails, high cholesterol, enlarged thyroid, irritability, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, slow heart rate, or irregular uterine bleeding
This thyroid condition produces the opposite effect as hypothyroidism. With this disorder, the gland produces too much of the necessary hormones needed for the operation of the body’ systems. The purpose of treatment here is to reduce this production or decrease the reactions of the body organs to the excess hormone. Some of the symptoms associated with this form of thyroid problem are:
Whole Body Symptoms – excess sweating, excessive hunger, heat intolerance and/or fatigue
Behavioral Symptoms – irritability, hyperactivity and/or restlessness
Heart Symptoms – fast heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm and/or or palpitations
Mood Symptoms – mood swings, nervousness, anxiety and/or panic attack
Eye Symptoms – abnormal protrusion or puffiness of the eyes
Menstrual Symptoms – short and light menstruation cycles or irregular menstruation
Sleep Symptoms – insomnia, sleep anxiety or otherwise difficulty falling and/or staying asleep
Other Common Symptoms – diarrhea, weight loss, muscle weakness, hair loss, tremors, or warm skin
Any or all of these could point to the fact that your thyroid is out of balance and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Here are a few interesting statistics regarding thyroid function:
That is an incredibly large number and one that is worth noting. The main reason for this is due to the lack of nutrition in our foods. Our natural vitamin and mineral quality is so low that we cannot get what we need from the ground. Supplementing the diet with a modest amount of iodized salt is the safest way to increase iodine in our diets. Many people avoid salt for health reasons, but this popular tactic is resulting in too little salt in the diets of many people. So, adding a modest amount of iodized salt in the diet is an easy way to deal with dietary iodine deficiency.
Spontaneous hypothyroidism is between 1 and 2%, and it is more common in older women and ten times more common in women than in men. Hyperthyroidism in women is between 0.5 and 2% and is ten times more common in women than in men.
One bright statistic that is worthy of attention is the fact that many people who suffer from thyroid disease have found an effective and beneficial form of treatment in PEMF therapy. This holds true for both types of the condition – hypo and hyper. These cells and tissues, just as all others, tend to respond very well to electromagnetic stimulation. This treatment may also be effective in reducing the severity of the symptoms of thyroid disease. Specifically, these include slowing hair loss, increased energy levels, as well as clearing up common skin conditions associated with it.
There are many possible causes for thyroid disease, any of which could be responsible for your particular condition. Both types of thyroid disease have their own root sources.
This is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys its thyroid tissue, causing the thyroid to produce less thyroid hormone over time.
Certain types of medications, as well as contrast dyes, can expose your system to too much iodine, or even taking too much iodine as a supplement. The American Thyroid Association recommends iodine or kelp daily supplement intake to be limited to <500 μg iodine for all individuals.
This can be either a surgically-removed thyroid, as well as a chemically-destroyed thyroid.
It is possible that this drug can also cause hypothyroidism.
This is an autoimmune disease which overstimulates the thyroid and causes an overproduction in thyroid hormones.
This condition causes inflammation of the thyroid gland, which creates excess hormone.
This refers to the development of nodules inside the thyroid gland that over-produce hormone.
Although rare, it still may cause hyperthyroidism.
In the more severe forms, hyperthyroidism can cause thyrotoxicosis or thyroid storm, both emergency situations, which can be lethal. In these situations, management of the conditions has to be much more aggressive and urgent.
When the thyroid gland is out of balance and failing to produce the proper level of hormones, all kinds of health issues can arise. As the condition progresses, growths begin to form in the thyroid itself. These growths are referred to as thyroid nodules.
Here are a few facts about nodules and what they might do:
In understanding the key ingredient to healthy cell function, ATP must be looked at. Adenosine tri-phosphate is what makes every cell on every level function by supplying the energy that cells need.
Thyroid hormone has a profound impact on mitochondria, the parts of cells responsible for producing the majority of cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Thyroid hormone maintains the number of mitochondria in all cells of the body and hence cellular oxidative capacity. The hormone also affects ATP synthesis and turnover.
When the ATP levels are low, cells can become ill, corrupted and diseased. Over time, they can also get severely damaged. And without the proper amount of ATP in its system, the body loses its ability to regenerate and heal.
Since the two thyroid conditions produce the exact opposite malfunction in the thyroid, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism require opposing treatment therapies. In regards to mild forms of hypothyroidism, the goal is to promote and stimulate the production of hormones. With hyperthyroidism, you are trying to decrease or, in some cases, completely stop hormone production.
When it comes to hypothyroidism, the most common only previous way to correct the lack of hormone production is to take hormone replacement therapy. These individuals usually have to take these hormone therapies for the rest of their lives. The more severe the hypothyroidism the higher the dose of medication usually has to be. With hyperthyroidism, physicians would usually rely on medication to decrease symptoms or antithyroid medicines, in milder situations, or on surgery or radioactive iodine treatment, in more severe situations.
As far as the conventional treatment for thyroid nodules goes, it is usually by means of a surgical operation to excise the nodule. Unfortunately, in many cases this has led to even further thyroid complications down the road. Because there is also some healthy thyroid tissue which has to be removed during the surgery, hormone production is reduced which can develop into hypothyroidism later on.
There have been human studies on the effects that PEMF therapy has on thyroid conditions. This is true of both types of the disease. Electromagnetic pulses have been shown to have significant benefits for both under and overacting glands. With the proper equipment, treatment regimen and supervision from a qualified physician, it may be possible to completely restore your thyroid to its proper function, especially in the milder forms.
For systemic low thyroid issues, in particular, whole body PEMF will target the mitochondria throughout your body. This is the part of the cell which produces ATP, that all important hormone critical to ensuring the correct function of every cell in the body. This will wake the body up and to some extent replace the function of the thyroid hormones. Treatment of the gland itself will increase ATP production in the gland and improve thyroid hormone production. Once the proper amount of therapy has stimulated the increased production of ATP in the thyroid, the gland could once again work efficiently. It’s possible that with PEMF therapy total dose of thyroid hormone that may be needed, especially in more severe deficiencies, may be able to be reduced.
For excessive thyroid hormone production, PEMF therapy can address and reduce the inflammation caused by autoimmune conditions in the gland, rescuing the gland from further self-destruction and excess hormone production. However, caution needs to be used and hormonal and physical function status carefully and closely monitored so that the symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be controlled. Medications used to control symptoms and help with excess hormone effects may also be made to be more effective. PEMF treatment with hyperthyroidism needs to be done with the “going low and slow” approach. That is, using lower intensities with short treatment times and very gradually, with very close blood level and clinical monitoring, increasing the intensity and time.
And since we are already aware of how effective PEMFs are in managing and reducing swelling and inflammation, this treatment could also inhibit the growth of future nodules which might interfere with the thyroid’s functions.
Ultimately, the goal of PEMF therapy for thyroid problems is to reduce the need for hormone replacement, other medication and/or destructive measures to the gland.
One of the most common concerns for people considering the value of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is its association with the negative effects of other man-made environmental magnetic fields (EMF) in the environment and the so-called “electro-smog” they create (harmful EMF). Before we discuss all the beneficial effects of therapeutic PEMF devices, I first want to address this common reservation.
There are many differences between harmful EMFs and the therapeutic EMFs generated by PEMF devices. Magnetic frequencies and waveforms will either amplify or diminish the body’s own signals. Harmful EMFs negatively affect the body’s natural functions while therapeutic EMFs act in supportive ways, enhancing cellular communication and overall health. The balance or “homeostasis” of the human organism can easily be negatively affected by electromagnetic changes in the environment, and an unbalanced body is more susceptible to disease. EMFs interact with living systems, affecting enzymes related to cell division and multiplication, growth regulation, and regulation of the sleep hormone melatonin (controlled by the pineal gland metabolism), among many other effects.
