What Are the Different Types of Electromagnetic Field Therapy?

The method of applying a magnetic field to the human body to treat diseases is called magnetic field therapy, or magnetic therapy for short. Magnetic fields can be used to treat a variety of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, neurological headache, neurasthenia, facial muscle spasm, bronchitis, enteritis, ulcerative disease, cervical spondylosis, lumbar and leg pain, acute lumbar sprain, lumbar muscle strain, bile Colic, biliary stones, urinary stones, rhinitis, dermatitis, phlebitis, etc.

Pan Yu	(Deputy Chief Physician)	Beijing Rehabilitation Center Rehabilitation Department
She Shuyan	(Deputy Chief Physician)	Beijing Rehabilitation Center Rehabilitation Department
Wang Luyi	(Resident)	Beijing Rehabilitation Center Rehabilitation Department

The method of applying a magnetic field to the human body to treat diseases is called magnetic field therapy, or magnetic therapy for short. Magnetic fields can be used to treat a variety of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, neurological headache, neurasthenia, facial muscle spasm, bronchitis, enteritis, ulcerative disease, cervical spondylosis, lumbar and leg pain, acute lumbar sprain, lumbar muscle strain, bile Colic, biliary stones, urinary stones, rhinitis, dermatitis, phlebitis, etc.

Introduction to Magnetic Field Therapy

The method of applying a magnetic field to the human body to treat diseases is called magnetic field therapy, or magnetic therapy for short. When the magnetic field acts on the human body, it can change the size and direction of the human biological current, and generate a weak eddy current, which affects the direction of electron movement in the body and the distribution, concentration, and speed of ions inside and outside the cell, changes the cell membrane potential, affects nerve excitability, and Cell membrane permeability, intracellular and extracellular material exchange and biochemical processes ^[1] .

Magnetism is one of the elements of human existence. The earth itself is a magnetic field. Due to the shortening of the poles caused by the movement of the earth itself, the equatorial extension, the melting of glaciers, and the rise of sea level, the earth's magnetic field strength is gradually declining. In addition, there are many high-rise buildings and high-voltage power grids, which artificially cause interference and damage to the Earth's magnetic field lines. Therefore, the magnetic field strength of the earth is only 50% of that of 500 years ago, and many people have various symptoms of magnetic deficiency. Scientists have confirmed that the "space syndrome" that astronauts far from Earth suffer from in space is caused by a lack of magnetism, which shows the importance of magnetism to life.
Magnetic field therapy, also known as "magnetic therapy" and "magnetic acupoint therapy", is a method of treating magnetic fields by allowing a magnetic field to act on a certain part or acupuncture point of the human body and allowing the magnetic field lines to penetrate deep into human tissues. The mechanism of magnetic therapy is to accelerate the rejuvenation and renewal of cells, enhance the vitality of blood cells, purify blood, improve microcirculation, correct endocrine disorders and disorders, and regulate the yin-yang balance of physiological functions of the body.
China is the earliest country in the world to adopt magnetic therapy. In 180 BC, Sima Qian, a historian of the Han Dynasty, recorded in the "Historical Records of the Public History of Bian Xie Cang": Those who are not hot are not allowed to take five stones. "The book" Shen Nong's Materia Medica "of Eastern Han Dynasty also contains" Magic cold taste, numbness, rheumatism, swelling and pain in limbs, unbearable objects. " Tao Hongjing of the Northern and Southern Dynasties believed that magnets had the therapeutic effects of "nourishing the kidneys, strengthening bones, relieving kidneys, removing joints, and reducing pain and swelling." The Tang dynasty physician Sun Sizheng contained "Preparing Qianqian Yaofang Fang" for treating gold sores with "magnets to smash the end, apply pain and break blood." In the "Compendium of Materia Medica" by Li Shizhen, a medical doctor of the Ming Dynasty, a comprehensive and detailed record of treating diseases with magnets was also made.
The application of magnetism in foreign countries is also relatively early, and there were records of magnetism as a laxative in 200 AD. In 450 AD, there were reports of gout treatment in Greece. In 1000 AD Arabs treated liver disease with magnets. In the 16th century, Swiss used magnets to treat prolapse, edema and other diseases. Magnetic tape and other magnetic therapy devices have appeared successively. In the 1950s, it was reported that magnetic hypotensive bands were used to treat hypertension and neurasthenia. After the first International Conference on Biomagnetism in 1961, the marginal science of biomagnetism was born.
Magnetic fields can be used to treat a variety of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, neurological headache, neurasthenia, facial muscle spasm, bronchitis, enteritis, ulcerative disease, cervical spondylosis, lumbar and leg pain, acute lumbar sprain, lumbar muscle strain, bile Colic, biliary stones, urinary stones, rhinitis, dermatitis, phlebitis, etc.
Generally speaking, magnetic field therapy has no obvious side effects and contraindications, and only a few patients have symptoms such as blood pressure fluctuations, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, or insomnia, which generally do not need to be treated and can disappear on their own for several days after stopping treatment.

