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TREATMENT BASICS Other Therapies

How do I combine MF therapy with other therapies? It is important to say at the start that very few practitioners of any given therapeutic system, understand other disciplines. As Maslow said “when your only tool is a hammer, you see every problem as a nail.” It’s a matter of placing all pegs, square and round, into one’s only available holes – round ones. Asking practitioners of any given discipline, who only practice that discipline, even though with excellence, most likely know very little about other therapeutic systems.  They can’ really render an informed opinion.

Acupuncture

There is a separate section for using magnetics based on acupuncture principles. But, MF therapy may be used at the same time that acupuncture is being used. Acupuncture needles are stronger in action than MFTs. Needles with current applied are even stronger.  Moxa, acupressure and cupping are not typically as strong as MFTs. When I think that acupuncture is the desired therapeutic approach, I use MFT if someone doesn’t want needles.

Since MFTs act more directly on cells and tissues than acupuncture, I use them together to gain the benefits of both. For example, for spinal arthritis, a deep joint problem, with significant pain, often multiple tissues are often involved. The MFT will get at any edema in muscles, ligaments or nerves, relax muscles and start cellular repair, of both joints and other soft tissues. Acupuncture helps pain almost immediately. The secondary actions of acupuncture on the immune system, other hormones and repair mechanisms take more time to happen. This means that with both therapeutic systems I will expect the primary actions of both to be more active than waiting for secondary actions of either one to kick in. The other value of MFT done at home is that it can be done at one’s own convenience and control, for a one time cost.

If someone is using both types of therapies on the same day, I would do the PEMFs first and then follow later in the day with the acupuncture. The MFT will start any action on the tissues directly. The acupuncture will start with the systemic actions. Then when they both kick in with their secondary effects the overall therapeutic action is greatly increased. With static magnets I would do the acupuncture first and then follow with the static magnets for potentially several hours to continue the action of the acupuncture. I would place the magnets either on the painful area, the same acupuncture point/s used in the acupuncture therapy or over the related spinal segment.

For more detailed information go to the acupuncture section.   

Massage

Massage works very well directly on the muscles, superficial soft tissues and ligaments. It helps to stimulate acupuncture points and meridians, improve circulation to tissues, relax muscles and secondarily to flood the body with endorphins. Since many toxins and wastes are stored in muscles, a great amount of tension, and related blockages of circulation, regular massage would help most of us to gain and maintain better health.

Both massage and MFT would help each other greatly. MFT used prior to massage would help the person and muscles to relax more before massage is started. That would allow the massage therapist to have to work less hard, get to deeper tissues and cause much deeper massage. This is all in addition to all the other benefits of the MFT, especially whole body MFT.

There are massage rollers available that have magnets built into them. They combine the two modalities to be able to be used simultaneously. They don’t take the place of direct massage itself, but would be expected to ease the physical load on the therapist and allow more to be done in the same massage session. I suggest pre-treating the massage client for 10-20 minutes before massage with a PEMF or starting a massage session with a magnetic massage roller. The whole massage session could also be done on a PEMF mattress pad. However, all day long exposure of the massage therapist doing massages over the PEMF pad is not recommended to be done routinely. Perhaps, one session 2 to 3 times per day at the most.

Regular, especially daily, use of whole body MFT at home would decrease the need for massage by keeping tissues detoxed and relaxed. It would keep the cumulative physical effects of stress to a minimum. Even so, massage has more direct physical action on the muscles themselves that MFT doesn’t have. That’s why the combination of regular local and/or whole body MFT and massage would keep the body from aging as fast and prevent problems from developing or worsening.

