🚀 go-pugleaf

John Bain <JBainSI@aol.com> wrote in message
news:8m7dl8$eu8$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> <his_shadow@my-deja.com> wrote:
>    >John Bain at JBainSI@aol.com wrote
>    > > If you know of other studies please let me know,
>    > > I would like to add them to my collection.
>    > > I have over 200 positive studies and only 9
>    > > negative studies.
> > You have 200 double-blind peer reviewed published studies on
> > pain managmentusing magnets? I'll call BS on that one.
>
> My collection is magnotherapy studies in general, ranging from
> Altzheimers to Ulcers all taken from Medline.   You will see a
partial
> list here
> http://members.aol.com/JBainSI/References.htm

Interesting site.

Let's take this abstract you quote here

* * * * * Begin Abstract * * * * *

Title Use of magnet therapy to heal an abdominal wound: a case study.
Szor JK; Topp R Toledo Hospital, Ohio, USA.
Ostomy Wound Manage, 44(5):24-9 1998 May
Abstract
Complementary therapies, in particular magnet therapy, may have
benefits to offer in healing chronic wounds. This case study involves
a 51 year old paraplegic woman with an abdominal wound that had been
present for one year. Traditional approaches to wound care had not
achieved complete healing. Prior to surgical intervention, the patient
consented to the application of magnet therapy over her usual wound
dressing. In one month, the wound completely healed. On the basis of
this case, further investigation of magnet therapy for wound healing
appears to be warranted.

* * * * * End Abstract * * * * *

All the author indicates is that the matter may be worthy of further
investigation.

The case refers to a single patient, and may not be statistically
relevant.  While it may have worked here, there is no indication that
the treatment could produce similar effects with even a small study
group.

There is no indication of any steps taken to counter any placebo
effect.  The patient was aware of the unorthodox treatment, and may
have recovered *because she believed it would work.* (My emphasis)

Let's look at another one.

* * * * * Begin Abstract * * * * *

Title Magnetic fields and seasonality of affective illness:
implications for therapy.
Author Sandyk R; Anninos PA; Tsagas N Department of Psychiatry, Albert
Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
10461. Source Int J Neurosci, 58(3-4):261-7 1991 Jun
Abstract
Seasonal affective disorder is characterized by recurrent winter
depression associated with hypersomnia, overeating, and carbohydrate
craving. The severe form of winter depression affects about 5% of the
general population and is believed to be caused by light deficiency.
About 70%-80% of patients with winter depression experience
attenuation of symptoms when exposed to bright light therapy.
Hypotheses pertaining to the pathogenesis of winter depression
implicate the effects of light on different characteristics of
circadian rhythms. One of the environmental factors which may be
implicated, in addition to light, in the pathophysiology of winter
depression is the geomagnetic field. There is strong indication that
the pineal gland is a magnetosensitive system and that changes in the
ambient magnetic field alter melatonin secretion and synchronize the
circadian rhythms. In man, shielding of the ambient magnetic field
significantly desynchronizes circadian rhythms which could be
gradually resynchronized after application of magnetic fields. The
strength of the environmental magnetic field diminishes during the
winter months, leading to increased susceptibility for
desynchronization of circadian rhythms. Thus, since the acute
application of magnetic fields in experimental animals resembles that
of acute exposure to light with respect to melatonin secretion (i.e.,
suppression of melatonin secretion), magnetic treatment might be
beneficial for patients with winter depression. In addition, since the
environmental light and magnetic fields, which undergo diurnal and
seasonal
variations, influence the activity of the pineal gland, we propose
that a synergistic effect of light and magnetic therapy in patients
with winter depression would be more physiological and, therefore,
superior to phototherapy alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

* * * * * End Abstract * * * * *

Again, even the study is careful to suggest that magnetic fields may
be a factor and worthy of further investigation.

The reference to seasonal variation in environmental magnetic fields
is interesting, and is a surprise to me.

Of course, because the Earth does follow an elliptical orbit, it is
closer to the sun at certain times of the year than others.
Logically, when the Earth is a bit closer to the sun, the solar
component of the environmental fields would be a bit stronger.

Of course, that suggests that we should see the reverse effect in the
southern hemisphere.  I.e., if the environemental magnetic field is
stronger in the northern hemisphere during the summer, then it should
also be stronger in the southern hemisphere during the winter
months--a condition that would nullify any connection with seasonal
affective disorder as I understand it.

Any other behaviour in the environmental magnetic fields would be
inconsistent with my understanding of the bahaviour of magnetic
fields.

Now, you may have a reference to a study or two that delves into this
material further, and I missed it because I have a limited amount of
time to go through all your references and track down some of the
quoted studies.  If there is one, I'd appreciate a pointer to the
study.

--

John Fleming
Edmonton, Alberta

email:     johnfgh@nice.ab.ca (nice should be ecn, remove 'gh')
web pages: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/6070
           http://www.ecn.ab.ca/~johnf

- Only if you have been in the deepest valley can you
  ever know how  magnificent it is to be on the highest
  mountain.

                                   R.M.Nixon  1913-1994

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