Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
206 <strong>Alternative</strong> <strong>Cardiovascular</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong><br />
Clinically, application of force fields using noninvasive technology<br />
may be more advantageous than applying current. This possibility has<br />
opened the market to a flood of EM field-generating devices, with a wide<br />
variety of healing claims. Many are unsubstantiated claims, but some of<br />
the devices were tested using contemporary scientific methods, and the<br />
results published in mainstream, peer-reviewed journals. This section<br />
reviews studies in the latter category to determine which EM generators<br />
emit fields with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, whether<br />
tested with human subjects or animals, in vitro or in vivo. Therefore, in<br />
some cases, healthy benefits in humans can only be inferred.<br />
Contemporary researchers have used specific waveforms generating<br />
unique frequencies and harmonics, which are designed to specifically<br />
interact with transmembrane ionic conductances, notably calcium ions<br />
(20). A commercially available device, the Diapulse, reduces calcium<br />
efflux from central nervous system (CNS) tissues (21). This device is<br />
FDA approved for postoperative treatment of edema and pain associated<br />
with soft-tissue wounds. A similar low-frequency device was used to<br />
prevent the calcium accumulation that follows spinal cord injury (22). It<br />
is possible that selected EM field therapies that alter calcium ion flux<br />
will have a beneficial effect on ischemia, arrhythmias, and hypertension.<br />
Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of EM fields<br />
on ischemic tissue damage. An early study demonstrated that pulsed<br />
electrical stimulation (35 mA at 128 Hz for 30 min) improved the survival<br />
and reduced the necrosis of ischemia-induced tissue injury in pig<br />
skin flaps (23). In animal studies, EM fields have been efficacious in the<br />
treatment of acute ischemic injury to both the brain and the heart. Using<br />
a rabbit model, an Italian group demonstrated the beneficial effects of a<br />
weak (3 mT) EM field (75 Hz repetition rate) on transient focal ischemia<br />
(24). After occlusion of the carotid artery and 4 h of reperfusion in the<br />
presence of the EM field, ischemic injury was assessed using magnetic<br />
resonance imaging (MRI) and histology. EM field treatment reduced<br />
ischemic injury by 65–69%. The authors suggest that EM field therapy<br />
may be potentially valuable in the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke.<br />
A second animal study by the Italian group used a rat model for acute<br />
experimental myocardial infarctions (MIs) (25). Ligation of the left<br />
anterior descending artery for 1 h was used to induce acute ischemic<br />
injury to the heart. Myocardial tissue damage was evaluated using histochemical<br />
staining. EM treatment for 18 h postsurgery resulted in a<br />
significant reduction in the size of the necrotic area and an increase in the<br />
survival of the most peripheral areas of the infarct. Chronic effects were also<br />
monitored after continuous EM treatment during the next 6 d. Increased<br />
vascular invasion of the necrotic area was noted, with no changes in