The primary differences between harmful and therapeutic EMFs are exposure time, wavelength, and frequency.
Confusion often stems from our electric power grids using 50-60 Hz frequencies, which fall within the same frequency range as many therapeutic PEMFs. There are a few important differences to keep in mind when comparing these EMF sources. By far, the strongest man-made magnetic fields are emitted from high voltage transmission lines (which are the big metal towers, not the single wires that tend to run through neighborhoods on wooden poles). It is generally accepted that a “safe distance” from large power lines is about 700 feet (or 0.1 mile), and a “safe distance” from the neighborhood lines is as little as ten feet.
The intended 50-60 Hz frequency of power lines is becoming increasingly contaminated with surges of radio frequency EMF radiation, often referred to as “dirty electricity.” Modern electrical devices tend to induce high levels of these surges or spikes back into the electrical system. Therefore, our power grids are contaminated with frequencies much higher than the intended 50-60 Hz and it is likely that these high-frequency, short-wavelength surges are the cause for some concern.
Cumulative exposure—hour after hour, day after day—to EMFs is of the greatest concern. Ordinary household appliances tend to generate larger cumulative EMF exposures than power lines, as most people do not live close enough to power lines to be dramatically affected by them. The same cannot be said of kitchen appliances, computers, televisions, cell phones, and even electric outlets (especially if it’s directly behind the headboard of a bed). Though EMFs from appliances drop off to negligible levels at a distance of about sixteen feet, people are generally much nearer than that to the source of the electromagnetic field—typically eighteen inches from computers, a few feet from televisions, and practically no distance from cell phones.
External EMFs above the range of 50-Hz and EMF intensities encountered in homes of >1-100 mG, with daily magnetic-field exposure, may be associated with poorer health and more “chronic anxiety” symptoms. This is consistent with a direct effect of continuous long-term 50-Hz magnetic field exposure on the nervous system. Strategies to reduce this environmental exposure need to be considered to be able to achieve the best clinical results. These mitigation strategies are beyond the scope of this blog. Information on electromagnetic field mitigation strategies is available at Dr. Magda Havas’ website and many other sources.
The question of EMFs, whether from power lines or microwaves, causing cancer was reviewed by the US federal government via the National Institute of Health’s National Cancer Institute. There appears to be an increased risk of childhood leukemia but only for those children exposed to at least 0.3 µT on a daily basis. This amount of exposure only happens in about 0.5% of children studied. Studies of childhood exposure to electrical appliances, Wi-Fi, and cell phone base stations show no significant risk.
Studies examining preconception or pregnancy exposure risk for cancer in future children have been inconsistent and need further evaluation. In children with leukemia EMF exposure was not associated with poor survival or risk of relapse. For adults, workplace exposure does not increase the risk of leukemia, brain tumors, or female breast cancer. This also applies to work place exposures to radiofrequency/microwave radiation. Whether residential exposure increases the risk of breast cancer is still an open question, requiring additional research.
The types of EMFs of possible concern present in these findings have significantly shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than therapeutic PEMFs. The electromagnetic spectrum is vast, encompassing all possible wavelengths and frequencies, including X-rays, microwaves, radio waves, visible light, and infrared.
Practically speaking, for therapeutic PEMF magnetic field applications, the electromagnetic spectrum is very narrow, mostly in the extremely low-frequency (ELF) range. The goal of a PEMF system is to produce a magnetic field that will not only be supportive to the body’s natural functions, but also to use wavelengths that will go all the way through the body. This requires long wavelengths and low frequencies.
A PEMF frequency of 1 Hz has a wavelength of 100 million meters (more than 62,000 miles). At the upper range of what would be produced by an ELF PEMF treatment system, the frequency can be about 10,000 Hz or so. The wavelength there would be 10,000 meters (about 6.2 miles). For comparison, a low-end microwave-range frequency would be about 100,000,000 Hz. This would correspond to a wavelength of about 1 meter (0.00062 miles). So, ELF PEMF systems have long electromagnetic wavelengths that go completely through the body, including all the PEMF systems I’ve tested and recommend.
The microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum has wavelengths ranging from about 30 centimeters (12 inches) to 1 millimeter (0.04 inches); with frequencies between 300 MHz (100 cm) and 300 GHz (0.1 cm). The above broad frequency range includes both UHF and EHF (millimeter wave) bands. Microwaves have frequencies ranging from about 1 billion cycles per second, or 1 gigahertz (GHz), up to about 300 GHz.
Here are some examples of common high frequency sources: radar – from 1,300 to 1,600 MHz; most microwave applications fall in the range 3,000 to 30,000 MHz (3-30 GHz); microwave ovens – 2.4 GHz; amateur and radio navigation uses 3-30 GHz. VHF television Channels 2-4 – 54 to 72 MHz; VHF TV channels 5 and 6 are between 76-88 MHz; FM radio and VHF television Channels 6 and 7 are from 88-108 MHz; cell phone frequencies from 824-1990 MHz; WiFi from 900 MHz to 60 GHz bands.
All these microwave frequencies are a relatively constant part of the artificial environmental magnetic field [EMF] exposure that humans have. The risks to humans of these kinds of relatively continuous exposures are still being determined. Microwaves interact with matter to produce molecular rotation and torsion. Because of the shortness of the microwave wavelengths they tend to penetrate relatively superficially into the body and are absorbed, creating various levels of heating. Obviously, heating is one of the major uses of microwave ovens in our homes.
Electromagnetic radiation is further classified into two types (ionizing and non-ionizing) based on the radiation’s capability of ionizing atoms and disrupting chemical bonds. Ultraviolet and high frequencies, like x-rays or gamma rays, are ionizing. They pose their own health hazards, the most common of which is sunburn. They may also include the induction of cell transformation, producing cancers, such as the skin cancers squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Non-ionizing radiation (such as ELF PEMFs) doesn’t carry enough energy to disrupt chemical bonds. It only has enough energy to excite electrons into a higher energy state, increasing charge in the tissues, through the process of inductively coupled electrical stimulation (ICES). Almost all therapeutic ELF PEMF systems are non-ionizing and use the principle of ICES.
Most therapeutic PEMF systems produce frequencies in the Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) to Very Low Frequency (VLF) range of the electromagnetic spectrum. These frequencies (below 10,000 Hz or 10 kHz) do not induce damaging heating actions in cells or tissues. PEMF devices also contain various levels of filtering inside the control unit or frequency generator portion of the system, which clean up the surges/spikes, mentioned above, that often come out of the household outlets we use to power the device itself.
As mentioned above discussion of mitigation strategies is also a large topic and beyond the scope of this blog. Information on electromagnetic field mitigation strategies is available at Dr. Magda Havas’ website and many other sources.
The best protection is avoidance. Since total avoidance is not completely practically feasible, people have suggested other strategies. One commonly recommended strategy is to use devices that broadcast, actively or passively, neutralizing frequencies. Passive radiant frequencies from pendants, crystals, color or other materials have been found to provide a small measure of benefit. They are not likely to be that beneficial in the face of strong EMF sources, such as cell phones or cell towers, because they may not reliably provide a counter-active benefit.
Another option has been to use a more active radiant source of frequencies with PEMF signals. One such example is the Harmony USB device. This little device is plugged into a USB port and emits the average Schumann resonance of 7.8Hz, modulated with a frequency of 1.2Hz. The field intensity of the Harmony USB is around 10 microtesla (0.1 gauss). Treatment time is continuous as long as the USB is plugged into a powered device. Since people sit around their computers and laptops for hours a day, having this harmonizing low intensity signal is expected to help and to dampen the stress responses of the body to the EMFs emitted by the computer and surrounding EMFs as well, to some extent.
