Index [www.optimens.nl]



Index

Contents

List of Tables Page 2

List of Figures Page 2

List of Abbreviations Page 3

Chapter 1: Introduction and background Page 4

1.1 The pain problem Page 5

1.2 Electrotherapy as a possible solution in pain control Page 7

1.3 Apparatus available Page 7

1.4 The body’s natural ability to cope with pain Page 8

1.5 Mechanisms of action of analgesic electrotherapy Page 9

1.6 Indication for the use of analgesic electrotherapy Page 10

1.7 A comparison of conventional medicinal analgesic treatment with

analgesic electrotherapy Page 12

1.8 Side effects, contra-indications and special warnings Page 14

1.9 Purpose of this investigative study Page 15

Chapter 2: Equipment Page 16

2.1 Selection of apparatus Page 17

2.2 APS Compact Mk1 specifications Page 18

2.3 Skin electrodes Page 19

2.4 Skin cleanser and disinfectant Page 19

Chapter 3: Method Page 20

3.1 Clinics Page 21

3.2 Candidates Page 21

3.3 Types of pain and injury treated Page 21

3.4 Methodology Page 21

Chapter 4: Results and discussion Page 24

4.1 Categories of pain treated Page 25

4.2 Head and neck pains Page 27

4.3 Torso pains Page 29

4.4 Arm, wrist and hand pains Page 31

4.5 Leg, ankle and foot pains Page 33

4.6 Pain in special cases Page 35

4.7 Summary Page 37

4.8 Standard deviations Page 37

4.9 Quantitative expressions of pain relief Page 38

Conclusion Page 41

References Page 45

List of Tables

Table 1. A comparison of conventional medicinal substances with

electro-analgesic apparatus Page 13

Table 2. Pains of the head and neck before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 27

Table 3. Pains of torso before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 29

Table 4. Pains of the arm, wrist and hand before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 31

Table 5. Pains of the leg, ankle and foot before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 33

Table 6. Pains in special cases before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 35

Table 7. Summary of pain levels before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 37

Table 8. Average pain levels and their standard deviations after

treatment with APS Compact Page 38

Table 9. Average pain relief as a percentage after treatment with

APS Compact Page 40

List of Figures

Figure 1. Catagories of pain treated with APS Compact Page 26

Figure 2. Pains of the head and neck before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 28

Figure 3. Pains of torso before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 30

Figure 4. Pains of the arm, wrist and hand before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 32

Figure 5. Pains of the leg, ankle and foot before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 34

Figure 6. Pains in special cases before and after treatment with

APS Compact Page 36

Figure 7. Percentage cases whose pain level dropped to “mild” and lower

after treatment with APS Compact Page 39

ABBREVIATIONS

σ Standard deviation

AC Alternating current

ADP Adenosine diphosphate

ATP Adenosine triphosphate

DC Direct current

EMS Electrical muscle stimulation

mA Milli-ampere

MET Microcurrent electrical stimulation

n Number

OTC Over-the-counter

PETS Pill for every thrill syndrome

TENS Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

x Average

APS COMPACT APS Compact

This study was originally performed on the Neuro Stim 200 Mk1, which was later re-branded the APS Compact.

