PEMF and Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a disease that affects the skin, and worsens progressively.

It can severely impact patients’ quality of life, if left untreated.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disease, and its seriousness ranges from mild to a stage in which it can potentially cause death.

PEMF offers a way to control this disease and its symptoms in a way that is noninvasive and carries no risk of side effects.

That is why we believe that more people should know about this option, and use it as part of their treatment protocol.

In the article below, you’ll be able to read more both about scleroderma, and how we can use PEMF to manage it.

 

What Is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a common name for a list of disorders that cause the skin and the connective tissue to harden and tighten.

The disease starts off as very mild, and then gradually worsens.

The mechanics of the disease are not yet completely clear.

Scientists consider it a connective tissue, and a rheumatic, disease.

It is also classified as an autoimmune disease because it is believed that our immune system attacks its own tissue.

The main types of scleroderma are:

• Localized scleroderma
• Systemic scleroderma
• Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
• Diffuse systemic sclerosis

 

Symptoms of Scleroderma

The literal meaning of scleroderma is hard skin.

The first symptoms usually occur on the fingers and hands, including tightness, stiffness, and puffiness.

In the morning, swelling in the hands and feet sometimes happen, as well.

Other general symptoms of scleroderma include:

• Deposits of calcium in the connective tissues
• Raynaud’s Disease – constriction of blood vessels in feet and hands
• Problems with the esophagus
• Red spots on hands and face
• Thick and tight skin on the fingers

However, symptoms are not always the same.

They vary from person to person, and they can be mild or more severe.

They can also affect different parts of the body, or the whole-body system.

 

Causes of Scleroderma

It is not yet 100% known what the cause of scleroderma is.

It is believed that it is an autoimmune disease which causes the body to produce too much collagen.

This leads to the abovementioned symptoms.

Moreover, genetic and external factors are also believed to play some role in the disease, but this has not yet been proven conclusively.

Scleroderma is not contagious.

 

Treatment of Scleroderma

Unfortunately, there is no cure for scleroderma, and the overproduction of collagen cannot be stopped.

The treatment consists of attempts to manage organ dysfunction in order to maintain overall quality of life.

Localized scleroderma sometimes gets resolved on its own, and some medications can control the symptoms.

The goal is to slow down the symptoms, and postpone or avoid complications.

Therefore, the treatment is different for each individual.

Some common forms of treatment are:

• Blood pressure medication
• Immunosuppressants
• Physical therapy
• Ultraviolet light therapy

Another form of treatment is PEMF therapy.

It can help manage the symptoms, and deal with some of the complications, as well.

A number of studies have been conducted so far to examine further scleroderma’s effects.

 

PEMF Therapy and Scleroderma

PEMF therapy is not expected to cure scleroderma completely.

However, it can be used to control the development of the disease, and to control some of the side effects and the complications that accompany it.

PEFM therapy can be used on its own, but its effects might be even greater if it is used alongside other therapies.

The studies that show the beneficial effects of PEMF on scleroderma include two studies conducted by Dr. William Pawluk, a doctor who has formerly worked at John Hopkins Hospital and who has developed an interest in PEMFs.

 

Research on PEMF and Scleroderma

Dr. Pawluk’s first study included 20 patients who had been officially diagnosed with scleroderma, and who concurrently suffered from Raynaud’s syndrome.

PEMF stimulation was applied to their spine at two points – the Th10-L2, and the C4Th7 vertebrae.

After the completion of PEMF stimulation, the results showed up to 95% improvement in several areas.

The highest improvement was seen in:

• Cold sensitivity
• Sweating
• Reflexes
• Ulnar nerve conduction

The second study had a different objective.

It was done using a different PEMF machine, and was run alongside other traditional and alternative therapies, such as:

• Physical therapy
• Massage
• Supplements

In total, 80 patients participated in the study.

Fifty-two of them showed only localized changes on their skin, while the rest of them (n=28) had changes in multiple places.

These 80 patients were split into two groups of 40 patients.

One was the basic group, and the other one was a comparison group.

There was also a third group that consisted of healthy subjects.

The basic group received both the usual therapies and PEMF, whereas the control group received only the usual therapies.

PEMF stimulation was applied to the first group every other day, 12 times in total.

After the completion of the study, clinical and immunological testing was used to evaluate the results.

The basic group showed complete healing in 16 out of 40 patients, and 22 patients showed significant improvement (thus 95% showed some degree of improvement).

The control group, on the other hand, showed full recovery in 10 cases, and significant improvement in 22 cases (thus 73% showed some degree of improvement).

Moreover, there was significant improvement in immunoglobulins and lymphocyte blast transformation activity in the basic group as compared to the control group.

The researchers concluded that PEMF is able to achieve both immunological and clinical improvements in the scleroderma disease process.

This study only shows the use of PEMF in conjunction with other forms of treatment; therefore, additional studies should be conducted to examine whether PEMF therapy can achieve these beneficial effects on its own, as well. (1)

Until then, we can at least conclude that PEMF therapy should be considered an important factor in controlling the progression of scleroderma, and the development of various complications due to the illness.