A major approach to protecting oneself from EMFs is using therapeutic or health maintenance PEMFs. When whole body PEMFs are used, whether for treating specific problems or general health maintenance, all the cells of the body in the area of the magnetic field are tuned, balanced and energized. Since PEMFs have stress reduction functions and stimulate cells to optimize their health, EMFs are less likely to meaningfully or significantly disrupt cellular function.
Research has shown that healthy cells largely ignore EMF and PEMF signals. This doesn’t mean the signals don’t create a reaction from cells, but healthy cells have a minimal response to these surrounding signals and rebalance themselves through the process of homeostasis almost immediately. A study done at the University of Virginia found that when blood vessels in healthy individuals were exposed to a PEMF signal they had a very small and rapid dilation response in 1000th of a second and just as rapidly rebounded by constricting slightly and then equally quickly went back to normal.
The University of Virginia research also indicates that treatment times will need to be longer than the often touted eight minutes a day, because blood vessels rebalance very rapidly, even if one only considers improvements in circulation. However, all the other benefits of PEMFs, including ATP production to increase the energy of cells, can also take longer periods of exposure to see significantly better benefits. To learn more about the vast range of benefits PEMFs provide the body, read my book ‘Power Tools for Health’.
The goal with daily whole body PEMF stimulation is to maintain the optimal health of cells. These cells then become resistant to the negative effects of EMFs. Trying to do PEMF therapy occasionally cannot take into account daily EMF exposures of which a person is not even aware. Chronic exposure to EMFs leads to cumulative, subtle and progressive effects on the cells of the body. Scientists suspect that the degree of aging we see in people today has a lot to do with the cumulative burden of EMF exposure. This is why I’m a strong proponent of daily whole body PEMF treatment.
There are a range of whole body PEMF systems available on the market today, ranging in price and magnetic field intensity. Because intensity and ease-of-use matter, one of my favorites is the BioBalance. The BioBalance was developed to offset the disadvantages and costs of many of the currently available PEMF systems, and can be used not only for health maintenance but also for treatment.
During outgoing calls, mobile phones emit much more radiation than incoming calls [39]. Therefore, we advise not to hold the phone close to the head when connecting to other subscribers, to use a handset
Bluetooth device when calling, to minimize the number and duration of calls to 3-5 minutes, to alternate the position of the phone between the right and left sides of the head, and to use airplane mode while sleeping.
We also recommend keeping the phone 30-40 cm away from the body when calling, sending messages, and accessing the internet.
Finally, when buying a phone, make sure to check the SAR value, which is a measure of the human body’s absorption of EMF [39]. A SAR value of 1.6 W/kg is the limit set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for public exposure to cell phones. For example, the head SAR value for iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and Samsung Galaxy A71 is 1.09 W/kg, 0.99 W/kg, and 0.983, respectively. Although these cellular phones follow the SAR limit, users may try to limit their duration of exposure during cellular hotspot usage and outgoing calls, as these actions have much greater SAR values.
With the rising commercial mobile phone industry, new cellular devices may exceed the SAR limit set by the FCC, which requires further attention.
Alkayyali T, Ochuba O, Srivastava K, Sandhu JK, Joseph C, Ruo SW, Jain A, Waqar A, Poudel S. An Exploration of the Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted by Mobile Phones and Extremely Low Frequency Radiation on Thyroid Hormones and Thyroid Gland Histopathology. Cureus. 2021 Aug 20;13(8):e17329. doi: 10.7759/cureus.17329.
Therapeutic ELF PEMFs pose almost no harm to the body as has been shown with use over five decades and by millions of people. Most of these ELF PEMFs tend to be in frequency ranges to which the body is more naturally exposed, either from within or without. Other external or environmental EMFs tend to be of significantly higher frequencies, typically unknown in nature to the degree to which humans are currently being exposed. These exposures are almost continuous and, most importantly, are absorbed by the body creating unpredictable and possibly unacceptable changes to tissues. Therapeutic ELF PEMFs, because of their much longer wavelengths, pass completely through the body, energizing cells, helping to re-balance and restore body functions and health. Daily use of whole body healthy PEMFs can help significantly to offset the negative effects of undesirable environmental magnetic fields.
Conventional treatment for chronic pain often includes the use of over the counter or prescription medications. Two widely known side effects of long term medication use are the danger of addiction and gastric bleeding. The number of annual deaths that result from both gastric bleeding and opioid prescriptions used to manage pain is alarming.
This November, Dr. Pawluk is the featured magnetic field therapy expert in Townsend Letter. Townsend Letter,the Examiner of Alternative Medicine, publishes a print magazine about alternative medicine. It is written by researchers, health practitioners and patients. In the November issue of this magazine, he shares extensive research and references for the use of PEMFs to treat chronic pain.
When Dr. Pawluk was active in hospital care, he saw first hand the damage pain medications could do. He began his search for a natural, effective approach. He considered alternatives such as nutrition, supplements, emotional/cognitive approaches, and acupuncture. However, these didn’t adequately address significant pain problems. PEMF therapy is an innovative treatment that fills the gap in pain management. This is in both in clinical settings and through home use.
PEMF therapy does more than relieve symptoms. PEMFs also address the underlying causes of pain, including inflammation which is a significant factor in the cause of pain. Giving attention to what’s causing the pain is essential in finding sustainable solutions, and potentially healing the dysfunction.
Research has shown that PEMFs are effective on myriad pain-related conditions (Pawluk, 2017). This includes abdominal pain, arthritis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical disc injuries, fibromyalgia, fractures, muscle spasms, nerve pain, peripheral neuropathy, phantom pain, plantar fasciitis, PMS, postoperative pain, sinus pain, sprains and strains, and pain caused by trauma.
Chronic pain is such a widespread problem, affecting at least 116 million American adults. Therefore, treatments that provide true relief and sustainable solutions are essential. PEMFs are a safe, non-invasive, highly effective treatment for chronic pain. This therapy doesn’t carry the risk of side effects and complications that can come with surgical interventions and medications.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields support the body and the use of PEMFs alongside other therapies can promote faster healing and relief. These mechanisms include the reduction of inflammation, edema and muscle spasms/contractions; enhanced tissue repair; and natural antinociception. Animal studies have shown that PEMFs also reduce pain perception in the brain.
PEMFs have both direct and indirect effects on pain perception. They impact neuron firing, the movement of calcium ions, membrane potentials, endorphins, dopamine, nitric oxide and nerve regeneration. Indirectly, MFs can improve circulation, cellular metabolism, oxygenation of cells, and prostaglandins (Jerabek and Pawluk, 1996).
When used with pain medications, PEMF therapy can reduce dependence on these medications in managing pain. One study used very high-frequency PEMFs for the treatment of cervical dorsal root ganglion pain (Van Zundert., 2007). It showed that the need for pain medication continued to be significantly reduced in the active group after 6 months.
The vast majority of pain commonly treated with PEMFs comes from musculoskeletal disorders. These include arthritis, tendonitis, sprains and strains, fractures, osteoporosis, hip disorders, muscle spasms, spinal cord injury, and trauma, among others.
A wide body of research has shown that PEMFs have an impressive success rate on treating pain resulting from these conditions. One orthopedic practice documented decreased pain in 240 patient cases (Schroter, 1976) with a clinical success rate of nearly 80%.
Back pain caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis and arthritis of the back are often chronic, lifelong conditions that progressively worsen. PEMF has been demonstrated to provide relief from these and other chronic conditions that result in back pain even after other modalities have not.
Research demonstrating the effectiveness of PEMF therapy has also been conducted for many other musculoskeletal conditions, such as lumbar osteoarthritis, failed back syndrome as a result of surgery, lumbar radiculopathy, and osteoporosis. Dr. Pawluk’s book Power Tools for Health details this research and offers an extensive bibliography of over 500 references.
