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Using Electricity to Heal

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the frankenstein-approach-to-healing dept.

ganjadude writes to tell us that while the idea of using electricity to heal wounds was first reported 150 years ago by Emil Du Bois-Reymond, modern scientists may have found a way to practically apply this idea. From the article: "The researchers grew layers of mouse cells and larger tissues, such as corneas, in the lab. After 'wounding' these tissues, they applied varying electric fields to them, and found they could accelerate or completely halt the healing process depending on the orientation and strength of the field."

4 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Power Insurance by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Once doctors are using guided electric fields to assist healing, how will corporations which spill uncontrolled electric fields among people deny that their fields affect human tissue? Or will they just claim credit for the healing "they've already been offering free for generations", and start tacking a medical charge on our bills?

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  2. How to get laid by New Age chicks by bermabloeme · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This creates electric field patterns all over the body.

    A lot of the "New Age" folks say they can see a person's aura. A lot of these "New Age" folks are really hot girls! So, this is what you do: you grab this article and tell them that you believe, now. Let her just start talking about this stuff. Then, complain about some ailment that requires her "healing" touch. Lastly, ask to try it on her.

    Let things progress: touching , kissing, clothes off, etc...

    Enjoy!

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    1. Re:How to get laid by New Age chicks by SteveFoerster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      A lot of the "New Age" folks say they can see a person's aura. A lot of these "New Age" folks are really hot girls! So, this is what you do: you grab this article and tell them that you believe, now. Let her just start talking about this stuff. Then, complain about some ailment that requires her "healing" touch. Lastly, ask to try it on her. Let things progress: touching , kissing, clothes off, etc... Enjoy!

      Only on /. would this get modded "Informative" rather than "Funny".

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  3. Re:Implementation or Understanding by Vellmont · · Score: 3, Insightful


    Are we in fact going to do the same thing with electricity here?

    I doubt it. The effects of radiation on the body 100 years ago was very poorly understood. Low voltage electrical currents by comparison are fairly benign. It's not like the use of electricity in the human body is new. Pacemakers have been around forever, there's been some trials of direct electrical stimulation of the brain to create artificial vision, and many parapalegics use direct muscle stimulation to stand up, etc (maybe even walk?).

    Also, the medical community itself has grown up. Years of animal testing is required for any kind of new treatment goes to limited human trials.

    That's not to say it's all perfect. You can't dismiss the danger that any new treatment is going to have unforseen side effects that don't show up in human trials. But I think comparing this new treatment to the early days of medicine where anything goes and there's poor understanding isn't terribly valid.

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