Chapter 1

Introduction and Background

1.1 The pain problem Page 5

1.2 Electrotherapy as a possible solution in pain control Page 7

1.3 Apparatus available Page 7

1.4 The body’s natural ability to cope with pain Page 8

1.5 Mechanisms of action of analgesic electrotherapy Page 9

1.6 Indication for the use of analgesic electrotherapy Page 10

1.7 A comparison of conventional medicinal analgesic treatment with

analgesic electrotherapy Page 12

1.8 Side effects, contra-indications and special warnings Page 14

1.9 Purpose of this investigative study Page 15

1.1 The pain problem

During the past few years, most likely because of very aggressive advertising campaigns, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of people taking medicinal substances for a wide spectrum of ailments. Society has become so aware of ‘a pill for every thrill’ that South Africans are visiting doctors and pharmacists for ailments which do not really require such intervention. Nature has provided man with a well functioning coping mechanism. However, we appear to be losing this natural ability to cope. Not only have we lost our ability to cope, but we have also seen a discomforting increase in the number of ‘legal drug addicts’. These are people who have become addicted to medicines such as analgesics, sedatives, hypnosis, etc. which they have obtained legally from doctors and/or pharmacists. In the USA the ‘Pill for Every Thrill Syndrome’ (PETS) has been evident for many years. It apparently does not matter what is wrong with you, but all you have to do to overcome your problem is to “take an aspirin and go to bed”. In Europe people are rapidly becoming aware of the serious side effects of the modern powerful synthetic drugs and are changing over to less harmful homeopathic medicines. Whether one takes an aspirin or whether one takes a homeopathic remedy, the fact remains that one is taking a foreign substance (i.e. drug) which may be relatively harmless, but which is not completely harmless at all. The following section will clarify this statement in somewhat more detail.

Taking medicines for some or other ailment has become socially acceptable to the extent that it is almost impossible to find someone who is not taking at least one form of medication. One condition most commonly treated, sometimes with very potent drugs, is pain. Although not a disease as such (and it can be in some individuals!), pain is probably the most common reason why people visit doctors, pharmacists, clinics etc. But what is pain? Pain is a complex phenomenon involving physiological and emotional interactions. Being a symptom of a great variety of medical conditions, it is nature’s way of telling an individual that something is wrong somewhere. It is therefore not ideal to simply mask pain in an indiscriminate manner. However, when someone is suffering because of a diagnosed pain, i.e. when the cause is known is treated if possible, and the pain is truly intolerable, then that person becomes a candidate for treatment with analgesic substances. Persistent long-lasting (chronic) pain, if properly diagnosed, serves no purpose.

Of the most commonly prescribed and purchased medicines in modern society is the analgesic. Analgesics are, however, not at all without dangers:

1. All analgesics have unwanted or side effects, some very serious. These include, amongst others, gastric ulceration, nephritis, hepatotoxicity, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, angio-edema, rhinitis, blood dyscrasias, bronchospasms and several additional conditions.

2. Some of these agents lead to emotional or physical dependence or even both, irrespective of whether they are prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

3. Certain analgesics can interact with other necessary medication and produce serious untoward effects.

4. Another problem is that the regular taking of analgesics could lead to a tendency to abuse various other types of drugs. Many people who can be classified as ‘legal addicts’ will inform you that it all started with pain killers or appetite suppressant drugs. The difficulties encountered in breaking an addiction to analgesics can be compared with the same situation encountered in persons who wish to stop smoking. One of the difficulties experienced when attempting to stop smoking is not just the craving for nicotine, but also the actual act of bringing the flame of a lighter or match to a cigarette, lighting it and then inhaling the smoke. This type of emotional dependence can be as difficult to break as a physical dependence on nicotine. In the same way people addicted to medicinal agents find it soothing simply to know that something (i.e. a drug) was taken or administered to him or her. This motion can lead to addiction because of the PETS mentioned earlier. It can also make it difficult to stop taking drugs once already addicted, be it of an emotional or physical nature.

1. Probably the most popular type of drug prescribed in today’s society is the anti-inflammatory agent. These drugs are truly wonderful in treating pain and inflammation associated with a great variety of ailments. They do, however, have some very serious side effects and that is also exactly why one needs a prescription for them. A commonly encountered problem is that patients who take them have their pain or inflammation taken care of, but then they develop gastric ulcers because of the medication. These agents can also not be taken for long periods of time and are therefore not indicated for chronic pain like in arthritis. This is really a pity, as they are one of a very few drugs which do work in relieving pain in these case. Patients who suffer from arthritic pains become so desperate that they ignore these warnings and keep on taking the steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until they suddenly discover that they have now developed serious blood dyscrasias. Lastly, such drugs are also very expensive.