Neuropathy is damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (the peripheral nervous system) which causes weakness, tingling and pain. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common, but there are many other forms of neuropathy.
A study that used PEMF therapy for at least 12 minutes daily to treat patients with intense diabetic neuropathy symptoms showed that pain improved, paresthesia and vibration sensations were reduced, and muscle strength increased in 85% of patients compared to control groups. (Cieslar, Sieron, & Radelli, 1995).
Studies have shown similar improvements in pain and other symptoms for other neuropathies as well, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
The source of many pain conditions can be complicated and multi-faceted, making treatment difficult. Research on many of these conditions has shown that PEMFs can be effective where other treatments are not. For instance, one study of patients with headaches who were resistant to medication or acupuncture showed that PEMF therapy applied for 20 minutes a day for 15 days provided relief for 60% of those with classic migraines, 68% of those with cervical migraines, and 88% of those with tension headaches. (Prusinski, Wielka, & Durko, 1987).
Fibromyalgia results in hypersensitivity to pain due to abnormalities in central brain structures that process pain sensations, impairment in the ability to activate natural pain inhibition, and/or altered CNS processing of pain signals. Studies show that PEMF therapy has significantly improved pain, depression and anxiety, and general functioning in individuals with fibromyalgia, and results remained positive even several weeks after treatment.
Centralized pain is pain that is amplified in the brain, rather than being solely at the original source. Many chronic pain conditions result in centralized pain fairly quickly due to faulty pain signals. Treatment of both the localized source of pain and the brain can produce positive results more quickly and effectively. Identifying the source of the pain can be tricky when pain signals are crossed, so a combination approach of local treatment and treatment along the spine or to the brain can provide the best pain management results.
The best PEMF system for pain depends on the problem to be treated. Low intensity PEMF systems will require longer courses of treatment, and for some conditions high intensities are necessary to be able to reach the source of pain deep within the body. Even after symptoms have resolved, continued treatment can help heal the source of the problems so they won’t recur.
Frequencies and intensities are another consideration, and each device is designed with specific frequencies and intensities. Many devices available for clinical and home use are extremely low frequency devices, ranging from 3 to 1000 Hz. These include familiar frequencies from delta (1-4 Hz), theta (5-8 Hz), alpha (9-13 Hz), beta (14-25 Hz) and gamma (26-100 Hz).
The intensity of therapeutic PEMF devices ranges from 0.1 mT (1 gauss) to 800 mT (8,000 gauss). In contrast, a standard MRI unit is 1,000 to 2,000 mT (10,000 to 20,000 gauss) or 1 – 2 Tesla. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) units provided in hospitals and psychiatry practices typically have a strength of 800 mT (8,000 gauss). While some conditions require high intensity to be most effective, even very low intensity PEMFs can still impact the perception of pain. Neuroimaging research has revealed changes in specific areas of the brain with pain stimuli that were modified by low-intensity PEMF exposure (Robertson et al., 2010).
In selecting a device for clinical use, practitioners should consider the intensity required. This is needed to treat the specific conditions they are targeting. Clinical PEMF therapy is highly relevant to conditions treated in other fields as well. These include chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, naturopathy, and psychology, as well as orthopedics, physical medicine, pain medicine, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and the growing fields of integrative and functional medicine.
For home use, PEMF devices are a solid investment in health for those who suffer from chronic pain. Owning a device allows for convenient treatment; some can even be used overnight. Units are relatively affordable, especially when the cost of repeated visits to a clinic are considered. And because PEMFs are effective for so many indications, the entire family can benefit from the purchase of a PEMF device.
Consultations are available to help in the selection of the best PEMF to get at drpawluk.com/consult/.
Complete references are available at www.DrPawluk.com for all citations appearing in the article.
Van Zundert J, Patijn J, Kessels A, et al. Pulsed radiofrequency adjacent to the cervical dorsal root ganglion in chronic cervical radicular pain: A double blind sham controlled randomized clinical trial. Pain. 2007;127(1-2):173-82.
Minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron, and potassium in your body are very important for body functions. Magnetic field stimulation of the body requires adequate and balanced amounts of minerals. Minerals may be supplied by supplements but the best, most naturally usable sources of minerals are from foods. From promoting the development of healthy bones and teeth to maintaining the integrity of bodily functions like energy production, immune health as well as nerve and muscle function, minerals go a long way to keep your body functioning and healthy. For this reason, we get minerals by eating plants that absorb them from rocks and soils, and by taking meat from animals which eat plants. In other words, minerals are essential for cell function. In particular 15 of these mineral rich foods are vital for ideal body function and important to make magnetic field stimulation [PEMFs] most effective.
Food analysts looked for the most popular minerals that appear in food lists by counting how many times each food appeared, and made a list of eight minerals that topped the list. In this and upcoming posts, our discussion will be limited to the top eight essential minerals including calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, selenium, potassium and copper.
Below is a list of the top 15 foods that are highest in these eight minerals. Notably, these foods include nuts, fish, seeds, beans, mushrooms, whole grains, dark leafy greens and dried fruits as well as avocados, tofu, shellfish, cheese, lambs, low-fat dairy and even beef.
1. Nuts – contain 7 of 8 essential minerals
Firstly, out of the eight essential minerals, focused on, nuts ranked highest. These minerals include copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium and phosphorus. In addition to this, nuts are good for your heart as they are known for their cholesterol-lowering characteristics. However, they tend to be high in calories so you should do your best not to eat more than a handful a day. For high-quality minerals, eat cashew nuts and almonds. Brazil nuts are typically high in selenium elements.
2. Beans and lentils – contain 6 of 8 essential minerals
Secondly, the minerals in these foods are iron, copper, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Beans and lentils contain relatively high fiber and are often consumed by vegans for protein. Most beans and lentils are healthy and nutritious, but for high mineral benefits, soybeans, white beans, chickpeas and kidney beans are best.
3. Dark leafy greens – contain 6 of 8 essential minerals
Thirdly, the minerals include iron, copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. If you are seeking a diet that is low in calories but highly nutritious, you can get significant mineral value out of these foods. They include plants such as kale, Swiss chard, spinach and turnip greens.
4. Fish – contain 5 of 8 essential minerals
Fourthly, fish provide your body with minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium. They also offer high-quality protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids which are good for the heart and your vascular system, among other benefits. High-quality mineral fish include salmon, mackerel, and tuna. If you want seafood with higher calcium content, choose fish which are canned with bones.
5. Seeds – contain 5 of 8 essential minerals
Seeds offer minerals such as iron, copper, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus. However, note that seeds tend to be high in calories so try to limit intake to one or two handfuls per day. High mineral content seeds include flax, squash, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
6. Shellfish – contain 5 of 8 essential minerals
The minerals, include iron, copper, selenium, phosphorus, and zinc. Like most fish, shellfish contains abundant nutrients like omega 3 fats and vitamin B12. Examples of seafood that contain these minerals include scallops, clams, oysters, and mussels.
7. Mushroom – contain 4 of 8 essential minerals
Mushrooms have zinc, copper, selenium, and potassium. Mushrooms are best eaten as a side dish. High mineral mushrooms include crimini, portabella, shiitake and white button.
8. Whole grains – contain 4 of 8 essential minerals
Whole grains provide the minerals zinc, phosphorus, iron, and selenium. They are also an excellent source of fiber and carbs. For better quality mineral whole grains, choose grains like oatmeal, wheat germ, quinoa, whole wheat bread and even buckwheat.
9. Milk and yogurt – contain 4 of 8 essential minerals
Milk and yogurt include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. For weight loss enthusiasts, consider choosing low fat, unsweetened yogurts, and milk that is less in calories.
