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Other common
name(s): BioResonance Tumor Therapy, Cell Comm System,
Rife machine, zapping machine, electromagnetism, bioelectricity,
magnetic field therapy, bioelectromagnetics, bioenergy therapy
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Electromagnetic therapy involves the use of energy to diagnose
or treat disease. Electromagnetic energy includes electricity,
microwaves, radio waves, and infrared rays, as well as electrically
generated magnetic fields. Although light is also a type of
electromagnetic energy, light therapy is addressed in a separate
document (see Light Therapy).
Overview
Some electronic devices are approved for medical use, such as
the electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (EKG), and
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation units (TENS; see
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). Such devices are used to
diagnose nervous system and heart problems and treat pain by
interfering with nerve conduction of pain impulses. However, many of
the alternative electronic devices promoted to cure disease have not
been scientifically proven to be effective.
How is it promoted for use?
Many types of electromagnetic devices have been promoted as
part of this therapy. Some of the specific ones discussed in this
section are some of the most common or best known. In general,
practitioners of electromagnetic therapy claim that when
electromagnetic frequencies or energy fields within the body go out of
balance, disease and illness occur. 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. Practitioners claim
that these methods can treat ulcers, headaches, burns, chronic pain,
nerve disorders, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, gum infections,
asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart disease, and
cancer.
Practitioners of BioResonance Tumor Therapy (a kind of
electromagnetic treatment) use an electronic device they claim results
in the self-destruction of tumor cells by "energizing the p53 gene."
Practitioners say it cures cancer in 80% of cases. However, there is no
description of precisely how this is accomplished.
Proponents of another electronic device called the Cell Com
system claim it regulates the chemical and electrical communication
between cells. Proponents claim it can be used to relieve pain caused
by cancer and for fighting recurrent infections, asthma, bronchitis,
and arthritis. They further claim the device can stop the growth of
cancer cells.
Practitioners claim the Rife machine, another electronic
device, can diagnose and eliminate diseases, including cancer, by
tuning into electrical impulses given off by diseased tissue. The Rife
machine then directs energy of the same frequency back at the diseased
tissue. Promoters claim that the device kills microorganisms that cause
disease.
Another electronic device that has been promoted to cure
cancer is the zapping machine. Based on the claim that cancer is
related to parasites, promoters say it kills the parasites that cause
cancer.
What does it involve?
Electromagnetic therapy is claimed to use electromagnetic,
microwave, or infrared energy to diagnose or treat an illness by
detecting and correcting imbalances in the body's energy fields.
Electronic devices that emit some form of low-voltage electrical
current or radio frequency are often involved. Magnets and other
unconventional treatments may also be a part of electromagnetic and
energy field therapy (see Crystal Healing,
Magnetic Therapy,
Polarity Therapy,
Reiki,
and Therapeutic Touch.)
The most commonly used electronic devices are listed below.
BioResonance Tumor Therapy
This method uses a small electronic device to create
vibrations that are supposed to "re-enliven" the p53 gene in order to
cure cancer. While the p53 gene is often defective in cancer tissues,
available scientific evidence does not support claims that it can be
electrically repaired. Some reports estimate that the course of therapy
can last up to 6 weeks.
Cell Com System
This device reportedly transmits low voltage electricity
through electrodes placed on the hands and feet in order to regulate
communication between cells in the body.
Rife Machine
Also called frequency therapy, frequency generator, and Rife
frequency generator, the Rife machine is used to direct electrical
impulses at the feet to break up the supposed accumulated deposits of
toxins at nerve endings. During treatment, the patient places his or
her feet in a plastic box attached to the Rife unit.
Zapping Machine
A zapping machine is a small, battery-powered device that
produces a low-frequency electrical current. Wires connected to copper
tubes transmit the electricity to patients.
What is the history behind it?
The effects of magnetism and energy forces have been studied
since the time of the Greek and Roman empires. Chinese medicine uses
one of the oldest energy- based systems of healing. Traditional Chinese
medicine is based on the concept of qi (or ch'i) which is thought to be
the vital energy or life force that flows throughout the body. The
concept of life force is also a central aspect of Indian medical
beliefs.
In modern times, the discovery of electricity brought about
the promotion of electromagnetic treatments. The use of different forms
of electrical devices and frequency generators in medicine has
intrigued practitioners and patients for generations. Since the
mid-1800s, countless electronic machines have been applied to a long
list of ailments. Most of these devices have never been proven
effective. In some cases their use has resulted in serious injury or
even death. However, some electromagnetic and electrical technologies
have become mainstays of modern medical practice, such as diagnostic
x-rays, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
cardiac pacemakers.
An early use of electromagnetic therapy came in the late 1800s
when Albert Abrams, MD, developed a number of devices he claimed could
detect the frequencies of diseased tissue and heal the underlying
imbalances. Dr. Abrams and his colleagues were never able to prove his
devices were effective, and investigators from Scientific American
magazine reported in 1924 that the device did not correctly diagnose
any of six specimens. The idea that disease can be diagnosed and
treated by tuning in to radio-like frequencies has also been called
radionics.
