DC, the "old" technology
According
to the old archived information at www.electrotherapymuseum.com
Direct Current treatment of tumors and infections was the most common method
used by doctors between 1900 and 1930 before chemical medicines became the new
medical fad. I have been going thru their booklets and have copied some of the
most pertinent info here for you to take a look at. How sad that they forsook DC
treatment of tumors with a 70% success rate (30% complete tumor destruction and
40% tumor reduction) for chemotherapy that has only a 7%
success rate.
But first here's a great quote from Albert Einstein:
Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -
and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.
Galvanism-
the therapeutic application of electricity to the body. Also a term used in old
literature to refer to application of direct current to the body.
Used and Highly Endorsed by Many Physicians
The use of a Galvanic and Contractile Currents Generator, for the two
purposes mentioned is, of course, not wholly new. Galvanic machines have been in
use for more than 30 years (since 1907), both in this country (USA) and in
Europe. The galvanic current [direct current] was in fact the first known useful
electro-medical current. Scientifically timed and proportioned waves [AC
current], however, are of recent development.
Why a Galvanic and Contractile Currents Generator
The number of physicians today using galvanic and contractile currents
generators is very large. Many report that results are quite successful. That is
why it is, in our judgment, fair to say that most every physician needs one of
these units in his office. The list of ailments or conditions where the use of
such a unit is indicated is very large.
H G Fischer Archive - Low Voltage Therapy
It has been established irrefutably in thousands of cases that many
conditions respond favorably to Low Voltage applications after complete failure
under other therapies.
Positive Pole- induced acidity, repels metals and alkaloids,
attracts acids and halogens, influences vasoconstriction, coagulent, sedative
Negative Pole- induces alkalinity, repels acids and halogens,
attracts metals and alkaloids, influences vasodilation, hemorrhagic, irritant
It is of interest to note that the physiologic effects derived from the
Positive Pole and the Negative Pole of the Direct current are exactly opposed to
each other. Thus, in the therapeutic concept, no chemical reaction can be
induced from an Alternating current because any effect created by one pole is
promptly neutralized by the counteracting effect of the opposite pole following
immediately in the constantly recurring alternating sequence. Hence, the
physiologic reactions, previously outlined, may be traced solely to one or the
other of these two Basic Currents, as follows:
1. Chemical effect only ..... Direct Current
2. Simultaneous chemical and contractile effects ..... Direct Current
3. Contractile effect only ..... Alternating Current
Therapeutic Fundamentals
Low Voltage procedures may be grouped into three general categories:
a. pH Influence ("Medical Galvanism") or Ion Transfer ("Iontopheresis")
b. Tissue destruction by Electrolysis
c. Muscle stimulation
With the exception of Electrolysis, all treatments are conducted with two
wet pad electrodes in skin contact to introduce the current. In Electrolysis,
one wet pad in skin contact and one bare metal electrode are employed. Unless
Ion Transfer is indicated, the electrodes should be wet with tap water only. The
addition of salt, soda or similar substances merely tends to crystallization
upon drying, and an increase in unpleasant skin pricking when again moistened.
Thorough saturation of wet electrodes is required. The most certain method
is soaking in warm water for at least ten minutes before use. Excess moisture
can then be expelled by squeezing the electrode lightly.
In all applications the current intensity should be increased slowly. The
skin sensory effects experienced at the beginning of a treatment are due to
inherent resistance of the skin which lessens under the influence of the
current. Thus, the dosage can be increased gradually as the skin resistance
decreases with virtually no sensation or discomfort.
Any abrasion of the skin in the field of electrode application must be
protected to avoid concentration of the current at such a point due to the
lessened skin resistance. A coating of colledium, tape or any other similar
expedient suffices.
If the polarity influence of either of the Direct Current poles is to be
used, a wet electrode of relatively small surface area, hereinafter designated
as the "active" electrode, is connected to the selected pole and
applied to the area to be treated. The opposite Direct Current pole is connected
to a wet electrode of greater surface area, hereinafter termed the "dispersive"
electrode, and applied at some remote part of the body to complete the circuit.
"Electrolysis" implies the destruction of tissue by means
of the chemical action of the Direct Current when concentrated in relatively
large volume on a comparatively small area.
"Positive Pole - Acid reaction", "Negative Pole - alkaline
reaction". These are the characteristics upon which the principle of
"Electrolysis" for tissue destruction is based. By concentrating the
Direct Current on a small enough area, the formation of these caustics may be
created in sufficient intensity to destroy tissue.
A similar procedure [to hair electrolysis] is used in the obliteration of
Hemorroids. In this instance another type of needle, designed for this
particular application, is inserted into the Hemorroid as the Negative
"active" electrode and a larger Positive "dispersive" wet
electrode is placed under the hip to complete the circuit.
There are two paramount reasons for using the Negative pole for these and
similar "Electrolysis" procedures. First, it has been noted that the
action of the Positive pole "repels metals". Hence, the movement of
ions from the needle into the tissues creates a "tattooing" which
certainly must be avoided. Secondly, it will have also been noted that the
action of the Positive pole is "coagulant". If the Positive pole is
used in contact with mucosa, the coagulant effect causes sticking of the bare
metal electrode in contact with the tissue to the point that the area may be
denuded of tissue in attempting to remove the instrument [electrode].
Electrodes must be maintained in firm contact with the patient's skin
throughout the treatment period. This may be accomplished by placing the
electrode under the reclining patient, by weighting with sand bags, by retaining
with rubber bandage or any similar expedient.
If the electrodes tend to dryness during an extended period of treatment,
the water, or other indicated solutions, may be replenished conveniently from a
syringe of the Aseptic type. The solution is added very slowly at the exposed
edges of the electrodes.
[Electrolysis of warts with negative pole in wart as steel needle,
positive pole as 6"x8" wet pad.]
Duration: 2 to 5 milliamperes for 1 to 3 minutes, or until hydrogen bubble
appears at point of insertion of needle.
Modern Medical Use of Direct Current approved by the Government of the
USA
Iontopheresis is the medical use of a small direct current to heighten the ionic drug delivery in and through tissues of the body. The ionic drugs penetrate the skin from the electrodes by the current of the same polarity measured in milliamperes (mA). The amount of electrical current is normally around.5mA for each square centimeter of electrode surface. (The maximum electrical current of the Eliminator is only.06mA/cm2 which is 1/8th of .5mA/cm2.) The systems of Iontopheresis have been approved and in use for more than 20 years.
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