10. Beef and lamb – contain 4 of 8 essential minerals
Beef and lamb include zinc, iron, selenium, and phosphorus. Since most beef and lamb sources tend to be high in calories, you should try to eat no more than two ounces of beef a day.
11. Avocados – contain 3 of 8 essential minerals
They include magnesium, copper, and potassium. Most people love avocado recipes as their fats are heart healthy, and you can eat them with any salad or sandwich you like.
12. Tofu – contain 3 of 8 essential minerals
Tofu includes iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Besides, it is also a good source of protein for many vegans. If you are seeking tofu that is high in calcium, check their labels and opt for those that are fortified with calcium.
13. Dark chocolate – contain 3 of 8 essential minerals
They are iron, zinc, and magnesium. As a general rule of thumb, pick darker chocolate types that contain less sugar if you want fewer calories. Moreover, most weight enthusiasts usually eat 80% cocoa and above.
14. Cheese – contain 3 of 8 essential minerals
They include minerals like phosphorus, copper, and calcium. If you want to avoid excess calories, pick low-fat cheese varieties. The typical examples of cheese brands that are rich in these minerals include Swiss, Parmesan, and mozzarella.
15. Dried Fruits – contain 3 of 8 essential minerals
Lastly, these contain magnesium, potassium, and copper. Even so, dried fruits tend to have a lot of calories and sugars, so aim to avoid taking more than a cupful a day. Dried fruits that are rich in these minerals include prunes, apricots, raisins as well as dates and figs.
To conclude, eating too few minerals may cause imbalances to your health, so can too many minerals. Try to work with the recommended doses to avoid health problems.
Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy has been used in healing a wide range of health conditions, both acute and chronic, for decades. Research has clearly demonstrated that PEMF therapy is a safe, effective tool for healing at the cellular level. It can be confusing and time consuming to sift through all the research and information on PEMF therapy. Now, with our training academy, you don’t have to!
Dr. Pawluk has launched his brand new PEMF Training Academy to assist clinicians and others interested in learning the broad range of uses for PEMF therapy. Three courses allow for flexibility in gaining exactly the information clinicians desire.
In 1990, Dr. Pawluk chiefly discovered that magnetic fields have actions on acupuncture points and meridians. He began his journey in using magnetic fields to treat a wide variety of conditions in his patients. Searching for scientific evidence behind magnetic field mechanisms of action, clinical studies and to generally understand a magnetic fields and pulsed electromagnetic fields in particular was frustrating because much of the research at the time was in foreign languages and largely unavailable.
Along the way, he met Dr. Jiri Jerabek, an MD PhD from the Czech Republic, who did his PhD thesis on PEMF studies. Based on all his work on magnetic therapy in Eastern Europe, Dr. Jerabek shared a manuscript of hundreds of research studies done in Eastern Europe. Dr. Jerabek and Dr. Pawluk decided to do a collaboration and the result was the publication of the book “Magnetic Therapy in Eastern Europe: a review of 30 years of research.” The information in this book created a significant shift in the confidence of the effectiveness and importance of magnetic therapy.
Furthermore, after continuing to work with magnetic fields for 30 years and establishing an authoritative website on magnetic field therapies in 2003, Dr. Pawluk wrote the book Power Tools for Health: how magnetic fields [PEMFs] help you. This book explains the science behind PEMFs, 25 actions on the body, the scientific evidence that shows they are effective on 50+ health conditions, the different devices available and how to use them properly.
PEMF Training Academy is designed to complement the information in this book and provide the training and support wellness practitioners and clinics need to integrate PEMF therapy protocols into their practice. The addition of PEMF therapy can help practitioners expand their services and find solutions that work for patients dealing with acute or chronic conditions.
Therapeutic benefits of PEMF therapy include both general health maintenance through improved circulation and oxygenation in the body, and condition specific outcomes such as drug-free management of both acute and chronic pain, faster wound healing, reducing inflammation, stroke rehabilitation, positive impact on anxiety and depression, and much more.
Dr. Pawluk’s decades of experience in providing pulsed electromagnetic field therapy treatments, along with the expertise gained from reading hundreds of research studies while writing his book, makes him the perfect mentor to guide clinicians towards implementing PEMF therapy in their settings. Dr. Pawluk’s goal is to move PEMF therapy towards wider adoption in a variety of settings as professionals learn about the latest PEMF research, protocols and products. The courses in the PEMF Academy provide valuable resources to further this goal.
Moreover, PEMF Training Academy offers three distinct courses, each with a specific format and focus tailored to the needs of participants.
Power Tools for Health Course Primer is a comprehensive overview of the information in Dr. Pawluk’s book, Power Tools for Health. This course also includes information gathered over three decades of experiences. In this course, participants will learn the value of introducing electromagnetic fields into the body, get an overview of the research that supports the use of PEMFs, and will learn how to effectively use PEMFs on a wide range of medical conditions. The course covers a wide range of topics, including the benefits of PEMFs; the impact PEMFs have on cell injury, the brain, and aging; tips for choosing the appropriate device for specific conditions; and evidence supporting the safety of PEMF therapy.
Combining PEMF Training with Acupuncture offers acupuncturists a blueprint to discovering the advantages of integrating PEMF therapy into their practice. Using PEMFs enhances acupuncture well, boosting the benefits for patients because of PEMFs’ function of direct cellular healing and tissue regeneration. In this course, participants will learn the overlapping uses of PEMFs and acupuncture, strategies for combining PEMF application with acupuncture, and the benefits that will result from this combination therapy. They’ll also hear the story of how one acupuncturist successfully integrated PEMF therapy into his practice – and how they can too.
Comprehensive PEMF Training is a seminar style course that offers a thorough overview of PEMF therapy. In this course, practitioners will learn the science behind PEMFs, how magnetic fields work at the cellular level, types of magnetic systems and how they work, and how to effectively apply PEMFs. Participants will also explore clinical studies for a deeper understanding of the research on and mechanisms of PEMF therapy. The course will include information about how PEMFs work on common health conditions, including chronic pain; clinical studies that support the safe, effective use of PEMFs, how PEMFs boost mitochondrial function; and the impact of PEMF therapy on brain function.
Each course includes a paperback copy of Power Tools for Health, the most comprehensive book available about PEMF therapy. This book describes how the technology works, the best ways to use PEMFs to treat numerous health conditions, clinical studies that provide information on how PEMF therapy can be used to treat more than 50 specific health conditions, information on combining PEMF therapy with other therapeutic tools, and how to select a PEMF system.
The PEMF Training Academy is an exciting new endeavor for Dr. Pawluk that offers everything wellness professionals need to know about how PEMF therapy can help their clients – and boost business at the same time!
To purchase courses, visit https://pemftrainingacademy.com/.
In a just published study (Kakuda), high-intensity, low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields were used in patients’ stroke rehabilitation. The patients had their strokes within one year to nine a half years before treatment with the PEMFs. During a 15 day elective hospitalization set up specifically for this program, each patient received 22 treatment sessions of 20-min low-frequency PEMF and 120-min intensive OT daily.
The PEMF of 1 Hz was applied to the side of the head opposite the area of the stroke, i.e. on the same side as the paralysis. The intensive OT, consisting of 60-min one-to-one training and 60-min self-exercise, was provided after the application of low-frequency PEMF, using standardized protocols and objective measures for the impact of treatment. Improvements were persistently seen up to 4 weeks after discharge in 79 of the 204 studied patients. Longer-term assessments were not conducted.
Statistical analysis found no significant relationship between baseline parameters and indexes of improvement in motor function. The authors concluded that the 15-day inpatient PEMF treatment plus OT protocol is a safe, feasible, and clinically useful neurorehabilitative intervention for post-stroke patients with upper limb paralysis. The response to the treatment was not influenced by age or time after stroke onset. The major drawback of this study was that there was no comparison group using sham PEMF treatment.