2. Because analgesics are understandably the most popular and most commonly used drugs in the world they have also become very expensive, bringing in billions of Rands to their manufacturers. As mentioned earlier, the anti-inflammatory drugs are notoriously expensive.

3. Analgesics are usually not long-acting drugs and they have to be taken at regular short intervals. It is inconvenient to have to carry medicines around in order to follow the prescribed dosage regimen. Taking them regularly disturbs the normal social life.

4. Analgesics have organoleptic problems e.g. almost all have a bitter taste.

5. Many people experience problems in taking large tablets. People with cancer of the throat

experience general discomfort in swallowing.

Having taken the above aspects in consideration, it becomes clear that an ideal analgesic agent should have the following properties:

1. Free of side and toxic effects.

6. Not be dependence producing.

7. Lasting effects.

8. Not unpleasant to take.

9. Affordable on the short and long run.

10. Easy to take or use.

11. Convenient to use and not disrupt the normal everyday life

12. Have a long-lasting effect.

1.2 Electrotherapy as a possible solution in pain control

Excluding pharmaceutical medication, a number of methods have been used in the past to manage pain. These included vibration, massage, the application of heat or cold, ultrasound, acupuncture, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), microcurrent electrical stimulation (MET) etc.

Electrotherapy has been receiving increasing attention during the past few years as a safe, effective and easy to use method of controlling pain, even those types which do not respond to potent pharmaceutical analgesic agents. It is not unknown that electricity is one of the most basic forms of energy found everywhere in nature, including all living organisms, monocellular to multicellular, simple to complex. It is indeed the driving force for many reactions within the human body, including beneficial and disadvantageous (Becker in 1982; Cheng et al. in 1982). The controlled use of electrical stimulation to manage a number of different physiological activities in the human body has therefore become the subject of serious investigative studies during recent years.

The first application of electricity to specifically manage pain goes back more than two millenia. In 46 AD Scribonius Largus (Kirsch and Lerner, 1995) claimed that almost everything from headaches to gout could be treated successfully by standing on a wet beach near an electrical eel. This loss of sensation (i.e. anaesthesia) was also described by Aristotle (Kirsch and Lerner, 1995) who claimed that swimming near electric ray fish produced a feeling of numbness. A very interesting finding by Carlo Matleucci (Kirsch and Lerner, 1995) in the 1800s was that injured tissue produced an electrical current. The question which should have been asked was indeed “Why?”. It is very likely that through evolution the human body learnt to produce a current which either attracted pain-soothing chemicals to the site of trauma, dispelled pain-inducing chemicals from the site or both. It was only in 1983 that Becker pro-posed that a current data transmission and control system exists in biological systems for the regulation of healing. Similarly Nordenström (1983) theorised that the mechanical blood circulation system is closely integrated, both morphologically and functionally, with some form of a bio-electrical system. He also regarded bio-electricity as the primary catalyst of the healing process, but it was already in 1981 that Becker electrically induced limb regeneration in frogs and rats as a model to study bio-electrical forces as a controlling morphogenetic field. This clearly illustrated the ability of electrotherapy to increase protein synthesis, increase cell growth and the formation of new tissues. The same effect was demonstrated even earlier by Nordenström in 1974 in higher plants.

1.3 Apparatus available

In recent years the study of clinical electrophysiology and its applications has resulted in a better understanding and acceptance of electromedicine. Pain being one of the most commonly encountered medical problems all over the world, it is not surprising that electrotherapy aimed at specifically alleviating pain were the first to truly become popular amongst health professionals as well as private individuals. Machines which utilise electrical currents to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and promote healing have made their way onto the market and are now becoming every popular. For a period of time the TENS machines were the equipment of choice in the medical and health professions. Recently, however, two additional types became available viz. the Action Potential Stimulation (APS) and APS Compact (APS COMPACT). The major difference between the TENS apparatus and the APS COMPACT is that the latter generates unipolar pulses which cause a nett current to flow and this is claimed to have healing properties which the TENS apparatus does not have.

