Posted by LyndaK on December 13, 2001, at 2:08:50
In reply to Re: Microcurrent stimulation?, posted by manowar on December 11, 2001, at 17:43:35
> Hello everyone,
> I'm surprised that nobody except for Susan has anything to say about this. I've read tons of literature on Microcurrent Stimulation, and it seems like a very good technology. Here's a link to some of the studies that I looked at:
> http://www.painsolutions.com/ati14/depres.htm
> Quite frankly, I'm pretty impressed. There are some double blind studies mixed in with some case studies.
>
> I think I might buy myself one for Christmas. If the damn thing works, it'll be the best Christmas present that I ever got. Even if it’s only partially effective, I think for the price, it would be well worth it.
>
> This is the one study that impressed me the most. It measured subject’s catechalomine concentration in their urine before and after treatment. ---
>
> >Briones, David F. and Rosenthal, Saul H. Changes in urinary free catecholamine and 17ketosteroids with cerebral electrotherapy (electrosleep). Diseases of the Nervous System. 34:57-58, 1973.
>
> >Device: 100 Hz, 1 mS, positive pulses, cathodes over orbits, anodes over mastoids
>
> >7 male pts from 22 to 37 years old were given 30 min. of CES for 5 days. 4 were "normal" volunteers and 3 were hospitalized psychiatric pts with neurotic anxiety and depression. 1 alcoholic was dropped because his pre-treatment reading was far outside the range of normal of the other pts. Total free catecholamines were measured by bio-rad column (normal is 0 - 115 microgram per 24 hours) prior to and after 5 CES treatments. Pre and Posttesting means revealed a 23.9 to 47.4 microgram increase in 24 hour urinary free catecholamine across all patients, with the greatest rise in 2 anxiety pts and 1 volunteer who was slightly symptomatic. The average gain in 24 hour urinary 17 ketosteroids was 6.9 mgs, pretreatment mean was 18.5 and post treatment was 25.4 (normal is 10 to 24 mgs per 24 hours). 2 pts had insignificantly reduced levels. The authors suggested that these findings probably reflected change at the hypothalamic or pituitary level in the brain. No side effects were reported.
>
>
> The lady I talked with yesterday told me that the VA in Seattle uses the devices for all kinds of problems. The side effect profile is the most benign side effect profile that I've ever seen. I would have to get a prescription from my pdoc to get one, but that shouldn't be a problem. Outside the U.S., you can buy one off the shelf.
>
> Anyway, if anyone out there has an informed opinion, please throw in your two cents.
> Thanks,
> TimTim,
I agree it's intriguing. I've never heard of it before.
Two comments:
1. The lady who was giving you information about the unit and telling you "why the psychiatric community doesn't want you to know about it" is SELLING the unit. Not exactly an unbiased opinion.
2. I didn't look up the web address for the other research articles, but the one that you quote applied the electrodes differently than the unit that clips to your earlobes. It seemed like a significant difference to me.
Not an expert . . . just playing Devil's advocate.
Lynda
poster:LyndaK
thread:74195
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86773.html