Biological effects of magnetic field therapy

Effects of Magnetic Field Therapy on Cardiovascular Function

The magnetic field has no obvious effect on the normal heart, and it can improve the heart function and improve the blood circulation of the heart muscle on the pathological heart.

Effect of magnetic field on blood

Effects of magnetic fields on leukocytes The results of various experiments are inconsistent. It is possible that white blood cells will temporarily decrease under the influence of a magnetic field, but they will soon return to normal. The overall magnetic field had no significant effect on leukocytes. The influence of the magnetic field on red blood cells and hemoglobin is uncertain, and it has a transient increase effect on platelets. Magnetic fields can reduce blood lipids and reduce blood viscosity.

Effects of Magnetic Field Therapy on Gastrointestinal Function

For normal gastrointestinal function, magnetic field can enhance gastrointestinal bioelectrical activity, improve gastrointestinal motility, and promote gastrointestinal absorption. It plays a two-way regulatory role on pathological gastrointestinal.

Effect of Magnetic Field Therapy on Immune Function

The effects of magnetic field on immune function are inconsistent. Most experiments have shown that magnetic fields can increase the phagocytic rate of leukocytes, increase complement levels, and increase immunoglobulin. It is suggested that the magnetic field has the evil biological effect of improving the normal cellular immunity and humoral immune function.

Effect of Magnetic Field Therapy on Tumor

Experiments show that with different tumors, magnetic fields can inhibit tumor cell growth, kill tumor cells, and prevent tumor metastasis, and can extend the life of experimental animals.

Effect of Magnetic Field Therapy on Bacteria

The magnetic field has a killing effect on bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and hemolytic streptococcus, and has no inhibitory and killing effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa ^[3] .

Therapeutic effects of magnetic field therapy

Magnetic field analgesia

The analgesic effect of magnetic therapy is obvious and rapid, and it has a good analgesic effect on traumatic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, and pain caused by tumors. The magnetic field reduces the response of sensory nerve endings to external stimuli and reduces the introduction of sensory nerves, thus achieving the effect of analgesia; the collective blood circulation increases under the action of the magnetic field, which accelerates the absorption and dissipation of inflammatory exudates and reduces The concentration of pain-relieving substances was reduced, and the oppressive effect of swelling on nerve endings was reduced; smooth muscle spasm was relieved under the action of magnetic field, so that pain was relieved; endocrine such as methionine enkephalin increased under the action of magnetic field It has the properties of morphine-like substance and has analgesic effect.

Magnetic Field Therapy

Magnetic therapy has a good effect on acute inflammation, subacute inflammation and chronic inflammation. Because the magnetic field can strengthen local blood circulation and improve tissue permeability, it is conducive to the dissipation and absorption of exudates. In addition, the magnetic field can also improve the non-specific immunity of the body, make the white blood cells active, and enhance the ability to swallow. effect.

Magnetic field therapy to lower blood pressure

The magnetic field can strengthen the inhibition process of the cerebral cortex, regulate the autonomic nerves, strengthen the microcirculation function of the body, and cause blood pressure to drop. The antihypertensive effect of magnetic therapy is mainly achieved by acupoint therapy.

Magnetic field sedation

The sedative effect of magnetic therapy is shown in improving sleep state, promoting falling asleep and prolonging sleep time, and can also relieve muscle spasm and reduce muscle tension.

