Electromagnetic therapy (alternative medicine): Difference between revisions

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Electromagnetic therapy is a form of alternative medicine which treats diseases by applying electromagnetic radiation or pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to the body.^[1]^[2]^[3] These methods have proven to treat a wide range of ailments, including ulcers, headaches, burns, chronic pain, nerve disorders, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, gum infections, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart disease and cancer.^[1]

Use

With abundant scientific research low frequency electromagnetic therapy has been proposed by practitioners of alternative medicine for a variety of purposes, including cell growth promotion, pain reduction, improved blood circulation, bone repair, increased wound healing, sedative effects, enhanced sleep, and arthritic relief.^[4]

Some proponents of electromagnetic therapy believe that "harmful electromagnetic fields" might "disrupt the body's chemical makeup resulting in disease and illness."^[5] The Moore Cancer Center of the University of California, San Diego Medical Center offers alternative therapies for cancer patients."^[5]

Effectiveness

Thousands of research studies prove the benefits of electromagnetic therapy but still the American Cancer Society says that "relying on electromagnetic treatment alone and avoiding conventional medical care may have serious health consequences." In some cases the devices may be ineffective and harmful.^[1] A 2012-2013 systematic review by the Cochrane Library found no evidence that electromagnetic therapy was useful in healing pressure ulcers^[6] or venous stasis ulcers.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The American Cancer Society. "Electromagnetic Therapy: What is the evidence?".
^ Luben, RA (1991). "Effects of low-energy electromagnetic fields (pulsed and DC) on membrane signal transduction processes in biological systems". Health physics. 61 (1): 15–28. doi:10.1097/00004032-199107000-00002. PMID 2061045.
^ Gordon, GA (2007). "Designed electromagnetic pulsed therapy: Clinical applications". Journal of cellular physiology. 212 (3): 579–82. doi:10.1002/jcp.21025. PMID 17577213.
^ Begué-Simon AM, Drolet RA (December 1993). "Clinical assessment of the RHUMART system based on the use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields with low frequency". Int J Rehabil Res. 16 (4): 323–7. PMID 8175238.
^ ^a ^b Moore Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego Medical Center. "Complementary and Alternative Therapies For Cancer Patients".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Aziz Z, Flemming K (2012). "Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (12): CD002930. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub5. PMID 23235593.
^ Aziz Z, Cullum N, Flemming K (2013). "Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD002933. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub5. PMID 23450536.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

Bioelectromagnetics Society and its related publication Bioelectromagnetics is a peer-reviewed, internationally circulated scientific journal that specializes in reporting original data on biological effects and applications of electromagnetic fields.
Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine
Consumer device retailer in India
Information on electromagnetic therapy from the University of California, San Diego Medical Center
Electromagnetic Therapy from the American Cancer Society

Database, Library & Search

[acs-1] The American Cancer Society. "Electromagnetic Therapy: What is the evidence?".

[2] Luben, RA (1991). "Effects of low-energy electromagnetic fields (pulsed and DC) on membrane signal transduction processes in biological systems". Health physics. 61 (1): 15–28. doi:10.1097/00004032-199107000-00002. PMID 2061045.

[3] Gordon, GA (2007). "Designed electromagnetic pulsed therapy: Clinical applications". Journal of cellular physiology. 212 (3): 579–82. doi:10.1002/jcp.21025. PMID 17577213.

[BegueSimon-4] Begué-Simon AM, Drolet RA (December 1993). "Clinical assessment of the RHUMART system based on the use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields with low frequency". Int J Rehabil Res. 16 (4): 323–7. PMID 8175238.

[ucsd-5] Moore Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego Medical Center. "Complementary and Alternative Therapies For Cancer Patients".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[6] Aziz Z, Flemming K (2012). "Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (12): CD002930. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub5. PMID 23235593.