1.4 The body’s natural ability to cope with pain

In order to fully understand the mechanism whereby electrotherapy exhibits its beneficial affects it is also necessary to understand how the human body copes with pain. The body copes with pain by making use of its own natural chemical agents known as endogenous opiates or opioids. Examples of such endogenous opiates are endorphins (particularly beta-endorphin), dynorphins and enkephalins (met- and leu-enkephalins). These substances are polypeptides which can bind to neuroreceptors in the brain in order to bring about pain relief. When they bind to these specific receptors the release of polypeptide P is prevented. The latter is a carrier which transmits pain impulses from the site of trauma to the brain where recognition and awareness of the pain then take place. The endogenous opiates are very similar to pharmaceutical substances like codeine, heroine and morphine which are well known for their narcotic and potent analgesic effects. Thus when endorphine for example is administered exogenously the same effects are observed as when morphine is administered i.e. strong pain relief and sedation. The endor-phines are therefore also referred to as the body’s own morphine.

The enkephalins (Martindale, 1989) can be found in the brain and in those parts of the spinal cord which transmit pain signals. They can bind to and activate at least three types of receptors on brain neurons. Morphine and similar derivatives act on the same receptors.

The endorphins are opioid derivatives and they induce, like morphine, powerful analgesic effects (Mar-tindale, 1989). They are secreted mainly by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain. Endorphins are secreted with corticotrophin in response to injury.

Melatonin (Martindale, 1989) is a hormone which is secreted by the pineal gland in the centre of the brain. When released it increases serotonin levels in the system. It also enhances the activity of pyridoxal-kinase which is involved in the synthesis of serotonin. Serotonin has a sedatory effect on the brain. The release of melatonin depends on factors such as age and time of day. Melatonin levels are much lower in adults than in children. It is also higher during the night than during the day. Considering these effects of melatonin, it is proposed that it also plays a role in the sleep pattern. Children for example sleep much more than adults. During air travel melatonin release becomes desynchronised. and this leads to jet lag.

Seratonin (Martindale, 1989) is an endogenous antidepressant with sedatory effects at high levels. It is released by tryptaminergic neurones in the central nervous system and is found in the brain, intestines, mast cells and in blood. It is a very powerful vasoconstrictor and also acts as a neurotransmitter. It is found mainly in the brain and hypothallamus where changes in its concentration can lead to mood disorders. Low levels result in depression and antidepressant drugs act by inhibiting the body’s ability to inactivate serotonin thereby allowing an increase in serotonin concentration. Excessive quantities can lead to migraine and nausea.

All processes in living things need energy in order to take place. This energy comes from the foods we ingest. When the foods are oxidised, energy is released. The carrier of this energy to energy-requiring processes is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The energy-requiring process converts the ATP to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) plus inorganic phosphates or to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) plus inorganic pyrophosphate. ATP plays an essential role in the building up of cell components and therefore regeneration of new tissues, the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contraction (e.g. during walking, breathing etc.). High localised levels of ATP promote essential protein synthesis e.g. desoxy-ribonucleic acid (DNA) and collagen. This can speed up tissue regeneration by 150% to 350% (Cheng et al., 1982). ATP also stimulates Na+ pump activation. This leads to a decrease in effusion. Because ATP decreases the activation of T-lymphocytes, inflammation is reduced. ATP further reduces the intracellular uptake of Ca2+ ions. In order to be efficient in tissue repair and maintaining growth ATP must be replenished continuously. It was shown by Mitchell (1976) that a stream of H+ ions drives the formation of ATP.

