While there is still currently no known cure for any type of cancer, developments in science, medicine, and technology continue to push the possibilities of successfully treating cancer and managing symptoms. Common treatments for cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, can be effective, but they can also come with lengthy recovery periods and harsh side effects that could leave you feeling physically and emotionally fatigued.
This is partly why alternative cancer treatments have gained increased attention and popularity. One such potential alternative is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy. Learn more about Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for cancer below.
What is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy?
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy harnesses low frequency electromagnetic pulses to send them deep into bone and muscle tissue within minutes. How does Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy work? The idea is that the pulsed electromagnetic field activates molecular activity within cells and tissue and stimulates the muscles.
How does Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy work?
This activity is believed to be most prominent in the blood cells. Blood is naturally an important component to your health and physiology. It acts as a fluid connective tissue that transports oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, while helping to safely flush out carbon dioxide and toxins. Increasing blood flow ensures that tissues receive necessary fuel and nutrients. Blood vessels use vasomotion to facilitate the flow of blood and nutrients to our cells. Through low frequency electromagnetic pulses, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy aims to improve vasomotion by stimulating the blood vessels and thus allowing them to function more efficiently.
How is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Administered?
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy is a completely noninvasive procedure. It usually involves the use of a special mat or pad that emits the low intensity electromagnetic field. The mat or pad is connected to a device that allows you to control and monitor the frequency and intensity of the pulse. The exact timing and intensity will vary based on your health needs and your specific diagnosis. Experts generally recommend applying Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for eight minutes, twice per day.
Other Applications for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
In terms of what is Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy used for, there is a wide range of possibilities. Aside from its potential to treat cancer, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy may have potential applications throughout the body and in varying aspects of your health.
Sports and Training
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy has perhaps found its most prominent usage among athletes. Much of this comes from the way that Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy interacts with blood flow and blood circulation. As mentioned, increased blood circulation means more oxygen and nutrients sent to your body’s cells, as well as a more efficient means of removing carbon dioxide and toxins. Coincidentally, human muscles use up more oxygen and generate more carbon dioxide when they are put through physical activity. This contributes to muscle fatigue and soreness following intense training or workouts.
Studies have found that applying PEMF therapy may reduce the symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following intense exercise. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy may help fuel the muscles with more oxygen and nutrients, which can reduce recovery periods, provide comfort for aching joints and muscles, and prevent potential injuries from overuse.
Bone Repair
Cells in the human body generate a small electrical current, which allows the cells to communicate with one another and activate certain pathways. These same processes may also extend to Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy, which produces a low-level current in the body. Evidence on PEMF therapy shows that it may convey information that contributes to specific cell repair activities in the body. The currents that PEMF induce mimic the same electrical activities generated in bones during regular movements and physical activity. These activities initiate bone healing and repair, which can potentially apply to fractures. More stubborn bone fractures may benefit from pulsed electromagnetic field therapy or Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy as a means of stimulating healing.
Pain and Fatigue
Pain can cause some serious discomfort while also signaling that something is wrong in your body, but chronic pain can point to more serious, underlying issues, including immune system problems. Benefits of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy include reducing chronic pain and fatigue and returning a sense of comfort. According to studies, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy was found to reduce pain in patients experiencing chronic knee osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain after just the first and second visits. The patients showed significant improvements in standardized pain and fatigue scores and in vitality tests on a standardized quality of life scale. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy reduced pain and fatigue in the short term among patients with lower back pain, while long-term use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy was beneficial among patients with knee osteoarthritis.
How Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy May Treat Cancer
Similar to the above, studies have found that Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy may play a beneficial role in the treatment of cancer. The current cause of cancer is still not known, but science and medicine understand that it is triggered by mutations that cause cells to multiply and spread at an abnormal rate. Cells eventually form into tissue masses, known as tumors. These can grow into nearby organs, tissues, and lymph nodes, starving them of oxygen and potentially contributing to organ failures. Left untreated, tumor cells may break off from tumors and travel via the bloodstream of lymph nodes into distant areas in the body, a process known as metastasis. They can then attach to distant organs and grow even more.
Much of this coincides with studies on low-dose electromagnetic field therapies. These show that electromagnetic field therapies may reduce cancer cell proliferation (the growth and spread of cancer cells) while also inducing cancer cell death. This was shown in different types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Osteosarcoma
- Melanoma
- Colon cancer
Mouse models also showed that EMF therapy decreased tumor growth in cases of malignant melanoma, adenocarcinoma, and colon carcinoma. Extremely low EMF therapy increased apoptosis rates human ovarian cancer cells. Similar experiments also showed a reduction in lung metastasis. Furthermore, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy was found to make cancer cells more sensitive to other forms of cancer treatment, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
The exact mechanisms of action require further research, but initial reports suggest that Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy may increase the levels of reactive oxygen species scavengers, which essentially work to eliminate free radicals and other components capable of cellular damage. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy was also found to increase the number of DNA double strand breaks.
Current treatments for cancer usually center on removing tumors and cancerous cells via surgery and then administering radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to the system in order to kill off any remaining tumor cells. It can be a tiring and difficult process as removing cancerous tissue often also means removing healthy tissue.
More studies are necessary to fully understand the mechanisms behind Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy and other similar alternative cancer treatments. However, the current research is promising, and combining alternative treatments with current treatments may lead to some improved results. If you believe you have cancer, consult your doctor to get a professional diagnosis as soon as possible.
Written By: Dr. David Alvarez
Dr. David Alvarez is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Xochicalco and Certified by the American Heart Association (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support).
Dr. Alvarez has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista as an Assistant Medical Director at the Immunity Therapy Center for over 6 years. He provides daily on site patient care and participates on the medical board on research and development of patient treatment plans and programs. Dr. Alvarez is a knowledgeable and compassionate Doctor committed to helping patients get to where they want to be health wise through a more holistic and comprehensive approach.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24906295/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/pulsed-electromagnetic-field-therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5154536/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4452849/
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.