Dozens of similar unconventional and unproven electronic
devices have been made and marketed over the years. BioResonance Tumor
Therapy, the Cell Com system, the Rife machine, and the zapping machine
are 4 popular systems on the market today.
BioResonance Tumor Therapy was developed by Martin Keymer, a
German biophysicist, who claims the therapy is rooted in the age-old
idea that it is possible to tap into the vital energy that flows
throughout the body. A clinic offering the therapy, which opened in
Tijuana, Mexico in 1998, has been the subject of great deal of
controversy. The Cell Com system which is said to increase
communication between cells was invented by a Danish acupuncturist
named Hugo Nielsen. The Rife machine (or Rife frequency generator) was
created by Royal Raymond Rife, an American who asserted that cancer was
caused by bacteria. The machine supposedly emitted radio waves at the
same frequency as those discharged by offending bacteria. According to
Rife, the radio waves created vibrations that "shattered" the bacteria.
The most widely marketed zapping machine today is the Zapper
designed by Hulda Clark, PhD, a physiologist with no formal clinical
medical training. She currently uses her device to treat patients with
cancer, AIDS, and other diseases in a Tijuana, Mexico medical clinic.
Electronic devices and other frequency generators are
available through a number of companies. Treatment programs that
incorporate the devices are offered in Mexican and Canadian clinics.
Practitioners do not need a license to conduct frequency therapy in the
United States.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any
of the alternative machines or products connected to electrical sources
(electronic devices) used to cure illness and does not recognize any
frequency generator as a legitimate medical device. It has, however,
launched an investigation into the industry.
What is the evidence?
There is no relationship between conventional medical uses of
electromagnetic energy and the alternative devices or methods that use
externally applied electrical forces. Available scientific evidence
does not support claims that these alternative electrical devices are
effective in diagnosing or treating cancer or any other disease.
Science has established that electrical and magnetic energy
exist in the human body. Electrical energy is used by physicians to
restart the heart after heart attacks and is even applied to promote
bone growth. Some accepted electrical devices commonly used in
hospitals include EEGs to measure electrical activity in the brain and
EKGs to measure electrical patterns of heartbeats. However, low level
radio waves or tiny electrical impulses are not strong enough to
produce a significant effect on the body. There is no evidence that the
radio waves produced by these devices can destroy bacteria or any
living cells. Microwaves, another form of electromagnetic therapy, are
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).
In addition, powerful electromagnetic fields (stronger and of
a different type than those produced by radionic devices) may be able
to change the responses of certain cells in the body. Early evidence
suggests that these electromagnetic fields may help broken bones that
are not healing well. Some researchers have reported that pulsed
electromagnetic stimulation may reduce frequency of migraine headaches,
although larger studies are needed to prove any benefit. Some early
studies found that electromagnetic energy may reduce some kinds of
pain, although the methods and results still need to be checked by
others to learn if they hold true. One review analyzed two studies and
found that electromagnetic treatment did not seem to help heal
bedsores. Scientific studies are looking at whether these powerful
electromagnetic fields may help with other problems. These studies are
only done in carefully controlled research settings. If they show
benefit, it is possible that electromagnets may be used in conventional
medicine in the future.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
Untested, unproven electrical devices may pose some risk.
There have been reports of injuries due to faulty electrical wiring,
power surges during lightening storms, and misuse of equipment. People
with pacemakers, defibrillators, or insulin pumps should avoid exposure
to electric current and magnetic fields, including electromagnets.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or
delaying conventional medical care for cancer, may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
American Cancer Society. Questionable methods of cancer
management: electronic devices. CA
Cancer J Clin. 1994;44:115-127.
Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons. A Report to
the National Institutes of Health on Alternative Medical Systems and
Practices in the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing
Office; 1994. NIH publication 94-066.
Barrett S. James Gary Davidson and the Monterrey Wellness
Center. Accessed at: www.quackwatch.org on May 30, 2008.
Cassileth B. The
Alternative Medicine Handbook. New York, NY: W.W. Norton
& Co; 1998.
Lescarboura AC. Our Abrams verdict: The electronic reactions
of Abrams and electronic medicine in general found utterly worthless.
Scientific American. 1924;131:158–159.
Manesh AO, Flemming K, Cullum N, Ravaghi H. Electromagnetic
therapy for treating pressure ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2006;(2):CD002930.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Research Report. Questions and Answers about Using Magnets to Treat
Pain. Accessed at: http://nccam.nci.nih.gov on March 29, 2007.
National Institutes of Health. Alternative Medicine: Expanding
Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of Health on
Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States.
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1994. NIH publication
94-066.
Rubik B. Energy medicine and the unifying concept of
information. Altern
Ther Health Med. 1995;1:34-39.
Sherman RA, Acosta NM, Robson L. Treatment of migraine with
pulsing electromagnetic fields: a double-blind, placebo-controlled
study. Headache.
1999;39:567-575.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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