Electromagnetic therapy
Definition:
In the human body there is electricity and magnetic energy. These two forces help to control your heart beat, stimulate your muscles, as well as performing other duties. Every molecule in the human body has magnetic energy.
The idea of electromagnetic therapy is that illness can result if there is an imbalance in the electromagnetic fields or frequencies. Electromagnetic therapy is thought to be able to balance these forces. Depending on the imbalance, there are numerous types of electrical devices to treat the issue. Some of the devices include: low-voltage electricity, magnetic fields, radio waves or other types of electromagnetic energy. Most of these are not FDA approved and those that claim to be disease cures have not been found to be effective. However, there are some treatments that are FDA approved, but discretion is advised. Other names for electromagnetic therapy are: bioelectricity, magnetobiology, magnetic field therapy, and magnetic healing.1 Electromagnetic therapy is used to treat disorders that have pain associated with them such as arthritis and migraines as well as depression and cancer.
Types:
There are several types of electromagnetic therapies such as: bioelectromagnetics, electrotherapy, electromagnetic therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) and alternating electric field therapy. Bioelectromagnetics looks at how electromagnetism interacts with biologically based systems. Electrotherapy uses electrical energy as a means of treatment. Electromagnetic therapy uses magnets or electromagnets in therapy. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy uses pulses of electromagnetism in at specific sites on the body. Alternating electric field therapy uses low intensity electrical fields in order to treat cancer. NovoTTF-100A is an FDA proved treatment for recurrent gioblastoma in patients. There are additional brain stimulation techniques that use electromagnetic components. These techniques are deep brain stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and magnetic seizure therapy.2 These therapies can help with treating certain mental disorders. However, they all have side effects that must be discussed before beginning any treatment.
History:
The use of electricity and magnets to heal have been interesting the public since the time of the Ancient Greeks. Electromagnetic therapy has been in use for the past 70 years. Since that time, public interest in these treatments has waxed and waned. The public has been much more accepting of these treatments than the medical community.3
Today’s Situation/Diseases that can be treated:
There is a continuing interest in using electromagnetic therapy for therapeutic purposes. Electromagnetic therapy has been successfully used in physiotherapy for the treatment of bone disorders and osteoarthritis, as well as for cartilage regeneration or pain reduction. In addition, it has been used to treat mental disorders of various types. As additional research is completed on electromagnetic therapy, there will likely be more and more therapies in the near future.
In the human body there is electricity and magnetic energy. These two forces help to control your heart beat, stimulate your muscles, as well as performing other duties. Every molecule in the human body has magnetic energy.
The idea of electromagnetic therapy is that illness can result if there is an imbalance in the electromagnetic fields or frequencies. Electromagnetic therapy is thought to be able to balance these forces. Depending on the imbalance, there are numerous types of electrical devices to treat the issue. Some of the devices include: low-voltage electricity, magnetic fields, radio waves or other types of electromagnetic energy. Most of these are not FDA approved and those that claim to be disease cures have not been found to be effective. However, there are some treatments that are FDA approved, but discretion is advised. Other names for electromagnetic therapy are: bioelectricity, magnetobiology, magnetic field therapy, and magnetic healing.1 Electromagnetic therapy is used to treat disorders that have pain associated with them such as arthritis and migraines as well as depression and cancer.
Types:
There are several types of electromagnetic therapies such as: bioelectromagnetics, electrotherapy, electromagnetic therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) and alternating electric field therapy. Bioelectromagnetics looks at how electromagnetism interacts with biologically based systems. Electrotherapy uses electrical energy as a means of treatment. Electromagnetic therapy uses magnets or electromagnets in therapy. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy uses pulses of electromagnetism in at specific sites on the body. Alternating electric field therapy uses low intensity electrical fields in order to treat cancer. NovoTTF-100A is an FDA proved treatment for recurrent gioblastoma in patients. There are additional brain stimulation techniques that use electromagnetic components. These techniques are deep brain stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and magnetic seizure therapy.2 These therapies can help with treating certain mental disorders. However, they all have side effects that must be discussed before beginning any treatment.
History:
The use of electricity and magnets to heal have been interesting the public since the time of the Ancient Greeks. Electromagnetic therapy has been in use for the past 70 years. Since that time, public interest in these treatments has waxed and waned. The public has been much more accepting of these treatments than the medical community.3
Today’s Situation/Diseases that can be treated:
There is a continuing interest in using electromagnetic therapy for therapeutic purposes. Electromagnetic therapy has been successfully used in physiotherapy for the treatment of bone disorders and osteoarthritis, as well as for cartilage regeneration or pain reduction. In addition, it has been used to treat mental disorders of various types. As additional research is completed on electromagnetic therapy, there will likely be more and more therapies in the near future.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Electromagnetic Therapy. Accessed July 6, 2016 http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/complementary_and_alternative_medicine/electromagnetic_therapy_85,P00179/
- National Institutes of Health. Brain Stimulation Therapies. Accessed July 6, 2016 http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml
- Basford, J.R. A historical perspective of the popular use of electric and magnetic therapy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 82(9), 1261-1269.