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MAGNETIC FIELDS BASICS
Biological Actions
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Western clinical thinking is usually focused
on a disease specific model. Each disease has specific
physiologic and pathologic components, comprising various
testing methods - for example, x-rays, MRI, chemistry,
microscopic, microbiology, immunology, neurological testing,
etc. The results of tests are assembled into patterns that then
allow a "label" or diagnosis to be applied to them.
These labels, which assume specific physiologic and pathologic
changes, allow doctors and scientists to be able to communicate
with each other about these commonly understood
"patterns", that is, diagnoses or disease labels.
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Clearly, any given individual with functional or physiologic
abnormalities, despite having been diagnosed with the functional
or physiologic abnormalities associated with a specific disease,
will also usually have functional or physiologic abnormalities
that fall "outside" the disease label used or applied.
Therefore, the disease label is a "shorthand"
convention only and doesn't encompass the whole person's
functioning.
By
considering functional, physiologic or pathologic changes or
impairments, a function specific treatment plan can be
developed. Physicians use complex decision making processes to
determine treatment plans. Ideally, the treatment should remove
the underlying reason for the problems that are present. When
this is not possible, treatment is directed at physiologic
changes that produce signs or symptoms. For example, a fractured
bone will have accompanying swelling and pain. Treatment plan
will include managing the fracture itself through immobilization
and protection with a cast, ice and elevation for the swelling
and medication for the pain. When the fracture has reached a
certain point of healing rehabilitation of the weakened muscles
and stiffened joints will begin. Magnetic fields have been found
two reduce the swelling, accelerated healing of the fracture and
reduce pain. Fractures can also be complicated by tearing of
other tissues near the fracture, infection in the area of trauma
and blood clots in the lower legs resulting from immobilization.
Magnetic fields also help with these problems when they happen
and may in fact prevent them, by stimulating the tissues at
deeper levels without the need to invade the tissues.
 Understanding the basic
physiologic effects of magnetic fields allows someone to develop
a treatment approach that is targeted to the specific functional
abnormalities present. When a disease diagnosis is established,
some of the specific functional abnormalities are assumed and
understood. Diagnostic and functional tests help the therapist
to know the extent of the abnormalities. This not only helps to
guide the therapy but also allows the clinician to know
objectively how much progress is being made. Since very little
medical therapy cures diseases, most therapies are oriented
towards reducing the abnormalities and signs or symptoms present
and improving function. Magnetic fields are therefore often not
only the best treatment available as the sole treatment but also
in most cases can be used in a complementary fashion.
We are not able to list all the
possible biologic effects of magnetic fields described in the
research literature because of space limitations. Many of the
biologic effects found to be produced by EMFs are frequency
and/or field strength dependent. Most are specific to pulsed
magnetic fields, some overlap between pulsed and static fields
and rarely only applied to static fields. However, the ones that
I believe are the most relevant to clinical practice, especially
those found to be produced or affected by ELF's, are listed
here:
 | vasodilation
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| edema reduction
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| platelet adhesion reduction
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| fibrinolysis
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| acceleration of enzyme reactions
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| calcium ion movement and enhancement
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| calmodulin transport enhancement |
| nitric oxide production stimulation
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| sodium-potassium exchange enhancement
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| membrane function enhancement
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| improved cellular energy
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| immunity changes
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| amino acid changes
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| muscle relaxation
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| nerve cell firing reduction
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| repair of soft tissue
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| free radical actions
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| anti-oxidant stimulation |
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| brain functioning
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| hormone changes
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| stress reduction
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| learning changes
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| scar modification
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| metabolism enhancement
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| water modification
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| electrolyte changes
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| bone healing acceleration
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| osteogenesis
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| autonomic nervous system actions
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| oxygenation enhancement
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| inflammation reduction
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| sleep improvement
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| medication metabolism changes
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| liver function changes
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| wound healing enhancement
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| infertility improvement
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| receptor binding |
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Many of the benefits are effects of magnetic
fields listed above are due to very basic mechanisms of action:
stimulation of charge in the tissues and the movement of ions,
especially calcium and the electrolytes sodium and potassium.
Calcium ions are found in all cells and tissues and is involved
in nerve conduction, muscle function, cellular respiration,
vascular, wound healing, hematologic functions and immunity, to
name a few. Just by affecting calcium ions alone, a large number
of EMF actions are accounted for. This is why EMFs affect so
many basic functions in the body and are so useful.
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"Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience."
- Ralph W. Emerson |
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