PEMFs are expected to influence nerve cell firing/function of selected brain areas. It appears to be that low-frequency ≤ 1 Hz suppresses while high-frequency ≥ 5 Hz activates local neural activities. There was the question of which side of the brain to stimulate, the side with the lesion or the opposite side. Several randomized controlled trials have confirmed that low-frequency PEMF applied to the brain hemisphere opposite to the side of damage (non-lesional) can significantly improve motor function of the affected upper limb in post-stroke patients.
It is speculated that exposure to the non-lesional hemisphere reduces possibly protective nerve function inhibition by the non-lesional hemisphere towards the lesional hemisphere, leading to facilitation of beneficial functional reorganization in the lesional hemisphere. Intensive occupational therapy (OT), especially using constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) for upper limb hemiparesis also appears to activate areas around the stroke lesion in chronic stroke patients. In chronic stroke, CIMT is currently considered to be most useful. In another study using high-frequency PEMF with CIMT over the lesional hemisphere daily for two weeks, compared to patients treated with CIMT only, improvement of motor function was not significantly different.
To be in the study the patients had to meet the following criteria: 1) ability, at least subjectively, to flex all the fingers of the affected upper limb in full range of motion. 2) Age between 18-90 years. 3) Time after the stroke more than 12 months. 4) Only a single-sided stroke. 5) No cognitive impairment with a pretreatment Mini Mental State Examination score of more than 26. 6) Being in a plateau state for at least 3 months. 7) No history of seizure within preceding year. 9) No documented epileptic discharge on pretreatment electroencephalogram. 10) No current use of antiepileptic medications for the prevention of seizure. 11) No pathological conditions known to be contraindications for PEMF.
In the current study, follow-up evaluation after discharge showed persistent improvement of motor function of the affected upper limb up to four weeks after treatment ended. The duration of improvement of motor function of the affected upper limb appears to be relatively short after a single session of low-frequency PEMF. A different study reported that the improvement induced by application of low-frequency PEMF to the non-lesional hemisphere daily for five consecutive days was maintained for two weeks after intervention.
In yet another study, the improvement of motor function of the affected upper limb in patients who received CIMT was also maintained up to several months after the intervention. Whether there are longer-term effects using each of the two interventions remains unknown for now. What is also not known is whether continued use of PEMFs in the home setting long-term may continue to show improvements. This may be expected to be true given that the brain tends to repair very slowly, even given appropriate stimuli.
This study also showed no significant relationship between any of the six tested baseline parameters and the response to the intervention. The intervention can produce beneficial functional reorganization even in elderly patients and in those whose strokes were years earlier. Since this study did not include acute/subacute stroke patients within one year after onset, it remains unknown if earlier application of the protocol during the acute/subacute phase of stroke can produce more functional improvement than those seen in our patients. It has been reported that beneficial functional reorganization is higher in acute/subacute phase than in later phases of stroke.
While more research clearly needs to be done, this study is encouraging in showing that the combination of higher intensity PEMF and occupational therapy improves function, even in patients who had their strokes over a year earlier, and in some cases up to nine years earlier. Additionally, this study was performed in a hospital setting for a limited period of time using very expensive rTMS PEMF, with limited availability equipment. While not proven, it may not be unreasonable to expect that a home-based, high intensity PEMF system may produce similar results.
A combination of low and high frequencies may be even better, some reducing nerve cell firing, as would be desirable with spasticity, and others increasing nerve cell firing, where there is a reduction in neuron function. It is generally axiomatic in medicine that little gain in function is likely to happen in these patients after the first 3 to 6 months following a stroke, with conventional PT/OT alone. So any therapeutic approach that is not likely be toxic or invasive, such as higher intensity PEMF , has a good chance of being able to provide benefit, and may well be worth considering.
Another just recently published study (Avenanti) of higher intensity, low frequency PEMF for stroke, investigated the long-term behavioral and neurophysiologic effects of combined higher intensity PEMF and physical therapy (PT) in chronic stroke patients with mild motor disabilities more than 6 months poststroke. In this study, thirty patients were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, single-center clinical trial. They each received 10 daily sessions of 1 Hz higher intensity PEMF over the intact, that is nonaffected, motor cortex, with either real (R) or sham (S) approaches, administered either immediately before or after PT.
Outcome measures included dexterity, force, interhemispheric inhibition, and corticospinal excitability and they were assessed for 3 months after the end of treatment. The researchers found that treatment induced progressive rebalancing of excitability in the 2 brain hemispheres and a reduction of inter-hemispheric inhibition in the R groups. PT produced improvements in all groups. The aspects of functions that were trained showed only small and transitory improvements in the S patients. The R group had greater behavioral and neurophysiologic improvements especially in the group receiving R treatment before PT (R-PT), with robust and stable improvements.
The post PT-R group showed a slight decline in their improvement over time. They concluded that priming PT with inhibitory higher intensity PEMF before the PT (in the hemisphere opposite to the stroke lesion) is optimal to boost brain plasticity related to the functions trained with PT and rebalance motor excitability and suggests that higher intensity PEMF is a valid and promising approach for chronic stroke patients with mild motor impairment.
These patients were enrolled as outpatients in a Neurorehabilitation clinic. They were included if they had a unilateral stroke, greater than six months after the first ever stroke, and had mild upper limb motor deficit. Anyone with a seizure disorder was excluded. The higher intensity PEMF was applied immediately before or after PT. There were eight patients in each experimental group with a total of 14 patients in the sham treatment arm. Treatment lasted for 10 days with two PEMF sessions per day, of 25 min. each, and 45 min. of standard task oriented upper limb exercises.
The PEMF was applied to the motor cortex. The sham was the same activated coil applied perpendicularly to the scalp so that no current was induced in the brain. To check stability, two pretreatment evaluations were performed two weeks and one day before starting treatment. Post treatment evaluations were performed at 1, 7, 14, 30, and 90 days post treatment. Neural excitability of both hemispheres was assessed at baseline, pretreatment, day six [pre treatment] and at each of the post treatment follow-ups.
The exciting aspect of this study was that they actually checked for cortical excitability. Chronic stroke patients typically show less excitability on the affected side of the brain compared to the opposite side of the brain. In a normal non-stroke brain there is a cross communication between the sides of the brain where each side balances the other with inhibition and stimulation. Because of the damage to the side affected by the stroke the opposite side becomes uninhibited and can irritate the affected side, creating spasticity in the affected extremity.
Before the study, the researchers believed that doing higher intensity PEMF before PT could potentially prime functional neural networks for the PT intervention to work better, leading to superior outcomes. This study provided evidence that higher intensity PEMF stimulation induces reduction of interhemispheric inhibition from the intact side of the brain to the affected side, long-term potentiation of excitability of the affected side leading to improved and obvious functional improvements, in particular when PT is preceded by the higher intensity PEMF. One to three months after treatment the group receiving PT first started to show a decline in performance and excitability of the affected side. In the group receiving higher intensity PEMF first, the outcomes remained stable over time by boosting brain plasticity caused by use of the brain and the affected extremity, mainly by stabilizing the physical learning processes of the brain.
They found evidence of a daily, cumulative lowering of excitability in the intact hemisphere. This was paralleled by a strong cumulative increase in the excitability of the affected hemisphere. This study provides direct neurophysiologic evidence that 10 days is more effective than five days of higher intensity PEMF treatment. The sham PEMF stimulation group showed only a modest improvement lasting only a few weeks with no significant changes in excitability. This is not surprising since the PT was relatively short, patients were all chronic poststroke, and all had already received cycles of rehabilitation before. Even though it is known that PT this late after stroke is less effective, this study indicates that brain stimulation may overcome this limitation.