Magnetic field therapy suppresses tumors

Magnetic therapy has a certain inhibitory effect on benign tumors. Its mechanism of action is the pressure generated by the attracting of different names of magnetic poles, which makes the tumor shrink or disappear; the magnetic field can reduce the exudation, reduce inflammation and swelling, and make the tumor shrink or disappear; the effect of the magnetic field on the endocrine system can be related to the reproductive system. The benign tumor shrinks or disappears; the magnetic field can cause blood vessels in the tumor to form thrombi, cause the tumor blood supply to be interrupted, and shrink or disappear the tumor.

The role of magnetic field therapy in softening scars

The magnetic field can prevent the formation of scars and soften scars. Its mechanism is to improve blood circulation and accelerate the absorption and dissipation of exudates under the action of magnetic fields, which creates conditions for reducing the formation of scars. Water and salts in fibroblasts under the action of magnetic fields Increased substances, dysfunction of secretion, increased lysosomes in fibroblasts, promoted cell phagocytosis, and organized scar formation.

Magnetic field therapy promotes fracture healing

Improving blood circulation at the fracture site, improving local nutrition and oxygen supply, is conducive to the regeneration of bone tissue cells, and is beneficial to fracture healing.

Magnetic field therapy promotes wound healing

Under the action of the magnetic field, blood vessels expand, blood flow is accelerated, and blood circulation is improved. The minimally invasive surface provides more blood, nutrients and oxygen, which is beneficial to wound healing.

Antidiarrheal effect of magnetic field therapy

Under the action of the magnetic field, the ATPase activity is enhanced, which can enhance the absorption function of the small intestine. Under the action of the magnetic field, the cholinesterase activity is enhanced, which reduces the intestinal secretion and slows the peristalsis, which is beneficial to the water and other nutrients in the intestinal mucosa The magnetic field also has an anti-exudation effect, which is beneficial to stop diarrhea.

Indications for magnetic field therapy

Magnetic Field Therapy

Hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, coronary heart disease, enteritis, gastritis (direct acupoint application method is available).

Magnetic field therapy for neurological diseases

Sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, neurological headache, neurasthenia (direct acupoint application can be used).

Magnetic field therapy for surgical diseases

Sprain contusion, tendon sheath cysts, periarthritis, phlebitis, thrombotic vasculitis, varicose veins, costal chondritis, cervical spondylosis, epicondylitis of the humerus.

Magnetic Field Therapy Facial Diseases

External ear canal bloating, neurological tinnitus, rhinitis, stye, keratitis, etc.

Magnetic field therapy other diseases

Chronic skin ulcers, shingles, dysmenorrhea, scars, etc.

Contraindications of magnetic field therapy

Leukocytes below 4,000, critically ill patients, extremely weak constitution, obvious side effects of magnetic therapy, pregnant women's lower abdomen, built-in cardiac pacemaker, etc.
Barium ferrite, silver ferrite, samarium cobalt permanent magnet, etc. are commonly used for magnetic therapy equipment in the medical market. The magnetic field strength is 2000-3000 Gauss. Commonly used magnetic therapy supplies are various magnetic therapy machines (devices), magnetic therapy decompression meters, magnetic therapy belts, magnetic therapy tablets, magnetic therapy necklaces, magnetic therapy bras, magnetic therapy shorts, magnetic therapy glasses, magnetic therapy vests, magnetic Pillows, magnetic therapy accessories, magnetic therapy chairs, magnetic therapy cups, etc.

At present, the treatment range of magnetic field therapy is wider and the treatment effect is often more significant. Advanced non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease have a more serious impact on patients. Studies show that high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can significantly improve motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease. Therefore, research on high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat Parkinson's disease The clinical efficacy of non-motor symptoms such as emotional and cognitive dysfunction is of great significance. High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can reduce anxiety and depression in patients with Parkinson's disease and improve their cognitive function. In addition, repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation has a certain effect on the treatment of depression in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

In recent years, people have produced far-infrared magnetic bedding based on the effects of far-infrared and magnetism on the human body. The combination of far-infrared and magnetism has been used to make the function of relaxing muscles and tending magnetic and far-infrared blood circulation, heat preservation and health care. The synergetic effect of warming and heating can play an adjuvant role in treating chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and cerebral thrombosis, and has a good development prospect.