1.5 The mechanism of action of analgesic electrotherapy

Mention has been made of the ability of a small DC current when passed through living tissue to cause a rapid localised cell-healing process characterised by -

1. reduced swelling

13. less inflammation

14. improved tissue regeneration, and

15. reduced pain levels.

This is due to the forced flow of H+ ions in the region which in turn drives the formation of ATP. The function of ATP is described in the previous section.

At any given time, a neutral molecule of water dissociates into a Hydrogen ion (H+) and a Hydroxide ion (OH-), and these ions are continually re-forming into the neutral water (H2O) molecule. Under normal conditions (neutrality), the concentration of hydrogen ions (acidic ions) is equal to that of the hydroxide ions (basis ions); each are at a concentration of 10-7 moles per litre, which is described as a pH of 7.

The mole designates an extremely large number of units, 6.0221367 x 1023, which is the number of atoms determined to be found in 12 grams of carbon-12.

The neutralisation of both the negative and positive charged ions occur at the same rate and therefore the pH of the system remains neutral at 7.

Under micro-current stimulation the Hydrogen ions (Positive charge) are attracted to the cathode and the Hydroxide ions (Negative charge) are attracted to the annode.

The migrating Hydrogen protons (H+) are responsible for the localised formation of ATP.

The body fluid is strongly electrolytic. Thus if an excess current (> 1mA) is passed through the body certain changes start to take place at the electrode site:

1. Heat is produced. Heat is a form of energy and destroys tissue.

16. At the negative electrode (cathode) Hydrogen (H2) is liberated, Hydrogen destroys the tissue and causes tissue damage.

17. At the positive electrode (anode) oxygen (O2) is liberated, this causes oxidation of the tissue and causes skin “burns”.

It is therefore of extreme importance that the DC current flowing through the tissue should never exceed 1 mA.

Thus, when a small DC current (Intolerable 1.7 = Very mild 76.1

Migraine 8.4 = Intolerable 1.6 = Very mild 81.0

Toothache 10 = Very severe 1.0 = Very mild 90.0

Mandibular (jaw) 6.3 = Distressing 2.3 = Mild 63.5

Neck (muscle) 5.6 = Tolerable>Distressing 1.6 = Very mild 71.4

Torso

Shoulder (muscle) 6.0 = Distressing 2.5 = Mild 58.3

Shoulder (joint) 7.3 = Distressing>Intolerable 1.7 = Very mild 76.7

Back (low/skeletal) 6.8 = Distressing>Intolerable 1.4 = Very mild 79.4

Back (mid/skeletal) 6.7 = Distressing>Intolerable 1.8 = Mild 73.1

Back (muscular) 6.5 = Distressing 1.5 = Very mild 76.9

Arm

Elbow 7.6 = Intolerable 1.7 = Very mild 77.6

Wrist 7.8 = Intolerable 1.6 = Very mild 79.0

Finger 5.9 = Distressing 1.7 = Very mild 71.2

Leg

Thigh 7.5 = Distressing>Intolerable 1.0 = Very mild 80.0

Hip 7.7 = Intolerable 1.9 = Very mild 75.3

Knee 7.0 = Distressing>Intolerable 1.3 = Very mild 81.4

Ankle 5.9 = Distressing 1.7 = Very mild 71.2

Foot 6.5 = Distressing 1.6 = Very mild 75.4

Special cases

Arthritis 7.8 = Intolerable 2.0 = Mild 74.4

Osteoporosis 7.8 = Intolerable 2.2 = Mild 71.8

Carcinoma 8.0 = Intolerable 4.0 = Tolerable 50.0

Dysmenorrhoea 8.0 = Intolerable 1.3 = Very mild 83.8

Key

1 = almost no pain Have to concentrate to feel it

2 = mild pain Only aware if made aware of it

4 = tolerable pain Discomforting, but can be ignored at times

6 = distressing pain Always aware, but can continue with work

8 = Intolerable pain Can only perform work with serious concentration

10 = very severe pain Extreme and often debilitating i.e. cannot work at all

Conclusion

Summary

In this project the ability of electromedicine, and in particular a device known as APS Compact, to relieve pain was investigated. The apparatus was tested in primary health care clinics of a tertiary academic institution. In a total of about 250 cases, individuals were treated for a variety of pains encountered in various body parts including both hard and soft tissue. Some cases were relatively mild whereas others were quite severe. Subjects included individuals from both sexes ranging from age 18 to over 60 years of age. Both skilled and unskilled persons were used as subjects.

