Electro biology
.. It's hard to find people who have a background in both electromagnetics and biological sciences. People studying science usually go into the physical sciences or the biological sciences, but not both. It takes some understanding of both to work this out.
Thanks Rich - v helpful explanation re Myelin.
Now I am wondering whether the myelin depletion and/or sensitivity to EMF's is a 'chicken or egg' scenario in ME/CFS? ie. Is it possible that these damaging effects are caused by oxidative stress and inflammation or give rise to it?
The reason I mention this is that I am now checking out the 'Earthing' book, clinical research & website referred to by Chris and Wayne in their earlier comments here (on this and another thread).
The book's Forward is by James L. Oschman PhD, an
academic cell biologist and biophysicist who is much published in the world's leading scientific journals.
The book itself has been co written by 3 people - a
Cardiologist (ie an expert in the field of 'electro medicine'! as he calls it), an
expert in Cable TV engineering & electrical/earthing technologies, and an
health writer - so there is a good combination of opinion from
several sciences ie biology, chemistry and physics, represented and cross referenced!
The 'Earthing' book & website refers to clinical research which suggests that direct exposure to the earth's field (ie by walking barefoot on the ground), which can now be reproduced indoors by a grounding installation, normalises a person's physiology (autonomic nervous system, endocrine and immune system).
The most exciting part of this discovery (for me) is that the researchers discovered that a flow of electrons comes up from the earth through the earthing wire (or bare feet or body on the ground), and into the person, reducing inflammation & eliminating it in some cases. Scientifically speaking, the
electrons apparently
have an affinity for the positively charged inflammatory free radicals and
migrate naturally to these areas of oxidative stress in the body. This 'marriage' stops the free radicals ravaging body tissues in search of spare electrons. The body can then repair and normalise itself. This includes pain reducing and vanishing in patients referred to in the studies, sleep patterns restored to normal (by for eg, normalisation of cortisol to appropriate levels at appropriate times of day and night), and improved cognitive function and stamina etc etc. Clinical trials and studies are referenced at the end of the book. (The anedotal reports also make astonishing reading, including improvements in long term MS patients - which is an encouraging indicaton of possible myelin repair and restoration of normal electrical conductivity in the body!)
The authors take this one step further and hypothesise that the symptoms of illness, pain/inflammation, insomnia (and possibly even anxiety/depression) that we experience in our modern lives, may in fact be symptoms of
'electron deficiency'.
Normally we cut ourselves off from the energy by walking outdoors in insulated soles (man made soles, rubber soles on trainers for eg) and walking indoors on non conductive carpets (with non conductive underlay) and lino for eg. We are also not on the ground when we sleep.
To use an analogy, without the use of a the grounding wire, the cable TV reception and picture will be 'snowy' and interfered with by other signals from other electrical equipment nearby. The researchers suggest that human physiology is the same ie because we are not grounded our electrophysiology is highly susceptible to incoming frequencies from any equipment and radiation nearby and therefore our physiology is 'all over the place' (to coin a technical phrase).
ie Perhaps its not so much that EMF's are 'bad', but that earth grounding is 'good' overall for our health (and mood also apparently).
Many people with ME/CFS report strange body 'vibrations' and a sensation of being 'over electrified' in the body as if 'wired up to the national grid'. It will be interesting to see if grounding can reduce these unpleasant symptoms/sensations.
I think you will definitely find here the wonderful constellation of minds from a good cross section of the biological, physics/physical and electromagnetic sciences that you are seeking. Its an exciting read!
btw - sorry longer post than I intended -
www.earthinginstitute.net