Energy Medicine

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Energy Medicine

• Andie Gilmore

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Basis of Energy Medicine

• Energy medicine is based upon the belief that
  changes in the life force of the body,
  including the electric, magnetic and
  electromagnetic fields, affect human health and
  can promote healing.

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Learning Objectives

• Define energy medicine.
• List and describe putative energy therapies
  recognized by the NCCAM.
• List and describe veritable energy therapies
  recognized by the NCCAM.
• What is magnet therapy most used for? What does
  the research say about its effectiveness?
• What are limitations of magnet therapy research?

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What is Energy Medicine?

• Energy medicine is a domain of complimentary and
  alternative medicine that is based on the
  interactions of the human energy field with other
  energy fields whether human or nonhuman.
• The various energy fields associated with the
  human body include electrical, magnetic, light,
  and subtle.
• Changing these energy fields may affect human
  health and support healing.

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Types of Energy Fields

• Veritable
• Mechanical vibrations and electromagnetic forces
• Use specific, measurable wavelengths and
  frequencies to treat patients
• Putative
• Human beings are infused with a subtle form of
  energy
• Immeasurable at this time

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Names of Inner Energy

• Qi-Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Ki-Japanese Kampo system
• Doshas-Ayurvedic medicine
• Etheric energy
• Fohat
• Orgone
• Odic Force
• Mana
• Homeopathic Resonance
• Prana

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Putative Energy Medicine Recognized by the NCCAM

• Acupuncture The term acupuncture involves
  stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a
  variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique
  that has been most studied scientifically
  involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid,
  metallic needles that are manipulated by the
  hands or by electrical stimulation.
• Qi Gong A component of traditional Chinese
  medicine that combines movement, meditation, and
  regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi
  in the body, improve blood circulation, and
  enhance immune function.

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Putative Energy Medicine Recognized by the NCCAM

• Homeopathy In homeopathic medicine, there is a
  belief that "like cures like," meaning that
  small, highly diluted quantities of medicinal
  substances are given to cure symptoms, when the
  same substances given at higher or more
  concentrated doses would actually cause those
  symptoms
• Therapeutic Touch It is based on the premise
  that it is the healing force of the therapist
  that affects the patient's recovery healing is
  promoted when the body's energies are in balance.
  By passing their hands over the patient, healers
  can identify energy imbalances.

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Putative Energy Medicine Recognized by the NCCAM

• Distant Healing Proponents of energy field
  therapies also claim that some of these therapies
  can act across long distances. For example,
  external Qi Gong or intercessory prayer.
• Whole Medicine Systems These systems are based
  on the belief that one's body has the power to
  heal itself. Healing often involves coupling
  multiple techniques that involve the mind, body,
  and spirit.

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Veritable Energy Medicine Recognized by the NCCAM

• Millimeter Wave Therapy Low-power millimeter
  wave irradiation elicits biological effects and
  is used to treat skin diseases, cancer,
  gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, and
  psychiatric illnesses.
• Sound Energy Therapy Specific sound frequencies
  resonate with specific organs of the body to heal
  and support the body.

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Veritable Energy Medicine Recognized by the NCCAM

• Light Therapy Light therapy is the use of
  natural or artificial light to treat various
  ailments.
• Magnet Therapy

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Products using Magnets

• Shoe insoles
• Heel inserts
• Mattress Pads
• Bandages

• Belts
• Pillows and Cushions
• Bracelets and other jewelry
• Headwear

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Magnet Claims

• Pain
• Respiratory problems
• High blood pressure
• Circulatory problems
• Arthritis
• Rheumatism
• Stress

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Mechanisms

• Improve Circulation
• Rebalance the body
• Raise temperature
• Increase blood flow
• Removes toxins
• Increased WBC

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Magnets

• Magnet strength is measured in the unit gauss (G)
• Therapeutic magnet 300-5,000 G
• Refrigerator Magnets 35-200 G
• MRI 200,000 G

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Types of Magnets

• Static magnetic field does not change
• Electromagnets generate magnetic fields when
  electrical current flows through them

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Borsa A, Liggett C. Flexible magnets are not
effective in decreasing pain perception and
recovery time after muscle microinjury. Journal
of Athletic Training. 1998 3150-156.

• Single blind, placebo study
• 45 subjects
• 20 males
• 25 females
• 20-32 years of age

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Borsa A, Liggett C. Flexible magnets are not
effective in decreasing pain perception and
recovery time after muscle microinjury. Journal
of Athletic Training. 1998 3150-156.

• Induced microinjury
• Participants received magnet with a field
  strength of 700 G or sham magnet

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Borsa A, Liggett C. Flexible magnets are not
effective in decreasing pain perception and
recovery time after muscle microinjury. Journal
of Athletic Training. 1998 3150-156.

• Outcome measures
• Visual analog Scale

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Borsa A, Liggett C. Flexible magnets are not
effective in decreasing pain perception and
recovery time after muscle microinjury. Journal
of Athletic Training. 1998 3150-156.

• Results not significant at the Pgt0.05 and thus
  ability of magnets to decrease perception of pain
  was not demonstrated

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Harlow T, Greaves C, White A, Brown L, Hart A,
Ernst E. Randomized control trial of magnetic
bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of
the hip and knee. BJM. 2004 329 1450-1454.

• Randomized, placebo controlled trial
• 194 men and women
• 45-80 years of age
• Diagnosis of arthritis of the hip and knee
• Scored between 8-20 on the WOMAC A

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Harlow T, Greaves C, White A, Brown L, Hart A,
Ernst E. Randomized control trial of magnetic
bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of
the hip and knee. BJM. 2004 329 1450-1454.

• Three parallel groups
• Standard strength bipolar magnetic bracelet
• Weak magnetic bracelet
• Non-magnetic bracelet
• Outcome Measures
• Change in WOMAC A score
• Visual analog scale

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Harlow T, Greaves C, White A, Brown L, Hart A,
Ernst E. Randomized control trial of magnetic
bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of
the hip and knee. BJM. 2004 329 1450-1454.

• Patient compliance was assessed at 4-10 weeks
• Tested blinding by questioning participants on
  belief of having an active or inactive bracelet
  and their reasons for such belief
• 5 bracelets from each group were tested by the
  National Physical Laboratory to confirm
  manufacturers specification

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Table 2 Mean scores of WOMAC A at baseline and 4
and 12 weeks by randomization to standard, weak,
and dummy magnetic bracelets.
Harlow T, Greaves C, White A, Brown L, Hart A,
Ernst E. Randomised control trial of magnetic
bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of
the hip and knee. BJM. 2004 329 1450-1454.

• Significant difference between standard and
  placebo groups of 1.3 (pgt0.03)
• No significant difference between the standard
  and weak groups

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Limitation of Magnet Therapy Research

• No known mechanism
• Placebo effect
• Other factors contributing to success or failure
• Inconsistency on magnet type, strength and length
  of use
• Small number of participants
• Inconsistency with claims for magnet strength of
  manufacturers

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Conclusions

• Research is inconclusive
• More research is needed with stronger study
  designs and standards
• As professionals will we turn to science to
  accept or reject a method of healing or will we
  acknowledge limitations of healing and research?