Electromagnetic therapy (alternative medicine)
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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.[1][2][3] There is no scientific evidence that electromagnetic therapy is effective in treating cancer.[1][4] 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.[1]
Even though some of the early works in bioelectromagnetics, suchs as electromagnetic therapy, are being successfully applied in clinical medicine,[5] there is no relationship between alternative devices or methods which use externally applied electrical forces and the use of electromagnetic energy in mainstream medicine.[1]
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Use
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.[6]
Some proponents of electromagnetic therapy believe that "harmful electromagnetic fields" might "disrupt the body's chemical makeup resulting in disease and illness."[4] 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."[4]
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.[1] 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.[7] A 2006-2007 systematic review by the Cochrane Library found no evidence that electromagnetic therapy was useful in healing pressure ulcers[8] or venous stasis ulcers.[9]
See also
References
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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
Database, Library & Search
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- Articles needing additional references from April 2009
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- NPOV disputes from April 2009
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- Energy therapies
- Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
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