The practical importance of this randomized controlled trial, is that, even post stroke, at least up to six months afterward the stroke, the use of higher intensity PEMFs and PT may produce significant improvements in function, that was thought to be lost permanently. The questions that ultimately remain is whether similar benefits can be seen more than six months after the stroke and whether various higher intensity PEMF systems may produce similar results. Given the lack of toxicity for PEMF therapies, below the level of inducing seizures or contractions, post stroke patients may find significant benefit from these therapies.
Higher intensity PEMF therapy systems that could be considered for stroke management, in the light of the studies above, would include the PEMF 120, Parmeds Super or Pro System, MAS Special Multi+, and SomaPulse. The PEMF-120 would be expected to provide the better results, because of their frequencies and intensities. The Parmeds and MAS will have more whole-body benefits.
Kakuda W, Abo M, Shimizu M, Sasanuma J, Okamoto T, Yokoi A, Taguchi K, Mitani S, Harashima H, Urushidani N, Urashima M. A multi-center study on low-frequency PEMF combined with intensive occupational therapy for upper limb hemiparesis in post-stroke patients. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2012 Jan 20;9(1):4.
Avenanti A, Coccia M, Ladavas E, Provinciali L, Ceravolo MG. Low-frequency rTMS promotes use-dependent motor plasticity in chronic stroke: A randomized trial. Neurology. 2012 Jan 24;78(4):256-64.
There are a number of different variants that impact the timetable as far as when you can expect noticeable results from your treatment. These factors include such things as your overall health and wellness, your daily activity levels, age and many, many others. As was just briefly mentioned, it can take up to a few weeks before you begin to really notice the results that a steroid shot for back pain may have on you. There are also some patients who begin to experience some benefits in as little as a week. In some cases, it may take up to six weeks before you see the full effects.
This is something else that also depends greatly on the individual patients and their unique situation. The fact of the matter is that there is an overwhelming amount of evidence mounting that the longer and more frequently you take these injections, the more long-term problems they actually create. So when people are undergoing this kind of therapy, it is critical that they don’t “overdue” it.
Medical experts and doctors also disagree on exactly how many times per year these types of steroid injections are even advisable. Opinions vary from 3 to 6 cortisone shots over a 12 month period as being acceptable. I don’t know about you, but with something as serious as steroid injections and with all of the possible detrimental effects it could have on my body, I would certainly want a more reliable range than “half to double” the risk of detrimental effects.
Regardless of which medical school of thought is correct on the number of shots that you could or should get in a year, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association proved that after two years, they have virtually no further effect on pain. In fact, in many cases, they end up making it worse. But as far as a reasonable timeframe for experiencing the benefits that may come from steroid therapy, up to 3 months is most commonly the longest. However, many patients experience a shorter period of relief from the pain and inflammation associated with these kinds of treatment regimens.
I know these injections do not cure anything. In fact, they do create risks, not the least of which is the risk of infection. Steroid injections into tissues always (let’s repeat that—ALWAYS) thin out the tissues into which they are injected. That is why doctors will typically tell you that you can only get 1 or 2 steroid injections in the same area.
If you do a steroid injection into a ligament, it increases the risk of rupture. If you inject them into the skin, you almost always will get a little pock mark. These are potent anti-inflammatory and tissue destroying injections. Yes, they decrease inflammation and improve comfort, but only temporarily.
So, knowing this, why do doctors continue to use them? Because they don’t know other alternatives. Since they bought the steroids and have them in their fridges, they at least need to get their money back. This is because they expire if not used in time.
Unfortunately, it would take this entire post and several more just like it to truly cover all of the various concerns and dangers which accompany steroid therapy. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth the time to go over some of them anyway. After all, you are going to put yourself and your physical health and wellbeing into the hands of someone else. Someone who is recommending this method of treatment. Therefore, you should at least know some of the negative factors associated with it as well.
Of the many possible steroid shot side effects that you experience, some of the more alarming and serious one are such conditions as cartilage damage, nerve damage, death of nearby bone, joint infection, weak or ruptured tendons, osteoporosis, thinning of the skin and/or tissue around the injection area and numerous others. And even with all of this you still have the most serious risk of all, mentioned in the opening; fungal meningitis. When you start adding up all of the many disturbing health issues that could arise as a result of these procedures, it really makes sense as to why so many people like you are looking for an alternative method of treatment such as PEMF.
When you stop to consider not only the major risks that go along with cortisone shots and epidurals, but also the dozens, if not hundreds, of minor to moderate concerns as well, it really makes no sense to not at least look into alternative options…
At www.drpawluk.com, we offer alternatives to steroids – alternatives that are safe, noninvasive, and non-toxic. In addition, they actually help with the healing of the underlying tissue when possible. When it is not possible, even the steroids don’t help. PEMFs almost always help at some level with the underlying problem. More importantly, you don’t need to see a doctor for this therapy after you have your diagnosis and have been recommended a treatment plan. You can do PEMF treatments at home, on your own, at your convenience, and with virtually no risk. And, other people in the household can benefit as well.
Sometimes, steroids are a good idea. There are major infections and conditions that steroids provide important help with. In these cases, steroids should be strongly considered. Conditions like these include bad poison ivy rashes, major infections called sepsis, severe asthma, and severe flares of rheumatoid arthritis. These can be disabling or life-threatening. Rarely are orthopedic steroid injections medically necessary, whether epidural or into joints or ligaments.
Steroid injections can be placed into the skin or muscle directly, into ligaments or tendons, into joints, including spinal joints, or into the space overlying large nerves, including the spinal cord. This is considered the epidural space, where these meningitis-causing injections were given. Epidural injections are frequently given for chronic back pain. They may or may not work, and are very uncomfortable. Obviously, they carry the risk of infection into the nervous system, plus other potential complications including bleeding and paralysis.
So, in my medical experience, I will now always try to do the noninvasive, non-toxic, safe approach to treating pain before I ever resort to injections. Additionally, my goals are to have you be able to do your own treatments at your own convenience, with the additional expectation that we will actually have the hope of helping to heal the underlying tissue and cause of the pain. This is one of the reasons the Dr. Oz show supported the use of PEMFs—to help heal the underlying cause of the pain instead of simply treating the symptom.
Clearly, tissues need time to heal. Anything that gives you immediate relief for a chronic problem is either a drug, procedure or surgery. These approaches frequently don’t work for long, or have complications. The complications may be permanent and irreversible, and are usually unpredictable. Again, this is why I always try to do a more conservative approach first, typically using PEMFs.
PEMFs have been found to decrease inflammation too, and very well at that. Maybe they don’t do this as dramatically or quickly, and that’s the seduction of steroid injections. You will usually know within a week whether the steroid injection is actually working. Even then the benefits do not last for long if the underlying cause is not managed as well. In addition, PEMFs have the potential to reduce swelling, improve circulation and stimulate tissue healing. They also have the additional benefit of being able to actually reduce pain directly, called anti-nociception. In fact, in animals and humans they have been found to be equivalent to about 10 mg of morphine, without using the morphine.
As discussed on the Dr. Oz show, most doctors do not know about these alternatives for pain management. Even if they did, doctors typically keep doing what they are doing unless forced to change. Sometimes a change happens because doctors make mistakes. Or, they end up with complications and have to learn different approaches. The finances of the procedures drive doctors to use particular approaches. Sometimes change happens only because everyone else begins doing something different, and the doctors don’t want to stand out. In the end, doctors are typically creatures of habit. And as we all know, habits are hard to change.
As you can see, the rationale for why certain treatment approaches are offered may have nothing to do with the patient’s best interests or the most effective approach to the problem. PEMFs are a very rational, safe approach to chronic pain management, potentially offering a significant solution to the problem, reducing the pain a large percentage of the time with no complications and potentially healing the underlying cause of the pain, for relatively little cost and great convenience.
