From: Robert Fink <[log in to unmask]> Subject: >Fwd: Magnetic Field Therapy ---- Begin Forwarded Message From: Pat McManamon <[log in to unmask]> Worst symptom is one-sided tremor. Medicine regime is 1 Sinemet CR plus half regular sinemet (Atamet) 125/100 twice a day. I take eldepryl every other day and also take amantadine a couple times a day. Over the decade since diagnosis I have kept working, travelling, driving. I gradually have to less of everything due to tremor, fatigue and the drowsiness coming from the meds. The above is by way of introduction. A friend who is the director of a health care facility for elderly male religious runs into cases of Parkinson's and other things which I presume would be parkinsonism or something like Parkinson's but not yet labelled. He asked me to read and comment on an article someone gave him: "Magnetic Fields in the Therapy of Parkinsonism" by Reuven Sandyk, International Journal of Neuroscience, 1992, v. 66, pp. 209-235. My summary of the article: Sandyk reports on treatment of 4 males with a variety of symptoms, such as, resting tremor, hypophonic, facial mask, slow blinking rate, cogwheel rigidity, stooped, shuffling gait, postural instability, lower blood pressure, micrographia. The four took various medications: artane, bromocriptine, amantadine and levodopa. The treatment involved applying electromagnetic stimulation externally by applying an electronic device to the cortex. In all four cases there was improvement of the symptoms for a period of 3 or 4 days. The patients experienced mood elevation, clearer thinking, less fatigue, clearer and louder speech, diminished tremor, increased blood pressure, more rapid blinking and more normal gait and posture. A very summary theory of why magnetic fields effect these improvements would be: the pineal gland is impacted by the magnetic fields and melatonin secretions are inhibited. Melatonin is thought to inhibit dopamine production. Therefore melatonin inhibition would improve dopamine production. Since all patients were taking pharmacological treatment it is not know whether the magnetic fields alone would produce beneficial results. In addition it is not clear whether there are negative effects of long-term treatment with magnetic fields. The article also describes the use of this therapy with two parkinsonian patients suffering from dementia. There was significant visuospatial deficits in both cases. Drawing the face of a clock was notably improved in both cases after treatment. In addition there were other notable physical and cognitive improvements. I have read a number of Parkinson newsletters on a regular basis over the years but this is the first description I read of this method. I would appreciate any comments from people in this group. I am grateful for the kind help offered by subscribers to this list. ------------------------------- Pat McManamon [log in to unmask] ------------------------------- ---- End Forwarded Message A quick response to the post on "magnetic field therapy" for PD. Never heard of it; and, as many such things go (when "standard" clinicians have never heard of something), I am very skeptical. Where was this paper published? Connected with a university? "Testimonials" (I am always wary of such)? How much does it cost? Is the "medical profession" trying to "hide it"? These aspects, if present, should raise the titer of skepticism considerably. Magnetic fields (such as those around high-voltage lines) or our of cellular phones, etc., have been implicated in "bad things". Be careful! Best, Bob -- ******************************************************** Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S. Phone: 510-849-2555 Neurological Surgery FAX: 510-849-2557 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, California 94704-2636 USA E-Mail: [log in to unmask] CompuServe: 72303,3442 America Online: BobFink "Ex Tristitia Virtus" ********************************************************