The American Institute of Stress HEALTH AND STRESS Your source for science-based stress management information Volume 25 Issue 7 July 2013 ’s PRESCRIBING ƒ rather than PUSHING PILLS 27.12 MHz Sig: As directed The mission of AIS is to improve the health of the com- munity and the world by setting the standard of excel- lence of stress management in education, research, clini- cal care and the workplace. Diverse and inclusive, The American Institute of Stress educates medical practitio- ners, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts research; and provides information, training and techniques to prevent human illness related to stress. AIS provides a diverse and inclusive environment that fosters intellectual discovery, creates and transmits inno- vative knowledge, improves human health, and provides leadership to the world on stress related topics. Your source for science-based stress management information HEALTH AND STRESS We value opinions of our readers. Please feel free to contact us with any comments, suggestions or inquiries. Email: [email protected] Editor In Chief: Associate Editor: Paul J. Rosch, M.D., FACP Helen M. Kearney, Ph.D. Creative Director: Kellie Marksberry $20 per issue or $120 annual subscription rate. Free with membership in AIS. Stress and Health is a monthly newsletter with news and advertising designed exclusively for AIS Members. However, it appeals to all those interested in the myriad and complex interrelationships between stress and health because technical jargon is avoided and it is easy to understand. Stress and Health is archived online at stress.org. Past issues can be purchased in the AIS Marketplace. Information in this publication is carefully compiled to ensure accuracy. Copyright © 2013 the American Institute of Stress (AIS). All rights reserved. All materials on AIS’ website and in AIS’ newsletters are the property of AIS and may not be copied, reproduced, sold, or distributed without permission. For permission, contact [email protected]. Liberal use of AIS fact sheets and news releases is allowable with attribution. Please use the following: "Reproduced from the American Institute of Stress website [or newsletter], © AIS [year]." AIS Board of Directors Chairman: Paul J. Rosch, MD, FACP President: Daniel L. Kirsch, PhD, DAAPM, FAIS Distinguished Members: Robert Bisaccia Holger Wrede, Esq. Tracey B. Kirsch by Paul J Rosch, MD, FACP Editor–in-Chief Bioelectromagnetic Medicine, basis to explain how some of these al- published in 2004, was a huge leged diverse benefits were volume of 50 chapters by 86 achieved. authorities from all over the Others had serious con- world. It was designed to cerns about long-term ad- demonstrate that just as verse health effects. Several MRI, PET scanning and other studies had suggested that liv- sophisticated imaging proce- ing within 300 yards of a dures had revolutionized the high voltage power line diagnosis of disease, cutting edge was associated with electromagnetic therapies were start- an increase in ing to replace pharmaceuticals and leukemia and surgery for the treatment of other malignan- many disorders. Examples cies in children. included cancer, coronary The Dean of the heart disease, obesity, epi- State University of lepsy, Parkinson's disease, New York's School musculoskeletal pain syn- of Public Health dromes, depression, anxi- believed this expo- ety, insomnia and migraine. sure was responsi- In many instances, these alternative ap- ble for up to 30% of proaches were safer than conventional all childhood can- treatment, and some were shown to be cers. A California De- effective in patients who had failed to re- partment of Health spond to antidepressants. Bioelectromag- study concluded that netic Medicine soon became the "Bible" in EMFs (electromagnetic this burgeoning field but critics com- fields) from power lines and other sources plained there was no scientific support or such as transformers, home appliances July 2013, AIS Health and Stress www.stress.org and electric wiring might cause adult As will also be discussed, one of brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease and the greatest impediments to wider accep- miscarriage. There was also a heated tance of legitimate achievements (as well controversy taking place here and abroad as the hazards of EMFs) is the continued about cell phone safety, particularly with refusal to acknowledge that weak and respect to brain tumors and unknown de- nonthermal EMFs can have significant layed effects on children. Because of this biological effects. FDA approval is also brouhaha, health hazards were not dis- difficult to obtain because of the stran- cussed. glehold Big Pharma has on regulatory au- That was 10 years ago. Since then, thorities, the media and prestigious or- there have been nu- ganizations and au- merous advances in thorities that are the electromagnetic and recipients of their lar- other subtle energy gesse. It