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Electromagnetic therapy, is a form of alternative medicine which claims to treat disease by applying electromagnetic radiation or pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to the body. There is no scientific evidence that electromagnetic therapy is effective in treating any condition. 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.
There is no relationship between alternative devices or methods which use externally applied electrical forces and the use of electromagnetic energy in mainstream medicine.
Use
Microwaves are considered a form of electromagnetic therapy used in some cancer treatment centers to heat and destroy tumor cells. High-energy radio waves can also be used to "cook" cancer cells, a process called radiofrequency ablation (see Hyperthermia.)
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.
Some proponents of electromagnetic therapy believe that "harmful electromagnetic fields" might "disrupt the body's chemical makeup resulting in disease and illness." The Moore Cancer Center of the University of California, San Diego Medical Center offers 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."
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. A randomized controlled trial conducted by Energy Medicine Developments, Inc. and published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine in 2003 claimed a "small" clinical benefit from pulsed electromagnetic therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis, though the authors noted that the results needed to be replicated. A 2006-2007 systematic review by the Cochrane Library found no evidence that electromagnetic therapy was useful in healing pressure ulcers or venous stasis ulcers.
See also
References
- Gordon GA (2007). "Designed electromagnetic pulsed therapy: clinical applications". J. Cell. Physiol. 212 (3): 579–82. doi:10.1002/jcp.21025. PMID 17577213.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Luben RA (1991). "Effects of low-energy electromagnetic fields (pulsed and DC) on membrane signal transduction processes in biological systems". Health Phys. 61 (1): 15–28. PMID 2061045.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ The American Cancer Society. "Electromagnetic Therapy: What is the evidence?".
- ^ 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) - Begué-Simon AM, Drolet RA (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.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Lappin MS, Lawrie FW, Richards TL, Kramer ED (2003). "Effects of a pulsed electromagnetic therapy on multiple sclerosis fatigue and quality of life: a double-blind, placebo controlled trial". Altern Ther Health Med. 9 (4): 38–48. PMID 12868251.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Olyaee Manesh A, Flemming K, Cullum NA, Ravaghi H (2006). "Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD002930. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub3. PMID 16625564.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Ravaghi H, Flemming K, Cullum N, Olyaee Manesh A (2006). "Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD002933. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub3. PMID 16625565.
{{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
- Information on electromagnetic therapy from the University of California, San Diego Medical Center
- Electromagnetic Therapy from the American Cancer Society
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