One of the most important lessons I can impart to you regarding the use of electromagnetic therapies, is to clearly understand the actions they have in the body. These actions happen in all bodies every time PEMFs are used. This is regardless of the underlying causes or conditions a person has. Most diseases or health conditions have very common components to them.
The body has a somewhat limited repertoire of reacting to damage, injury or illness. The most commonly described actions of PEMF’s include: pain reduction, reduction of swelling, decreasing the irritability of nerves, relaxing muscles, improving circulation, various metabolic effects, detoxification, cell membrane charge balancing and stimulation of repair by stimulating RNA and DNA. PEMFs also have reflexology and acupuncture like actions in the body.
I always ask myself for any given condition what components of these actions of magnetic fields exist in that condition or body. Of course we don’t always know completely what may be going on. But, you can bet that there are many of these components present. You can’t tune the specific actions using the kinds of magnetic fields I usually recommend. There are research devices available that will create changes in some of these individual actions while providing less change to other actions. In the medical model, you would have a specific device for each specific action. This clearly becomes impractical and way too expensive. For this reason I prefer devices that have general responses in the body and let the body decide what he needs and how it will respond.
At the very least athletes need to have their muscles working in an optimal fashion. This is important to maintain structural integrity and maximize performance of the body for their particular sport. Maximizing performance decreases the risk of injury, never mind winning a competition. The biggest health risk to the athlete is injury. So, PEMFs would be used by athletes to maximize function of the body and at the same time reduce the risk of sports injury and to help the body recover faster from any injuries. With these ideas, athletes should be using whole body magnetic stimulation before and after workouts, tryouts, and any level of competition. Using PEMFs before competition causes the body to be optimized in its function. This will produce better performance.
It’s been found that muscles work harder, longer and recover faster with magnetic stimulation. Also once used, muscles become sore and often tense or have spasm. A classic action of magnetic fields is to reduce muscle contraction. Athletes often have to compete and work out despite their injuries, large and small. This is why regular use of magnetic fields is so important to any high level, or even weekend, athletes.
I know of one athlete who is still functioning into his 40’s at a world-class level because of his continuing use of PEMF’s. I was also told a story by a physician friend who was a team doctor for a US Olympic team. He said it would typically take our athletes 2 to 3 days to recover from competitions. He noticed that the then East Germans and Russians would be back the next day like robots without showing any of the effects of wearing out. When he went past their camp he noticed that they were all using some sort of stimulation devices, most likely barrel type coils. These were not illegal and were not considered to be doping. Essentially they were therapeutic systems that help to wash the stress out of the body and reduce swelling and muscles and remove lactic acid.
I have personally experienced similar sorts of results whenever I’ve had to work hard in my yard. Usually the next day my muscles are sore and stiff. I have started using magnetic therapy right after I finish my yard work. Virtually every time, the next morning my muscles are not stiff or sore.
Research shows that PEMFs stimulate a process called myosin phosphorylation. This is the process of energy production in muscle. Phosphorylation produces ATP. ATP is essential for cell energy. Depleted ATP creates weak muscles. Workouts and a lot of strenuous muscle activity, deplete ATP. Rest restores ATP, assuming the body has the building blocks necessary to replenish it. PEMFs restore ATP by stimulating myosin phosphorylation.
Another aspect of muscle injury and tissue damage from exercise or athletics, is a protein called variably, heat stress or heat shock protein. Muscles that are very active are stressed and therefore need higher levels of heat stress protein. Heat stress protein is not just for heat. It was discovered that when you damage a cell by heating it, heat shock protein is produced. It was also discovered that if you induce heat shock proteins in advance of potential damage, using stimulation techniques that are very gentle, you will reduce tissue damage. There is now research going on to use magnetic devices to stimulate heat shock proteins in heart muscles prior to open-heart surgery. Open-heart surgery obviously causes heart muscle damage. Preliminary research indicates that stimulating heat shock proteins decreases muscle damage from open-heart surgery, improving results and postoperative recovery.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields can also increase the uptake of oxygen into muscle. Research I’ve done with the MagnoPro shows at least a 1% increase in local tissue oxygen uptake. A 1% increase in oxygen uptake can significantly enhance muscle performance and endurance. In competitive sports a 1% edge may be all that is needed to win.
With any injury, the body will take its usual time to repair. We know from the use of FDA approved devices, that fractures will heal in approximately half the time – so will open wounds, including surgical wounds. Even in massive trauma, animals exposed to PEMF’s will often survive, versus those that don’t get PEMF treatment. I have personally seen many times, that large bruises disappear rapidly with the use of pulsed magnetic fields. All injuries produce swelling in the tissues, as does exercise on its own. Swelling delays the ability of the tissues to be nourished with oxygen and nutrients.
This is why you see athletes frequently being treated with ice packs. Ice packs reduce superficial swelling. Swelling or bruising deep in a quadriceps muscle will not respond as well to ice. To effectively ice tissues deep in muscle you would cause freezing of the muscle on the outside, thus causing harm to those tissues. The risk versus benefit isn’t acceptable. PEMFs on the other hand penetrate tissues deeply without risk to the superficial tissues to create their benefits. The PEMF’s reduce swelling and speed removal of the blood in a bruise, leading to faster recovery and return to activity, competition or training. Obviously, if treatment is applied early in the injury, recovery will be much faster. Once a lot of the effects of damage are settled into the tissue it takes more energy and longer to heal the tissues.
So, to conclude, I believe all athletes, professional, amateur or “weekend warriors” should be using daily whole body PEMF stimulation. In addition, the treatment of any injuries with PEMFs accelerates even subtle healing healing, allowing the athlete to be healthier, stronger and perform better.
When willpower doesn’t work, smokers who want to quit may have a new tool someday: magnetic brain stimulation.
A study was done 115 smokers over 13 sessions of the treatment. Over three weeks, it helped some heavy smokers quit for as long as six months.
This noninvasive technique is called repeated high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It sends electric impulses to the brain. It is sometimes used to treat depression.
Using noninvasive stimulation can reduce nicotine craving and smoking. Basically, you stimulate regions in the brain that are associated with craving for drugs. Then, you can change the circuitry in the brain that mediates this dependence. Eventually you can reduce smoking, and many of those treated stop smoking.
The study participants smoked at least a pack a day and had failed at least two previous attempts to quit. The researchers divided the participants into three groups. One group received up to 10 Hz brain stimulation. Another group had 1-3 Hz stimulation, and the third received a sham treatment. The groups were further divided into those who saw a visual cue — a picture of a lit cigarette — just before stimulation and those who didn’t.
The idea of the cue is to make sure attention is directed at smoking and not some other craving. After 13 treatments, those who received the highest level of stimulation plus the visual cue had the best results. 44 percent of them had quit. After six months, one-third of this group were still not smoking. This was compared to 28 percent of those who weren’t shown the visual cue before treatment.
The results of the study were scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego.
This treatment is not a simple procedure, and the six-month results may not be as good as the success rates for other treatments, including medication and nicotine replacement, combined with behavioral components.
Using this experimental, treatment approach with high intensity PEMFs at specialized medical treatment centers, not typically covered by insurance, can be inconvenient and very expensive. However, using less expensive PEMF stimulation systems such as can be found on drpawluk.com, may serve as reasonable substitutes to help with smoking cessation, and potentially cessation from other substances of abuse.
In this situation, PEMFs would be applied daily for 30 to 60 minutes to the prefrontal cortex (that is, the forehead) and the insula, just inside the sides of the brain, at about the level of the ears. This can be accomplished with a pillow applicator or the coils of a local PEMF device, such as SomaPulse, with the coils applied on other side of the head.