Bleeding Edge

Bleeding Edge

by Mike Masnick




Zap Yourself To Heal A Wound

from the turn-up-the-volts dept

A new report out of New Scientist discusses how some researchers in Europe have worked out how applying electric current to someone's skin can help speed up the healing of certain wounds. The details aren't entirely clear from the article, but what's most interesting is that the new research was apparently based on some research from 150 years ago -- that has been mostly ignored since then. It's not clear why the concept was ignored, or what made these researchers revisit the idea. However, it's good to see approaches to improving healthcare that go beyond most common areas of research.

31 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Jul 26th, 2006 @ 6:38pm
  • Great!

    I just got my wisdom teeth pulled today....where can I find out exactly how to do this? :P

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 6:44pm
  • by Anonymous Coward

    i got my wisdom teeth pulled a few weeks ago, it hurt

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 7:21pm
  • Dermal Regenerator

    by Kevin Stephenson

    Star Trek medical fiction is beginning to come true again now with dermal regenerators.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 7:25pm
  • It was ignored then...

    by Posterlogo

    ...because it sucked as a treatment, and cannot ever truly be proven not be placebo effect. It still sucks now as a treatment. "New Scientist" is not exactly the New England Journal of Medicine. I'll wait for the rigorous peer-reviewed science, thank you very much. Feel free to electrocute yourself needlessly.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 8:36pm
    • Re: It was ignored then...

      by Anonymous Coward

      Is this kevin?

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 6:02am
    • Re: It was ignored then...

      by Insaniac

      Before spouting your foul 'wisdom' try looking into the topic you're weighing in upon.

      The article that is referred to in New Scientist clearly states that the test was done on cornea tissue independant of live subjects and the basis for the results are the ions in the body responible for healing damaged tissue. The electric current facilitates their transportation to the injured cells quicker so they can make the necessary repairs faster.

      Still sound like a placebo effect? Maybe you should consult New England Journal of Medicine so they can tell you what your opinion will be now that this new information has come to light.

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    Jul 26th, 2006 @ 7:27pm
  • by Yeah Baby!

    7th Post!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 8:36pm
  • by Black Armadillo

    I actually have one of these units. I'm surprised im just now hearing about it. I've had it for probably 10 years now.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 8:38pm
  • by Black Armadillo

    by the way Posterlogo the current is so minuscule that you don't feel it going through your body.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 9:30pm
  • 150yrs ago....???

    by T Mike

    what were they doing, using electric eels on subjects....or maybe the 'ole key-on-a-kite & a wet string in a thunderstorm to the test subjects ??

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 4:26am
    • Re: 150yrs ago....???

      by Anonymous Coward

      Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (February 18, 1745 - March 5, 1827) was an Italian physicist known especially for the development of the electric battery in 1800.

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    Jul 26th, 2006 @ 9:54pm
  • ZAPPING

    by SR

    Hey Mike--EXCITING NEWS!

    There's a whole body of research about this. One company traces its product origin back to the 1920s and a certain Dr. Royal Rife -- but if it goes back further, even better. The best news, though, is it has multiple applications, with purported excellent results.

    In the case you cite above, I am guessing that healing speed increased because bacterial growth was inhibited by the electric current. I shall not herein speculate on other matters.

    The general premise is that every living organism emits a particular electromagnetic energy field, so by introducing electric current in the range that corresponds to -- or exceeds -- the organism's field, you disable or immediately kill said organism (http://www.rt66.com/~rifetech/).

    An extreme case is when a human is struck by lightning. Some people do die, of course -- while others have not only survived, but been cured of a serious ailment, e.g., multiple sclerosis ("News of the Weird," LosAngeles Reader, June 7, 1996).

    Since a zapper is generally powered by a small battery, it targets smaller organisms. A recommended zapping session lasts 7-14 minutes, 3-4 times per day (or more, if you're really sick). Just think how many bacteria, viruses, flukes and roundworms alive and kicking inside you now you could kill in, say, just an hour!*

    Like antibiotics, though, it is not selective -- but it is easy to replenish the friendly bacteria once the bad guys are gone -- and you don't have any overgrowth of fungi.

    This is probably far TMI, but if you want more details:

    Zappers

    - www.drclark.com/onlineshop (select “Equipment” in left column)—I made my own following Dr. Clark's schematics in "The Cure for All Diseases," and it has served me well. This one is definitely more deluxe ($189).
    - www.paradevices.com (home page is http://www.paradevices.com/index_1.html#ParaZapper) $62 plus or minus.
    - www.lifeforceinc.com—Someone I know used the LifeForce after she was diagnosed with cervical/vaginal pre-cancer; after using it daily for 2-3 months, she tested free and clear ($1800).
    - www.resonantlight.com/store/customer/
    home.php?cat=6 ($4995).

    Okay, then, the next question is, why? If there really is a cure for, say, cancer, why don't they tell us? For one thing, many people think a cure cannot be simple**. For another -- well, here is a link that throws some light on the bottom line (I have not substantiated this information, but read something of similar opinion, though no longer posted, at www.lewrockwell.com):

    - www.ahealedplanet.net/medicine.htm#rife

    More online info

    - www.drclark.net

    Example of Scientific Study

    "Medical Hypotheses" (1997) 49, 297-300 @ Pearson Professional Ltd. 1997

    "Testimonials"

    - http://www.drclark.ch/testimonials/testiframe.htm
    - http://www.lifeforceinc.com/testimonials.html

    Disclaimer

    I am not a medical doctor, so cannot prescribe any course of action for anyone. This is not medical advice; for such, consult your physician.

