The Eastern European Experience with Medical Magnetics

The purpose of this presentation is to summarize some of the results of research on magnetic fields, conducted over 30 years in Eastern Europe. Eastern Europeans have been using various forms of magnetic fields for number of medical conditions over at the least a 30 year period of time. They have written in their own languages about their experiences. This literature has been translated by Dr. Jeri Jerabek and compiled into English in a book called “Magnetic Therapy in Eastern Europe: a review of 30 years of research ” by Dr Jerabek and me. This is still the most extensive review of clinical research literature available on clinical magnetic fields in published form in English. This work forms the basis of a considerable body of evidence for the many beneficial effects of various kinds of magnetic fields in humans and animals.

While there have been many kinds of studies performed, there have been numerous studies performed in a controlled fashion. Some of the areas studied this way, include:

This summary will encompass a review of some of the findings published in this book for various diseases and/or body systems.

Peripheral vascular diseases
Peripheral vascular disease is a very common consequence of atherosclerosis of the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis begins often in 40-year olds and obviously extends into late adulthood. It is generally crippling, restricts activity and may require major surgery. Extensive atherosclerosis is especially common in diabetes. In one placebo-controlled trial, 12 to 15 exposures for 20 minutes, either too, the lower thoracic spine or locally to the lower extremities, objective measures of walking distance were studied. Other objective measures were also examined. The severity of restriction of walking, is indicative of the severity of vascular blockage. 30 to 40% of the treatment groups responded to the therapies, at a better level than the placebo group. Local exposure produced the best results. Even better results were found with the use of a therapeutic exercise, and the magnetic fields. Lee’s results were true even patients with diabetic neuropathy, with the fields applied locally to the lower extremities.

When sinusoidal feels were compared to static magnetic fields, applied for 20 minutes over 25 sessions, the benefit was dependent on the stage of the disease at presentation. 87% versus 81% of the sinusoidal treatments over the static field treatments were beneficial. Several of the static field patients actually continued to worsen. Patients with advanced disease had that no subjective or objective improvement in their symptoms. Relief was reported from eight to 10 months following the treatments.

Microcirculation improvement is seen as one of the basic mechanisms of action for many of the results seen on circulation and vascular conditions. Edema is often associated with vascular disease and other conditions. Edema frequently contributes to difficulty in improvements of tissue circulation and healing. Significant edema often leads to tissue breakdown with the development of ulcers. A very common finding with magnetic field therapies is the reduction of edema and often rapid tissue healing. Vascular flow can improve by as much as 15% in some patients, indicative of vascular tone improvement. In one extensive series of studies in over 3000 individuals, with exposures last thing tens of minutes up to 30 times, with either static or pulsed magnetic fields, to the cervical spinal area produced an increased number of open capillaries in the nail beds of even the hands. One of the actions that may have contributed to some of these benefits was a reduction in coagulation parameters, due mainly to suppression of platelet function. Increased numbers of exposures led to continued improvements.

Raynaud’s syndrome, or reactive vasoconstriction, often aggravated by cold and smoking, treated with sinusoidal fields applied to the spinal area improved 95% of the time with a reduction in palmar hyperhidrosis, called sensitivity, reflexes and ulnar nerve velocities.

Lymphatic vessels
One study using pulse magnetic fields for 20 minutes over 15 sessions, produced both subjective and objective improvements in vascular flow and tissue oxygen levels in these primary lymphedema patients, the volume of the involved extremity showed reduction of edema by 20 to 50% in 95% of the patients.

Heart disease and hypertension
It is well known that accepted that much of heart disease and hypertension is caused by occlusion of blood vessels by atherosclerotic plaques. Patients who have hypercoagulability have more severe problems. This situation has led to the common recommendation for patients with atherosclerosis to use aspirin daily. The basis for the use of aspirin is to reduce platelet adhesiveness. Static and pulse magnetic fields have been found to reduce platelet adhesiveness and fibrinogen levels. Magnetic fields have been found to be beneficial in patients with hypertension end ischemic heart disease, by reducing blood pressure, pulse rates, cardiac output, EKG improvements and even x-ray evidence of heart and lung, shrinkage and clearance, respectively.

In patients who have had heart attacks, pulse magnetic fields for 15 minutes at a time for 12 sessions every other day during their rehabilitation, compared to placebo treatment, had improvements in their stress test loathes, reduced frequency of angina and reduced or eliminated use of nitroglycerin.

Patients with heart failure had a reduction of their circulating blood volume, liver enlargement, blood-pressure reduction in hypertensives and general blood perfusion improvement. These patients also had an increased loss fluid through their kidneys, without the use of diuretics. No adverse effects were found in these cardiac patients.

Lung diseases
Magnetic fields appear to be beneficial, objectively and subjectively in many lung conditions. Static and the sinusoidal magnetic fields have been found to improve pulmonary function in asthma patients. Asthma episodes and frequencies were interrupted and improved as were cough, shortness of breath and and general health. Magnetic fields were applied to the chest, besides, and back, and the head.

Other lung conditions improved by magnetic therapy include bronchiectasis, the chronic effects of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Ventilation studies, inflammatory signs, immune parameters and lung hemodynamics improved. In these cases, the back and sides of the chest were treated.

