PEMF and Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis affects more than 2.1 million people worldwide, and around 200 new patients are diagnosed every week.

MS affects people of all ages and demographics, but it is most common in women between 20-50 years of age.

Multiple sclerosis is very difficult to treat because the cause of the disease is not yet known.

The main goal of the treatment is to relieve the symptoms and stop the progression of the disease.

The traditional treatment has shown some good results, but it comes with many doubts.

This article will explore the possibilities of PEMF as a form of treatment for multiple sclerosis, and teach you more about the disease itself.

 

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system, and its mechanism is not yet clear.

The nerve fibers of the central nervous system have a protective layer called myelin.

Apart from offering protection, myelin also helps them transmit electrical signals.

MS causes this myelin to disappear in certain areas, impairing nerve function, and leaving a scar that is called sclerosis.

That is the meaning of the name of the disease – multiple sclerosis, or multiple scars.

 

Types of Multiple Sclerosis

We know about four types of MS:

• Clinically isolated syndrome: This is the first episode that happens, and that lasts for up to 24 hours.
• Relapse-remitting MS: This is the most common type, which affects as many as 85% of patients.
• Primary progressive MS: Symptoms progressively become worse and worse, without remission or relapse.
• Secondary progressive MS: The disease progresses after initial remissions or relapses.

 

Symptoms and Causes

Since MS affects the central nervous system, which affects all functions of the body, the symptoms can vary significantly from patient to patient.

Sometimes, the symptoms are very mild, and other times they are dramatic from the very beginning.

The most common symptoms of MS are:

• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty with balance and coordination
• Visual disturbances
• Problems with thinking and memory
• Tingling and numbness

MS can also cause bladder problems, such as incontinence, frequent urination, and so on.

And it can cause bowel problems, such as constipation or incontinence.

Ninety percent of patients also feel general fatigue.

The causes of MS are unknown, but it is believed that it is an autoimmune disease. There are, however, some risk factors of which you should be aware. These are:

• Age: Patients are typically 20-50 years old
• Gender: Women are much more likely to get it
• Ethnicity: MS is more common among Europeans
• Genes: Susceptibility is passed down in the genes

Sunlight is a factor, as well, since MS is more likely in people who live further from the equator.

The earth’s magnetic field is also a possible contributing factor.

 

Conventional Treatment of MS

Unfortunately, MS is an incurable disease.

The treatment is focused on controlling the autoimmune response and symptoms.

This is done with various medications, rehabilitation, plasma exchange, Vitamin D and Omega 3 supplements, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and so on.

PEMF therapy is showing great results in reducing the symptoms of MS and slowing down its progression.

Let’s take a deeper look into it by referring to studies done on the topic.

 

PEMF Therapy and Multiple Sclerosis

PEMF therapy can affect the neurological tissue at the most basic, cellular level.

There isn’t much information at this time to suggest that PEMF can reduce the size of MS scars; however, there is substantial evidence that proves PEMF therapy can slow down the progression of MS, and reduce recurrences.

PEMF can also alleviate many multiple sclerosis symptoms, such as cognitive function, fatigue, mood changes, and other affected bodily functions.

This is because PEMF improves the function of all cells in the body, including those affected by MS.

PEMF therapy also influences numerous physiological and biomechanical processes in our body.

One theory of how PEMF affects the symptoms of MS is by improving the flow of charged ions through protein channels in the nerve membrane.

By doing so, it improves dysfunctional neurons’ signal conduction.

Dr. R. Sandyk of Touro College, New York, suggests that the pineal gland plays a key role in the development of MS, because it affects numerous hormones in our body. (1)

He adds that research should focus on improving the function of the pineal gland through beneficial therapeutic factors, such as pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.

So far, we know that in the treatment of MS, we can use very low, medium, and high-intensity PEMFs.

 

Research on PEMF and Multiple Sclerosis

A study completed in 2003 by Lappin MS, Richards TL, Lawrie FW, and Kramer ED examined the effects of PEMF on impaired quality of life and fatigue caused by MS.

This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. (2)

Moreover, this was a multi-site, crossover study where each subject received 4 weeks of real and placebo treatment, which were separated by 2-week periods.

The study was conducted at the Neurology Center of Fairfax in Fairfax, VA, the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, WA, and the headquarters of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America in Cherry Hill, NJ.

One hundred and seventeen patients received daily exposures by a small portable PEMF generator.

The outcome was assessed with the MS quality of life inventory.

Paired t-tests were used to examine the post-treatment conditions of the patients who completed both sessions.

The improvement in quality of life and fatigue was much greater when the device was active.

However, there were no significant effects on bladder problems, disability, and some issues with spasticity.

The evidence suggests that the exposure to PEMF in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis can alleviate some prominent symptoms.

Another study completed in 1997 explored the effects of PEMF on multiple sclerosis.

This study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, with Richards TL as the principal investigator. (3)

This was a double-blind study as well, in which the subjects were exposed to a PEMF frequency ranging from between 4-13 Hz, at an intensity of between 50-100 milligauss.

