Top class magnetic therapy
In the course of the “electrosmog discussion” and extensive study-based studies on the negative effects of electromagnetic fields of natural or artificial origin, there are a wealth of contradictory results that describe both a lowering of the pain threshold and increased pain sensitivity, as well as a decrease in pain.
For example, mice react with hyperalgesia during a magnetic storm, ie they become more sensitive to pain [1] . This, for example, also under fields of 0.5 Hz, 150 – 9,000 µT, 30 min daily for 14 days – but only at night [2] . On the other hand, the sensation of pain in snakes is blocked when they are exposed to a field of 60 Hz and 100 µT for 30 min for 6 days [3] . This can also be repeated in albino rats, where, for example, analgesia occurs with extremely weak fields of 1 µT [4] or 2 µT [5] over 30 min.
In humans, for example, continuous irregular frequencies (0.03 – 0.07 Hz) and a flux density of 20 – 70 µT reduce the pain threshold for skin stimuli (19.1%) after 2 hours and reduce toothache by 9.1% [6] . Even 37 Hz, 80 µT (30 min) lead to a 22.6% decrease in the pain threshold in the skin [7] . Likewise, a field with 40 Hz and 40 and 80 µT reduces the pain threshold for toothache after 2 hours only at 40 µT [8] .
Longer geomagnetic storms (6 days) cancel the morphine effect (10 mg / kg) in mice, for example [9] . Artificial fields of 0.5 Hz, 150 – 9 000 µT, 30 min over 14 days reduce the analgesic effect of morphine (10 mg / kg) after 5 – 10 days to [10] .
Experiments with the opiate antagonist naloxone show that in mice both naloxone and a field of 0.5 Hz, 150 – 9000 µT have the same analgesic effect after 30 min [11] . On the other hand, the analgesic effect of weak complex fields (1 µT) is eliminated by the pre-injection of naloxone in albino rats [12] . It is also surprising that, for example, stress-induced hypoalgesia (if, for example, mice have to swim in warm and cold water and the sensation of pain sinks as a result) is neutralized again by a field with 0.5 Hz, 150 – 9000 µT, 30 min, whereby here warm water produces an even stronger effect [13] .
Again, there is a human experiment that the pain threshold increases significantly compared to placebo after 30 minutes of QRS MF exposure [14] . This is also confirmed in mice in which an extremely low-frequency and low-intensity magnetic field (100 µT) has a similar analgesic effect as a moderate dose of morphine (5m / kg) [15] .
A review that deals almost exclusively with the pain-enhancing PEMF studies comes to the unexpected conclusion that new insights into pain treatment in humans would result from these findings [16] . And it is even more surprising when a patent application was filed by a Lawson Research Institute in June 1996 (published Dec. 11, 1997), in which the inventors [17] , who came from both the individual studies and the review, did are known to describe a somewhat opaque “electrotherapy device using low frequency magnetic pulses ” for pain treatment. This is a coil, which in the form of a kind of cuff allows to treat pain in the extremities.
As a result, a magnetic field hood is developed, behind which so-called CNP (complex neural pulses) are supposed to stand. This is a low-frequency PEMF with a very low flux density. The applicants refer to findings that a frequency-modulated magnetic field (100 µT), for example in snakes (Capaea nemoralis), produces significant analgesia, ie pain relief [18] . This also happens in rats when they are exposed to painful thermal stimuli [19] and also in humans by a study by Shupak NM et al.
Although the authors explain the underlying mechanism of action as largely misunderstood, there are indications that it is related to a “modulation” of the body’s own opioid system. They also emphasize the influence that PEMF-related mood enhancement has, which influences pain perception. The dopaminergic system also apparently reacts to PEMF. It is therefore not surprising that in a double-blind crossover study (0.4 – 1.1 mT) the pain threshold for sensations on the skin under PEMF increases by more than 50% [20] .
It is noteworthy that 90% of the participants in the study were women – which confirms the results of the Shupak study, according to which the positive PEMF effects in women are evident to a greater extent. However, they find no evidence of an influence on the dopaminergic system, so that the result of analgesia by PEMF is unlikely to be related. With regard to the flux densities used, these are in the range of <1 mT [21] , <500 nT (here especially at 120 Hz) [22] and even <50 nT [23] .
From the study mentioned, it is also possible to derive the important finding that mammals have a currently proven chemical magnetic field receptor (cryptochrome) [24] . This assumption was made earlier in connection with the analgesia phenomenon that occurred in snakes, which were briefly exposed to PEMF [25] . Cryptochrome is actually a light-sensitive protein that affects the processes of circadian rhythm in plants and many fungi, flies and mammals. In mammals, cryptochrome is a photosensitive pigment in the retina. In other tissues, however, it can also function independently of light [26] . By binding to cellular proteins, it is transported into the cell nucleus and controls the availability of transcription factors. This could also explain why PEMF effects are obviously also light-dependent.
Transcription factors synchronize the activity of the genes with the respective metabolic situation. In adult cells, they control growth, cell division and apoptosis via mRNA. There are so-called activators that promote the activity of DNA polymerase and also repressors with the opposite effect.
Evidence of the analgesic or opioid effects of PEMF is based on studies that describe, for example, an opioid-receptor-mediated mechanism [27] . In the case of pharmacologically initiated anesthesia, its duration of action is extended via a magnetic field by activating the body’s endorphin system and / or increasing the activity of the opioid signaling pathways [28] .
It also appears that the ability of magnetic fields to control the central cholinergic system is also related to the activation of the opioid system. After all, it is possible to use the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone to reduce the decrease in choline absorption in the brain of rats caused by magnetic fields [29] . Overall, this is of far-reaching importance since opioid peptides also act as growth modulators and control both the cell differentiation and the cell architecture of many tissues [30] , [31] , [32] .
In a cell culture study (cardiac muscle cells), magnetic field exposure led to a significant increase in the expression of opioid genes. Direct “irradiation” of isolated nuclei from cardiac muscle cells also showed that prodynorphin gene transcription increased significantly [33] . This was done by activating the nuclear protein kinase. This led to a sharp increase in the synthesis and secretion of Dynorphin B.
Dynorphins are a group of endogenous opioid peptides, i.e. self-made opioids. They play an important role in pain perception or pain suppression. Endogenous opioids include endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins.
Magnetic field experiments with MFC-7 cells (breast cancer cells) show that the use of weak PEMF can produce the same analgesic effect as morphine. This primarily results in activity of the mu-opioid receptor. Since the use of morphine derivatives themselves promotes metastasis [34] , the authors conclude that magnetic fields of certain intensities and frequency patterns should be used for pain treatment.
Conclusion
In addition to the model of an increase in blood circulation, which can dissolve muscle contractions and thus play an important therapeutic role in pain of the musculoskeletal system or myofacial syndromes, the QRS PEMF is within the framework of special intensities and frequencies, also via an activation of the body’s own opioid system (endorphins) in pain treatment centrally effective.
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