Even tuberculosis, magnetic fields were found useful as a complementary therapy. In treated patients versus controls, coughing, was reduced sooner and bacterial growth was less in the magnetic group within a month, while not at all in the control. Double the number of magnetically treated patients had cavities healed in 1 1/2 months versus controls. These patients required 20 minute exposures, over 30 to 100 sessions.

Lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and magnetic fields, compared to nonmagnetic controls, had less adrenal suppression from their chemotherapy.

Gastrointestinal diseases
Static or sinusoidal magnetic fields, for 12 minutes over 10 sessions, to the epigastrium were effective in treating gastric and duodenal ulcers. Objective studies have also shown decreases in gastric acid, reduction in ulcers eyes and gastric and pyloric spasm. Even liver perfusion was noted to be improved. I myself have used static and pulsed magnetic fields on myself to treat epigastric pain, unresponsive to antacids. I usually found response within five to 10 minutes, with pulsed magnetic fields, being more effective and faster acting. Another controlled study showed that a combination of magnetic fields and medication produced faster symptom reduction and ulcer healing.

In acute and chronic pancreatitis, conditions with no effective medical therapy, there’s kinds of magnetic fields applied to the epigastrium and lumbar areas showed improvements in at least two thirds of the patients within two weeks. These improvements were supported by laboratory testing of pancreatic secretions.

Inflammatory bowel disease, even post radiation therapy, not only improved symptoms, but also biopsy results.

Neurologic diseases
Patients with spasticity and Parkinsonism improve significantly with pulsed magnetic fields in local motion, change of position, ability to arise and muscle spasticity.

Pulsed magnetic fields applied to the thoracic and lumbosacral areas and lower extremities, 10 minutes to each area, improved walking 10 years and negotiating steps, up and down. At least two treatment courses were required to demonstrate a significant improvement

Cerebrovascular atherosclerosis
Static magnetic fields were found to significantly improve vascular flow to the brain, either to the carotid sinus or the suboccipital areas of the head. Carotid stimulation produces a stronger response. In vascular dementia patients, sinusoidal magnetic fields applied bitemporally showed marked subjective and psychological test improvement in the 85% of mildly affected patients, 67% of moderately to more severely affected patients. Minimal improvement was found in the placebo group. Vascular flow showed improved circulation at the back of the head. The EEG’s also affected. In some patients in the more severely affected group, vestibular function, that is balance, also improved.

Syringomyelia patients treated with pulse magnetic fields, compared to controls, had reduced pain, paresthesias and cyanosis. And temperatures increased significantly and muscular strength is well. The benefits from a course of therapy lasted for upwards of a year. Electrical stimulation produced some improvement, but not as pronounced as pulse magnetic fields. No adverse side effects were found in any of the treated subjects.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy/polyneuritis and should 50% of the children go at a complete remission and 92% of the adults, versus 56% of those treated with medication alone. Improvements were found in pain, hyperemia and reflex symptoms.

Static magnetic fields were also found to significantly improve the benefits and side effects of chemotherapy and surgery in the treatment of gliomas. In malignant gliomas magnetic fields used in combination with chemotherapy, compared to chemotherapy alone, treated patients needed five times less frequent transfusions and were generally better off psychologically. The mean survival time in the treated group was 22 months versus nine months in the controls. In some cases, the tumor growth actually stopped or shrank.

Nerve injuries can be significantly improve with magnetic field therapies. Ischemic or inflammatory peripheral neuropathies respond, 73% of the time to pulsed or sinusoidal fields applied along the nerve and spine.

Meniere’s syndrome improves after treatment with a sinusoidal field. In all there is a reduction in vertigo, 16% had improved audiograms and 50% had improved tinnitus. Improvements could last as long as one to two years in upwards of 80% of the treated individuals.

Spinal cord injuries treated with pulse magnetic fields for 25 to 30 minutes over 10 to 15 treatments, along with comprehensive rehabilitation can reduce spasticity. Bladder function improves, as well as mobility. In some research 84% of untreated patients remain bedridden, versus 60% of those treated. In many of these patients in EMG’s are found to also improve.

Other research shows activation of the reticular formation, improvement of neuralgias and neuritis. In stroke patients, there was a reduction of delta EEG activity, suggesting more alertness.

Summary
Magnetic fields of various kinds and especially electromagnetic pulsed fields produce many research proven benefits in humans across many medical conditions, including but not limited to vascular, cardiac, lung, gastrointestinal and neurological diseases and conditions. While there are many treatable conditions, the basic physiological actions of magnetic fields on all biologic systems, human and animal included, affect those same body functions that are similarly affected by most diseases, and usually include, at a minimum, the vascular, hematologic, nervous and immune systems. Not all magnetic fields or devices act similarly well on all conditions. Only an extensive review of the medical literature will guide us properly. Anyone who states categorically that any single therapy or therapeutic system will “cure all” is to be considered suspect. In 30 years of medical practice I have never found claims for “cure alls” to be true. The potential and limitations of magnetic fields for treatment continues to unfold gradually, revealing the body’s secrets to those open to other than “traditional” thinking.

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