Effects of exposure to electromagnetic potential pulsed at the Schumann fundamental frequency on patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Original Internist, Sept, 2003 by Guy E. Abraham, Christine L. Fagan, Peter B. Himmel

Results

The mean [ or -] SE of all the parameters evaluated, are displayed in Table III, for baseline scores and after four weeks of continuous exposure to each of three different designs of the EM potential emitter. The statistical analysis of these data by Student's paired t test (Table IV) revealed significant improvement in all parameters studied following 12 weeks of exposure to the potential shield.

Overall Well-being: This parameter is an index of the quality of life and therefore reflects the cumulative effect of the treatment modalities on the other parameters evaluated. A score of 10 being the best, the mean baseline [ or -] SE was 2.47[ or -]0.48 and increased to 6.58[ or -]0.48 after 12 weeks of exposure to the EM potential emitter. In essence, their quality of life improved 250%, from 25% to 66% of ideal. This improvement was functionally significant since four CFS patients who were totally disabled became well enough to work part time by 12 weeks of exposure.

Pain, Fatigue, and Brain Fog: The parameters of pain, fatigue, and brain fog were 20-25% of ideal prior to intervention and increased to 47%, 57%, and 67% of ideal respectively following 12 weeks of exposure to the EM potential shield. No published data are available in "normal" subjects evaluated with the same scoring method. The ideally and optimally healthy subject would be expected to score 10, but the score that would be considered "normal" is not available.

Cognitive and Physical Impacts: These two functional tests assess the impact of CFS on daily activities and response to treatment. A score of 40 being the worst and 0 being the best, the optimally healthy individual would be expected to score 0, but no data are available on the normal range of scores in average normal individuals. The mean baseline scores for cognitive and physical impacts were 27.9[ or -]1.77 and 29.4[ or -]1.71 and by 12 weeks of exposure to the EM potential emitters, these scores decreased to 21.6[ or -]2.17 and 23.8[ or -]2.0. After 12 weeks of intervention, there were significant improvements of 23% and 18% respectively for cognitive and physical impacts. Although the percent improvement seems small for these two parameters, it was enough to improve the overall well-being by 250%. These small improvements in cognitive and physical impacts allowed four previously totally disabled CFS patients to work part time, and the working CFS patients improved their activities by a mean of 16%.

Romberg and Tandem Walking: The mean scores for tests of balance and coordination improved two- to three-fold following exposure to EM potential and were normal (score of 0) in 14 CFS patients for the Romberg test and in 15 CFS patients for tandem walking at the end of the study.

Correlation with Overall Well-being: The use of the Pearson correlation coefficient to compare scores of overall well-being with the other parameters revealed a highly significant correlation with brain tog, cognitive impact, and fatigue (Table V). Physical impact correlated significantly with overall well-being for baseline values but no correlation was observed at 12 weeks of exposure to EM potential. Pain correlated but not as significantly as fatigue, cognitive impact, and brain fog. Romberg and tandem walking showed no correlation with overall well-being. The cognitive impairment in CFS patients seems subjectively assessed as the main cause of their disability and fatigue.