    But I am a truth seeker and sharer! Please note:

    - Other scientists may disagree (do they ever all agree?)
    - Dr. Clark is listed on at least one "quack" list (where some names surely should remain) -- but I have put many of her ideas to the test, with excellent results. It seems likely that anyone going up against huge business and widely disseminated ideas would end up on such list and otherwise be harrassed -- not to mention unique, if not downright eccentric.

    * Dr. Clark opines that the zapper current cannot, however, reach some places in the body.
    **I am not suggesting that cancer is simple. Each person's constitution is unique, therefore, may require different treatment or varied applications of a same treatment. Illustration: A 33% cancer cure rate has been reported for patients who adopted the macrobiotic regimen
    (Helmich, Portland. "Personal Journey: A Trimph Over Cancer." Alternative Medicine" magazine. September 2004).

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 12:39pm
    • Re: ZAPPING

      by Dan

      I think this idea is *very* old indeed. Back when I was in junior high I saw a national geographic video about an ancient Egyptian "battery" and some people speculated that its use was medical: that they would put them in a small pool of water and have people sit in the water or keep their feet in them to aid in the healing process.

      After a little googling I've found a couple URLs:
      http://www.unmuseum.org/bbattery.htm
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Battery#Speculatio ns_on_function

      I could be way off, but I remember that's what I thought they were used for when I first watched the show about the Baghdad Battery. Interesting stuff...

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    Jul 26th, 2006 @ 10:01pm
  • SPAM?

    by SR

    Just tried to post my reply, but it got tagged as SPAM. :D:D:D Hilarious -- wait till you read it!

    I see I didn't need to worry about our humor needs -- you all have covered them quite well.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 10:11pm
  • Free radicals

    by Anonymous Coward

    Unless it turns out to increase cancer risk in the long run, of course.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 10:18pm
  • Now we can

    by dorpus

    Look forward to thousands of fake "electric healing" products on store shelves, and computer geeks with no training in medicine insisting that "they work". How many computer geeks used to insist that echinacea works for colds?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 10:26pm
  • by Marcus

    Many years ago I read about small electric currents being used to improve healing of difficult bone fractures.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 11:11pm
  • by Rob

    Of course small currents of electricity could spark (haha) change in our body. They've been using electro-convulsive therapy for years to make psychos well, less psycho. Are bodys are great conductors of electricity. They even run on it; neurons fire electrical charges constantly and endlessly. As you sit here reading this post, electrical activity in your brain is going up. Think about it.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Jul 26th, 2006 @ 11:18pm
    • Re:

      by chris

      actually its not really electrical charges, thats just what teachers and such say to simplify things because its close enough. the neurons actually communicate through a chemical reaction of hormones and other secretions which produce a result similar to electricity but not quite exactly the same

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 9:00am
    • Re:

      by Adam

      Electroconvulsive therapy might not be the best example to use. The main benefit of that was to reduce violent behavior by driving the patient into a near catatonic state. They weren't hurting people, but they weren't doing much of anything else, either.

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    Jul 27th, 2006 @ 12:55am
  • by Anonymous Coward

    Marcus. you are correct. Small electrical currents ARE used to help fractures heal. It is still used today and the process has been refined. And NO Frankenstein was NOT the first test subject to the rest of you.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 2:24am
  • by Anonymous Coward

    Would static eletricity work as well? Coz then I'd be shuffling around on carpet all day.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 7:48am
  • No Surprise.

    by Lay Person

    No surprise really... we are electrochemical by nature. There is already an electrical treatment for repairing broken bones. It too, not only, accelerates healing but provides for a stronger and more controllable repair. In addition, electromagnetic fields, also, are well known to alleviate certain joint conditions.

    I'm just surprised that they act as though this was never considered for 150 years?!?! Makes no sense to me. Sounds like there's something wrong with this article or the history contained within it.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 27th, 2006 @ 12:41pm
  • by Anonymous Coward

    why the meds disregarded this 150 yrs ago cause its too cheap to make any significant revenue from for the whole industry, its simply economic...

    i got one of these units for some yrs now and havent gotten a flu or any of that stuff since and i dont really care if its placebo or if it really works when the result i am seeking i obviously get at the end of the day.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Jul 30th, 2006 @ 1:20pm
  • For some people this is not new

    by S. Z.

    I have known this for years with using meditation and manipulating energy flow, as well as, sending energy to others. Nice for science to finally prove such things.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Sep 1st, 2006 @ 7:32am
  • dermal regeneration unit

    by josh kennedy

    Hi,

    Where can I buy or make or learn how to make one of these dermal regeneration units?

    Josh

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Dec 23rd, 2006 @ 7:49am
  • anybody try one of those electro shock games from

    just chekin, got wisdom teeth taken out, two days ago, and im swollen like a watermellon

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Dec 23rd, 2006 @ 7:50am
  • anybody try one of those electro shock games from

    just chekin, got wisdom teeth taken out, two days ago, and im swollen like a watermellon

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML
Save me a cookie
  • Plain Text: A CRLF will be replaced by break <br> tag, all other allowable HTML is intact
  • HTML: No formatting of any kind is done without explicitly being written in
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <p> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Close
Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML Save me a cookie

Search Techdirt
And now, a word from our Sponsors..



Subscribe to Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Related Stories
Close
E-mail It