is difficult to therapies and our un- accept something as derstanding of possi- valid if you are unable ble mechanisms of ac- to understand the un- tion. As a result, it is derlying mechanisms necessary to update of action. It is also dif- and revise the first ficult to make someone edition to include this believe anything if new material, and to their salary or income depends on not believ- change the title to Bioelectromagnetic ing it, or requires ad- and Subtle Energy mitting that what you Medicine to more ac- have stated emphati- curately describe its cally for years may be contents. The results wrong. Another major of the massive 13- obstacle has been the country $24 million widespread suspicion Interphone study of that electrotherapy is a cell phone health haz- form of quackery much ards that began in like the snake oil pat- 2000 have finally ent medicines popular been published. This appears to have during the 19th and generated more heat than light, since early 20th century. This is quite under- both sides have claimed victory, and we standable, especially since electrotherapy hope to clear up some of this confusion. was excluded by law from the practice of In addition, the growing popularity of medicine following the 1910 Flexner re- "energy" therapies as an alternative to port. To understand why there are very drugs has spawned a plethora of worth- good reasons for this derogatory opinion, less devices and approaches by entrepre- it is necessary to briefly review how elec- neurs and charlatans making extravagant trotherapy evolved. claims. July 2013, AIS Health and Stress www.stress.org Electromedical, Magnetic And these magic potions sold out of the back of Energy Therapy Quackery a wagon at itinerant medical shows not Electrotherapy was very popular in only contained liberal amounts of alcohol, the 1900s, since it was considered to be a but also included morphine, opium, co- growing specialty, much like radiology. caine and/or heroin, all of which were in- However, there were numerous quacks expensive and widely available. Coca-Cola and charlatans promoting worthless elec- was originally developed in 1886 as a pat- tromedical devices that could allegedly di- ent medicine to treat morphine addiction, agnose and/or cure almost anything. In dyspepsia, neurasthenia, headache, and many respects they were similar to the impotence. Its name was derived from its traveling horse and wagon hucksters who two "medicinal" ingredients, extract of put on medicine shows where shills were coca leaves and kola nuts. How much co- planted to provide lavish testimonials caine it contained is not clear, but after it about their miraculous cures. People became a popular bottled drink, this be- flocked to buy these home made concoc- came a problem. The company was reluc- tions that were referred to as "patent tant to remove cocaine from its secret for- medicines", to imply they had government mula for fear of losing the valuable Coca- approval. Cola trademark and brand name and con- tinued to include trace amounts. It was not This term had long been used in until 1929 that Coca-Cola became England to refer to specific products used cocaine free. by the royal family that were manufactured un- Many infants and children suf- der grants, or "patents of fered because they received royal favor". Such pro- excess amounts of unregu- prietary compounded lated patent medicines for medications were previ- minor complaints due to ously called nostrum reme- teething or colic, and addic- dium, Latin for "our rem- tion to narcotics was a edy", which became nos- growing menace. There trum in English. A nostrum was increasing public out- now has the connotation of rage over this and other a remedy that is not effec- quackery practices such tive, which is not surprising, as electrotherapy. By since none of these or subse- 1894, at least 10,000 quent patent medicines have medical practitioners in stood the test of time. During the US were administering the 1700s and even later, pat- some type of electrotherapeutic modality ent medicines from England were imported even though few had been evaluated for to America and sold at post offices or by safety or efficacy. The first mail order grocers, tailors and other local merchants, catalogue published in 1872 by Montgom- who specialized in products like Dr. Bate- ery Ward was a single sheet of paper sold man's "Pectoral Drops", John Hooper's to farmers, but by 1897 it was nearly "Female Pills" and Thomas Daffy's "Elixir 1,000 pages containing over 20,000 items, Salutis" for "colic and griping". Many of and sales topped $7 million. The first July 2013, AIS Health and Stress www.stress.org Sears catalog was published in 1888 and typically awarded after only two years of had an even more meteoric rise because of study that did not include any laboratory its reputation for high quality products and work or dissection, and regulation of the a money back guarantee.