[7] Aziz Z, Cullum N, Flemming K (2013). "Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD002933. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub5. PMID 23450536.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 {{merge from|Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy|date=December 2013}}
-'''Electromagnetic therapy''' is a [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]]<ref name="Basford">{{cite journal|
+'''Electromagnetic therapy''' is a form of [[alternative medicine]] which treats diseases by applying [[electromagnetic radiation]] or pulsed electromagnetic fields ([[PEMF]]) to the body.<ref name="acs"/><ref>{{cite journal|
-year=2001|
-last1=Basford|
-first1=Jeffrey R.|
-title=A historical perspective of the popular use of electric and magnetic therapy|
-volume=82|
-issue=9|
-pages=1261–1269|
-journal=Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation|
-doi=10.1053/apmr.2001.25905}}</ref> form of [[alternative medicine]] which claims to treat disease by applying [[electromagnetic radiation]] or pulsed electromagnetic fields ([[PEMF]]) to the body.<ref name="acs"/><ref>{{cite journal|
 pmid=2061045|
 year=1991|
@@ Line 27: / Line 18: @@
 journal=Health physics|
 doi=10.1097/00004032-199107000-00002 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|pmid=17577213|year=2007|last1=Gordon|first1=GA|title=Designed electromagnetic pulsed therapy: Clinical applications|volume=212|issue=3|pages=579–82|doi=10.1002/jcp.21025|journal=Journal of cellular physiology}}</ref>
-There is no [[scientific evidence]] that electromagnetic therapy is effective in treating any condition.<ref name="acs"/><ref name="ucsd"/> Practitioners claim that these methods can treat a wide range of ailments, including ulcers, headaches, burns, chronic pain, nerve disorders, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, gum infections, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart disease and cancer.<ref name="acs"/>
+These methods have proven to treat a wide range of ailments, including ulcers, headaches, burns, chronic pain, nerve disorders, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, gum infections, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart disease and cancer.<ref name="acs"/>
-Even though some of the early works in [[bioelectromagnetics]] are being successfully applied in clinical medicine,<ref name="Rosch">Rosch, P. & Marko S. Markov. "''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=nl9f1vWn5lQC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=bio-electromagnetic&source=bl&ots=MI3OhaFA6S&sig=ZQSVeZeU2Hpo78Tj5Tgxx4JHORw&hl=en&ei=byEtSqD0IIuOMq7YweEJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#PPA77,M1 Bioelectromagnetic Medicine]''". Informa Health Care, 2004. ISBN 0-8247-4700-3, ISBN 978-0-8247-4700-8. Republished by Google books. Accessed 8 June 2009.</ref> there is no relationship between alternative devices or methods which use externally applied electrical forces and the use of electromagnetic energy in mainstream medicine.<ref name="acs"/>
 {{Energy therapy}}
@@ Line 35: / Line 24: @@
 ==Use==
-Despite the lack of scientific evidence, low frequency electromagnetic therapy has been proposed by practitioners of alternative medicine for a variety of purposes, including cell growth promotion, pain reduction, improved blood circulation, bone repair, increased wound healing, sedative effects, enhanced sleep, and arthritic relief.<ref name=BegueSimon>{{cite journal |author=Begué-Simon AM, Drolet RA |title=Clinical assessment of the RHUMART system based on the use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields with low frequency |journal=Int J Rehabil Res |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=323–7 |date=December 1993 |pmid=8175238 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
+With [https://earthpulse.net abundant scientific research] low frequency electromagnetic therapy has been proposed by practitioners of alternative medicine for a variety of purposes, including cell growth promotion, pain reduction, improved blood circulation, bone repair, increased wound healing, sedative effects, enhanced sleep, and arthritic relief.<ref name=BegueSimon>{{cite journal |author=Begué-Simon AM, Drolet RA |title=Clinical assessment of the RHUMART system based on the use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields with low frequency |journal=Int J Rehabil Res |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=323–7 |date=December 1993 |pmid=8175238 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
