What is Electromagnetic Therapy?

Every human-being has an electro-magnetic field within them, which has been generated in the body through chemical reaction within cells and ionic currents passing through the nervous system. Electromagnetic therapy has developed as a way of combating the harmful effects on the body’s natural field from environmental factors. It also works with the body’s electromagnetic field to increase healing efficiency.

What is it and How Does it Work?

Electromagnetic therapy involves the use of energy to treat disease. Electromagnetic energy includes electricity, microwaves, radio waves, and infrared rays, as well as electrically-generated magnetic fields. Practitioners claim that when electromagnetic frequencies or energy fields within the body go out of balance, disease and illness occurs. They claim that these imbalances disrupt the body's chemical makeup. By applying electromagnetic energy from outside the body, usually with electronic devices, practitioners claim they can correct the imbalances in the body.

By using magnets with a negative magnetic field, the therapy counteracts the imbalances caused by positive magnetic fields. The positive magnetic fields are produced by all electrical equipment and so virtually everyone is susceptible to imbalances. The therapy works for injuries such as bone fractures by stimulating signalling pathways at the cell membrane, which then stimulates biologic processes related to osteogenesis and bone graft incorporation.

The History and How it was Developed

Electromagnetism itself was first discovered by Michael Faraday in the 1800’s. He came up with the principle, Faraday’s Law, that runs through electromagnetic therapy; namely that a magnetic field will exert a force on a moving ionic current.

In 1936, Albert Davis discovered that the north pole and south pole of a magnet had different biological effects. He proved most significantly that the north pole (the negative energy) could slow the growth of bacteria, and reduce pain and inflammation. Later in the 20th Century Kyoichi Nakagawa came up with the term ‘magnetic field deficiency syndrome’. This explains his theory that due to time spent indoors our contact with the natural geomagnetic fields of the  earth are effected; causing health problems such as headaches, dizziness, pain, constipation, muscle stiffness, insomnia and general fatigue.

How can Electromagnetic Therapy be Applied?

There are many different devices which can be used in electromagnetic therapy. There are medically approved devises such as the electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation units. Such devices, ‘pulsars’, emit intermittent electromagnetic fields, and are used to treat pain by interfering with nerve conduction of pain impulses.

There are two ways in the therapy can be applied, one exposes some or all of the body to the north pole of the magnet with a usual gauss range of 2000-4000. The second uses both negative and positive poles simultaneously at a lower gauss range. The length of time a magnet is used varies but generally the longer the magnet remains in place, the quicker the healing process is meant to be.

Who and What is it Good for?

The treatment is good for everyone and in particular can be of benefit to the elderly. The ailments it can treat include: arthritis, toothache, fungal infections, kidney stones, swelling, edema, glaucoma, infertility, osteoporosis, fractures joint disease, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, post-operation pain, migraines, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, seizures, stress and panic attacks.

Who is it not Good for and What can the Side Effects be?

There are no harmful side effects but it is important not to rely on electromagnetic therapy as the only solution. Much work still needs to be done to optimize such variables as signal configuration and duration of treatment before electromagnetic therapy can be strongly recommended. People with pacemakers, defibrillators, or insulin pumps should avoid exposure to electric current and magnetic fields, including electromagnets.

See also Electro Magnetic Field Balancing Technique.