Suggested readings on massage therapy:

"Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice" by Susan G. Salvo

"Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques" by Art Riggs

Basic Clinical Massage Therapy: Integrating Anatomy and Treatment  by James H. Clay

I would place osteopathic, chiropractic or physical therapy manipulation alongside massage in terms of potential magnetic field use and how to think about it as discussed above.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is based on an almost completely different set of principles than MFT. Homeopathy relies on principles of similar resonance. Homeopathic remedies to be effective must resonate with the symptoms of the person being treated.  For example, the symptoms of malaria may be very similar to the symptoms caused by using quinine. That may explain why quinine has been found to be effective in treating malaria. PEMFs produce frequencies that could potentially interact with the frequencies of homeopathic remedies.  It may also be said that PEMF frequencies may also resonate with the frequencies of symptoms in the body, and that way produce their effects.  PEMF frequencies are typically much lower than those of homeopathic remedies.  That means that PEMF frequencies can only interact with homeopathic remedies as a result of harmonic frequencies. Even so, the likelihood of harmonic interaction is probably very low. Since it is not known for certain whether homeopathic remedies could be canceled by PEMFs, I prefer to use them at different times, if they are being done on the same days. I suspect that higher frequency EMFs, such as microwaves, cell phones, MRIs, etc. are more likely to be a problem with homeopathic treatments. Static magnets would not be expected to create any harmonic interactions at all and may be used safely at the same time as homeopathic treatments.

I would use the magnetic therapy first on the same day that a homeopathic remedy is being used. In fact, several days of magnetic therapy use may very well help to clear the terrain before homeopathy might be applied.

Homeopathy Resources

Infra-red

There are two types of infrared therapy.  Far infrared (FIR) and near infrared (IR).  Infrared primary use is too generate heat in tissues. In addition to generating heat, FIR/IR also introduces EMFs frequencies into the body. Infrared, either FIR or IR, does not typically penetrate the body very deeply, usually within 1-2 inches a signal is dissipated by interaction with the tissues of the body. When the term infrared is used alone, it generally refers to near infrared. Infrared applications are typically made by local applicator devices. To be technically correct, any frequencies below the FIR and the EM spectrum would be considered to be infrared.  This means that even ELFs would be considered to be infrared.  This distinction makes it important to know what the actual frequency being used is in a FIR/IR system. By common usage, FIR/IR more typically mean frequencies near the red part of the EM spectrum. 

Some FIR devices are passive and some are active.  The active infrared systems are driven by using AC, line current. The passive systems use either ceramic or fiber materials that passively radiate FIR signals. The active FIR/IR systems tend to create more dynamic action in the body than the passive systems.  The passive systems are more designed for home and personal use. The active systems tend to be used in practitioners' offices. Far infrared systems have been designed for large area, that is, whole body, applications. These are typically the active FIR saunas and passive blankets, covers, clothing, etc. Active FIR, especially applied to the whole body, tends to generate more heat in the tissues than passive FIR. 

Many FIR/IR systems actually use red colored diodes for their IR signals.  In order to generate current to the diode, AC current may be modulated in such a way as to introduce ELFs as well as the diode frequencies into the body.  This would then make such a device a dual treatment system -- using IR and ELF simultaneously. This type of system would be expected to be even more dynamically acting than simple FIR/IR by itself.

Almost all IR systems I have seen have been for local application only and are for the most part used in practitioners' offices.  There are some home-based systems.  The most common of course is found in bathrooms.

AC FIR systems tend to generate enough heat to increase not only local area temperatures but also whole body temperature.  This means that FIR saunas not only generate heat as a therapeutic modality but also introduce PEMFs into the body. Many use coils and ceramic filters which actually raise the temperature in this on the environment. These two effects appear to be additive. This means that one plus one equals more than two. Heat has been used as a physical therapy modality for millennia.  More recently heat has been applied to the treatment of toxins and cancers.  The combination of external heat and FIR can be even more dramatically beneficial.

ELF PEMFs more usually penetrate the body completely without loss of signal by interaction with tissue as opposed to higher frequencies, such as FIR/IR which lose their signal strength by interacting with tissue fluids.

FIR/IR, whatever the format, can be used alongside PEMFs and SMFs to obtain additive benefit.  FIR/IR will tend to help local musculoskeletal problems more dynamically and quickly than many PEMFs, especially low intensity systems. This means that if someone owns a whole body PEMF system, they can still use an FIR sauna or a local FIR/IR treatment device. For the circumstance of an acute arthritic or musculoskeletal problem I might be more inclined to use FIR/IR to start with for several treatment sessions followed by longer-term PEMF management, especially if I think the underlying problem is or is likely to become more chronic.