Thirty MS patients participated in the study, wearing a portable PEMF device for 10-24 hours a day, for two months.

Half of the patients received real PEMF stimulation, and the other half received placebo.

The effects were measured with several different tests.

These were a clinical rating, patient-reported performance, and quantitative electroencephalography.

There was little change in the clinical rating, but the performance rating showed significant improvement.

The effects were most noticeable on bladder control, fatigue, cognitive function, spasticity, mobility, and vision.

The active group showed a -3.83 +/- 1.08 change in PS scale, with p < 0.005; the placebo group showed a -0.17 +/- 1.07 change.

The quantitative electroencephalography was used during language assessment (multiple electrodes were placed on the left side of the brain), and also showed significant improvement.

It can thus be concluded that PEMF therapy significantly affects the patients’ overall performance, and their alpha EEG magnitude, during the language assessment.

These results are in accord with similar smaller studies, and give all MS patients a new potential form of treatment and source of hope.

 

Other Benefits of PEMF Therapy

Apart from providing some important health benefits for multiple sclerosis, PEMF therapy has numerous other scientifically-proven health benefits.

Since its effects are achieved on a cellular level, PEMF therapy affects all parts of the body.

To keep the article reasonably short, we’ll focus only on the most popular and important PEMF benefits, but we encourage you to find out more on your own.

 

Improves Blood Flow

Scientists at Wake Forest University in the U.S. found out that PEMF therapy can cause vasodilation of blood vessels in a particular area of the body.

Vasodilation, in turn, improves the circulation to the area, and numerous health benefits are achieved this way.

Some of them include lower blood pressure, lower risk of heart attack and stroke, improved poor circulation symptoms, and so on.

Moreover, patients can also recover better from injuries when the blood flow is enhanced in the affected area. (4)

 

Induces Nerve Repair

In addition to what we have found out about PEMF therapy improving MS symptoms, it can also have positive effects on sciatic nerve injury.

A study conducted in 1993 by the Bioelectromagnetics Society used rats with induced sciatic nerve lesions to examine the effects of PEMF on such injuries.

The results showed that PEMF therapy significantly improved the recovery of the sciatic nerve, which gives new hope to patients suffering from this condition. (5)

 

Alleviates Pain

Instead of taking harmful and habit-forming painkillers, patients who experience acute or chronic pain can now turn to PEMF, according to a study conducted by the International Pain Research Institute in 1993.

The study focused on pelvic pain, and showed that the patients reported significantly less pain after they received this treatment.

However, these results are not applicable only to pelvic pain, but are relevant to other types of pain as well. (6)

 

Helps with Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common disease that affects various joints in the body, and causes symptoms such as pain, swelling, and inflammation.

The cause of the disease is not known, and therapies are based on the suppression of the symptoms and are not always effective.

PEMF therapy has proven to be another powerful form of treatment.

A study conducted in 1998 and published in the Journal of the Indian Medical Association shows that PEMF therapy can significantly reduce RA symptoms.

Thus, it is an option that should not be overlooked. (7)

 

Relieves Symptoms of Depression

Around 30% of patients suffering from depression do not respond well to medication.

PEMF therapy can greatly reduce this number.

A study completed in Denmark showed that PEMF therapy, in combination with antidepressants, achieved much better results than when antidepressants were used on their own.

Therefore, PEMF therapy should not be used as a primary form of treatment for depression, but can be an important ally to the traditional ones that we use today. (8)

 

Treats Migraines

PEMF therapy is also very beneficial in treating migraines.

A study was conducted in 1999 in the United States that showed that PEMF therapy could lower the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

After one month of therapy, all patients reported significantly reduced migraine symptoms. (9)

 

Increases Range of Motion

When a person suffers from cervical osteoarthritis, one of the most common symptoms they experience is decreased range of motion, which affects their mobility and overall quality of life.

A study published in Clinical Rheumatology showed that PEMF therapy can help increase range of motion, as well as diminish some other symptoms such as neck pain, muscle spasms, and muscle rigidity. (10)

 

Accelerates Bone Healing

PEMF therapy is also a powerful form of treatment for nonunion fractures.

These are fractures that do not heal in a predetermined amount of time, and usually require surgery to repair.

A study conducted in 1999 in Bangladesh showed great results in which 11 out of 13 patients with nonunion fractures experienced complete healing.

 

Conclusion

From the aforementioned, we can conclude that PEMF therapy is a powerful form of treatment for a range of health conditions.

PEMF therapy offers a new therapeutic option for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis who often do not respond well to traditional forms of treatment.

What is important, as well, is that weak, medium, and high-frequency PEMF therapy is beneficial for MS.

This means that patients do not need powerful and expensive clinical-grade PEMF machines, but can experience relief with smaller, weaker, and cheaper home machines, as well.

The studies clearly prove the positive effects of PEMF on MS and its symptoms, such as bladder control, overall quality of life, language use, and so on.

The best aspect of this therapy is that it is also completely safe and does not carry the risk of strong side effects, which is not something that can be said of other traditional forms of MS treatment.