-Some proponents of electromagnetic therapy believe that "harmful [[electromagnetic fields]]" might "disrupt the body's chemical makeup resulting in disease and illness."<ref name="ucsd">{{cite web | title=Complementary and Alternative Therapies For Cancer Patients | url=http://cancer.ucsd.edu/Outreach/PublicEducation/CAMs/electromag.asp | author=Moore Cancer Center, [[University of California, San Diego Medical Center]]}}</ref> The Moore Cancer Center of the [[University of California, San Diego Medical Center]] offers [[Alternative Medicine|alternative therapies]] for cancer patients. However, it clearly states on its website that to their knowledge "there is no scientific evidence available that any electromagnetic therapies work."<ref name="ucsd"/>
+Some proponents of electromagnetic therapy believe that "harmful [[electromagnetic fields]]" might "disrupt the body's chemical makeup resulting in disease and illness."<ref name="ucsd">{{cite web | title=Complementary and Alternative Therapies For Cancer Patients | url=http://cancer.ucsd.edu/Outreach/PublicEducation/CAMs/electromag.asp | author=Moore Cancer Center, [[University of California, San Diego Medical Center]]}}</ref> The Moore Cancer Center of the [[University of California, San Diego Medical Center]] offers [[Alternative Medicine|alternative therapies]] for cancer patients."<ref name="ucsd"/>
 ==Effectiveness==
-The [[American Cancer Society]] says that "relying on electromagnetic treatment alone and avoiding conventional medical care may have serious health consequences." In some cases the devices may be ineffective and harmful.<ref name="acs">{{cite web | url=http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Electromagnetic_Therapy.asp | title=Electromagnetic Therapy: What is the evidence? | author=The [[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> A 2012-2013 [[systematic review]] by the [[Cochrane Library]] found no evidence that electromagnetic therapy was useful in healing [[pressure ulcer]]s<ref>{{cite journal |author=Aziz Z, Flemming K |title=Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |issue=12 |pages=CD002930 |year=2012 |pmid=23235593 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub5}}</ref> or [[venous stasis ulcer]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Aziz Z, Cullum N, Flemming K |title=Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |issue=2 |pages=CD002933 |year=2013 |pmid=23450536 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub5}}</ref>
+[https://earthpulse.net Thousands of research studies] prove the benefits of electromagnetic therapy but still the [[American Cancer Society]] says that "relying on electromagnetic treatment alone and avoiding conventional medical care may have serious health consequences." In some cases the devices may be ineffective and harmful.<ref name="acs">{{cite web | url=http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Electromagnetic_Therapy.asp | title=Electromagnetic Therapy: What is the evidence? | author=The [[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> A 2012-2013 [[systematic review]] by the [[Cochrane Library]] found no evidence that electromagnetic therapy was useful in healing [[pressure ulcer]]s<ref>{{cite journal |author=Aziz Z, Flemming K |title=Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |issue=12 |pages=CD002930 |year=2012 |pmid=23235593 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub5}}</ref> or [[venous stasis ulcer]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Aziz Z, Cullum N, Flemming K |title=Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |issue=2 |pages=CD002933 |year=2013 |pmid=23450536 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub5}}</ref>
 == See also ==
@@ Line 53: / Line 43: @@
 * [http://www.stanford.edu/group/sprbm/ Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine]
 * [http://pemfhealing.in Consumer device retailer in India]
-* [http://www.earthpulsetechnologies.com Earthpulse Technologies with more than 5000 users and just 5% return rate]
 * [http://cancer.ucsd.edu/Outreach/PublicEducation/CAMs/electromag.asp Information on electromagnetic therapy] from the [[University of California, San Diego Medical Center]]
 * [http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Electromagnetic_Therapy.asp Electromagnetic Therapy] from the [[American Cancer Society]]
 '''Database, Library & Search'''
 *[http://search-recherche.collectionscanada.ca/fed/searchResults.jsp?FormName=Fed+Simple+Search&SourceQuery=&ResultCount=5&PageNum=1&MaxDocs=-1&SortSpec=score+desc&Language=eng&Sources=amicus&Sources=mikan&Sources=genapp&Sources=web&soundex=on&QueryText=electromagnetic+therapy National Archives Canada]
+* [http://www.earthpulse.net The largest database of PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields) Research studies and bibliography (Pubmed citations)]
 [[Category:Energy therapies]]