Laser

There are essentially two types of laser therapy systems.  One is tissue destructive and the other is tissue healing enhancing. The latter is usually called low-level laser. Even laser pointers, used for public speaking, and have tissue effects. Low-level lasers are often used in a similar way FIR/IR. Their beam is very narrow and focused. Because of this level of intensity they are able to penetrate the body more deeply and often even can pass through, especially less thick areas of the body.  More expensive, professional models are more likely to penetrate even thicker body parts, such as the abdomen or lung. Lasers can be used with different colors and therefore have not only the laser light benefits but also may add a benefit or value related to the color being generated. Most however are red.

Unlike FIR/IR, laser is used primarily for local area applications. Static magnetic fields and PEMFs can be used alongside laser.  Because of the intense, very high-frequency and focus of the laser beam, SMFs and PEMFs will have use in a wider area of treatment and will interact with tissues at lower frequencies. Lasers cannot be used safely around certain body structures, such as the eyes and brain.  SMFs and PEMFs do not have these limitations, for the most part, depending on the system being used. Higher intensity higher frequency PEMFs need to be used cautiously around these structures.

Medical lasers, used by physicians are veterinarians, tend to be tissue destructive and are used specifically for this purpose.  I will not have much discussion on this specific application, since it is better covered by specific device manufacturers and/or medical specialties. Some typical applications include construction of skin lesions, retinopathy, cardiac ablation procedures, prostate, gastrointestinal, vascular and other applications. In the settings they are used to better control bleeding and provide more precise depth of tissue destruction. Browse through an extensive book on laser therapy "Science of Low Power Laser Therapy" by Tina I. Karu.

Chelation

Chelation therapy, IV or oral, creates significant movement of electrolytes, minerals and metals in and out of cells. This movement, especially if a calcium, sodium and potassium may create significant interaction with MFT. We don't have extensive experience with chelation and MFT used concurrently.  On the basis of two cases that came to my attention, and significant temporary side effects, I have begun to recommend that chelation and MFT not be used on the same day. Local SMFs may be used without concern.  There is more chance a temporary negative interaction with whole body exposure.  Some static magnetic mattress systems, may have few enough and weak enough magnets to not create concern.  At this point, because of our minimal experience, we do not advocate whole body exposure until practitioners who use both therapies have gained more experience and can give us better guidance. Recommended reading on Chelation therapy is " A Textbook on Edta Chelation Therapy" by Elmer M. Cranton, M.D.

Light therapy

Light therapy can be active or passive.  Passive therapy happens with the wearing of strong colors, wearing colored crystals, or being in rooms or environments with specifically designated colors.  Active light therapy can include lamps (OTT Light) or lights that radiate specific colors, having colored crystals applied, natural spectrum lighting and so on.

Light therapy is most typically a whole body treatment approach.  Specific colors are used for specifically intended actions.  Most light therapy, except for that used for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is often intended for specific actions.  Passive light therapy is unlikely to penetrate very deeply into the tissues.  Lighting systems are more likely to penetrate deeper, but will be limited by the thickness of the tissues exposed.  There is a significant amount of attenuation, absorption and diffraction of light as it moves into the body.

For these reasons, ELF EMFs and SMFs would not be expected to interfere and may be used concurrently with light therapies.  As with most other therapeutic modalities, light therapy practitioners may not understand MFTs and recommend against them, if asked, since they would also like to see what the effects of their own specific therapeutic systems are without interaction or interference.

Other resonance systems

There are many other therapeutic, energetic and resonance systems that may be used that were not discussed above. If one understand the principles of resonance, has a basic understanding of the nature of EMFs on the body and understands the conditions for which treatment is being sought, the interaction of MFTs may be reasoned out.  Generally speaking, MFT, available for home use, is safe for use with most other systems. Specific questions can be addressed by consultation.

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