Therefore, do not hesitate to incorporate it into your treatment regime on a daily basis to raise your chances of beneficial results.

 

Other Benefits of PEMF Therapy

As PEMF therapy is effective for scleroderma, it can also be effective for many other health conditions.

Not only that, PEMF therapy can also be used by healthy people on a daily basis with no side effects in order to prevent many common diseases.

PEMF therapy has been the subject of many studies so far, and many new ones are being conducted at the moment.

Below, you’ll see a summary of some of the most important health benefits of PEMF therapy so that you can explore them further if they are of interest to you.

 

Improved Blood Flow

Scientists at Wake Forest University in the United States decided to examine whether PEMF therapy had any effect on blood flow.

They applied localized stimulation of PEMF to areas with poor blood flow in multiple subjects, and arrived at encouraging results.

PEMF therapy dilates blood vessels.

This means that the blood vessels widen, and are able to hold more blood.

Therefore, more blood arrives at the affected area, carrying more oxygen and more nutrients with it along the way. (2)

 

Improved Neuroregeneration

The Bioelectromagnetics Society conducted a study in 1993 that explored how PEMF therapy affected the sciatic nerve in rats with induced sciatic nerve injury.

Instead of performing treatment after the injury, they first pretreated the rats with PEMF, and then caused a crush lesion of the sciatic nerve in one leg.

The other leg was used as a control.

The results of the study showed that rats recovered much more quickly if they were pretreated with PEMF therapy.

The mechanism is still not completely clear; however, the results are unmistakable. (3)

 

Reduced Symptoms of Depression

Instead of using only antidepressants, which in many cases do not yield positive results, patients suffering from depression can now include PEMF therapy alongside other traditional approaches, a study completed in Denmark shows.

The study concluded that the effects of antidepressants were much better when they were accompanied by PEMF stimulation.

PEMF stimulation should not be used as the primary form of treatment of depression.

However, as a secondary treatment, when antidepressants do not produce good results, it can be also used on its own. (4)

 

Improved Bone Healing

If you break a bone and it does not heal in the expected period, that means you have a nonunion fracture.

This condition usually requires surgery to physically reconnect the bone once again and help it heal.

However, in 1999, researchers at the Bangladesh Medical Research Council found that PEMF therapy can successfully aid the healing of nonunion fractures.

The study included 13 patients who received PEMF stimulation for 14 weeks.

At the end of the study, 11 patients fully recovered from their nonunion fractures. (5)

 

Reduced Pain

Researchers at the International Pain Research Institute conducted a study in 1993 that examined whether PEMF therapy could offer pain relief.

The subjects in the study were women, all of whom suffered from pelvic pain due to gynecological issues.

After the assessment at the end of the study, all participants reported much lower levels of pelvic pain.

The researchers concluded that PEMF therapy can offer relief not only from pelvic pain, but that it can target other types of pain, as well. (6)

 

Reduced Arthritis Symptoms

In 1998, a study in the Journal of the Indian Medical Association tried to prove that PEMF therapy could reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

They were successful in their attempt.

The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling, and the inflammation of various joints in the body.

In the study, PEMF therapy successfully reduced these symptoms, and improved the patients’ overall condition. (7)

 

Decreased Diabetic Factors

Another health condition that PEMF therapy successfully combats is diabetic polyneuropathy.

This diabetes complication affects the nerves, causing loss of feeling, numbness, and tingling in various areas on both sides of the body.

A study conducted in 2003 in Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology showed that PEMF therapy could successfully relieve these symptoms, and improve nerve function at the same time. (8)

 

Increased Range of Motion

Finally, PEMF therapy is able to increase range of motion.

Range of motion issues usually occur in patients suffering from cervical osteoarthritis.

This condition is usually felt the most in the morning, and improves during the day.

However, it is a progressive disease, and can even leave people bedridden.

A study in Clinical Rheumatology shows that we can manage the symptoms of cervical osteoarthritis with PEMF therapy.

In the study, PEMF therapy successfully increased the range of motion in the neck, but also decreased the amount of pain and stiffness the patients felt. (9)

 

Conclusion

Scleroderma is a debilitating disease that should not be ignored, but that should be addressed in its earliest stages.

Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t have clear symptoms early on, so patients may therefore not act promptly.

That is why PEMF therapy is important in the treatment of scleroderma.

PEMF therapy can be used as a way of preventing the disease, without the risk of any side effects.

And, once the disease fully develops, we can use PEMF therapy to slow its progression or completely stop it from continuing further.

In some early and localized cases, PEMF caused complete healing, as well.

The research conducted by Dr. Pawluk to which we have referred in this article is definitely encouraging.

It shows that PEMF therapy is a powerful way of managing scleroderma on its own, but that it is even more powerful when used together with other, traditional approaches to treatment.

If you fall into any of the risk groups for developing scleroderma, it is advisable to use PEMF therapy to prevent or postpone the disease, and to achieve other health benefits from it, as well.