The general finding was that this form of treatment has a definite role in pain control treatment. Not only can it reduce the amount and frequency of analgesic drugs to be taken, but in some instances such medication even became unnecessary. Some forms of pain, notably migraines which are difficult to control even with very potent medicines, responded somewhat slower than other pains and additional analgesic medication was required. However, quite significantly, not more than one relatively harmless paracetamol tablet was necessary to completely remove the pain. The method of treatment became very popular amongst females as a measure of pain control in cases of dysmenorrhoea because it was found to be so effective. Discomforting pains such as toothaches and low-back pains also responded exceptionally well.

In all cases good pain relief was observed. In some cases, e.g. cancer, the extent of pain relief was not very great, but the relief experienced was so significantly profound that the individual who had not been able to sleep for several days actually fell asleep during treatment. She was also able to reduce the amount of medicines taken and increase the dosage intervals. This in itself made her feel much better.

Despite elaborate and sophisticated equipment used in investigative studies of this nature, the best and most effective form of establishing whether particular equipment works well or not, is the person who is treated himself. In this study the relief experienced was so profound and welcome that some individuals fell asleep or burst out into tears. In virtually all cases, a significant reduction in pain experienced was noted by the person treated. The fact that most of them came back in order to be treated for other pains was indicative of the success achieved. An additional observation is that during our follow-up programmes, several people indicated that the reason why they had not come back for further treatment, was that the pain was indeed completely gone and that there was no need for further treatment. This relief lasted for several weeks in some instances. It would therefore appear as if a good residual effect is being experienced.

No side or untoward effect were encountered. The only unexpected ‘side effect’ worth mentioning, perhaps, is that in some individuals the sense of pain relief is so great that they need to be warned that the treatment had removed the pain and not necessarily treated the underlying cause. One particular individual who had been suffering great pain due to many years of osteoporosis became so excited because of the pain relief which she was experiencing that she started to exercise, fell, hurt herself and had to be treated once again.

It would be appropriate to consider at this stage, in closing, a comparison between the costs involved in the treatment of recurring, chronic pain over a period of one year with the cost of purchasing a unit like the APS Compact. A patient suffering from the typical pain experienced for example due to osteoarthritis, would be treated monthly with the prescription items as follows (on today’s date of 3 February 1999):

Prescription 1:

For a very popular anti-inflammatory product and analgesic preparation often prescribed -

Rx Anti-inflammatory tablets 30

Sig: i od.pc

Anti-inflammatory gel 50g

Sig: Applic pm to affected areas

Non-anti-inflammatory analgesic tablets 30

Sig: i tds pm

TOTAL COST PER MONTH : R 455.40 (treats one individual)

TOTAL COST PER ANNUM : R5 464.80 (treats one individual)

APPROXIMATE COST OF ONE APS COMPACT UNIT: R2 500 (treats a whole family)

SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICATION:

Gastro-intestinal disturbance including ulceration, perforation and haemorrhage; haematemesis; melaena; psychological disturbances; jaundice; liver inflammation; oedema; increased blood pressure; tachycardia; renal disturbances; hyper-sensitivity reactions; blood disorders; visual disturbances; headaches; dizziness; tinnitis; deafness; vaginal haemorrhage; hyperglycaemia; epistaxis, diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal cramps; dyspepsia; latulence anorexia; glossitis; stomatitis, oesophageal lesions; pancreatitis; interaction with other pain killers like aspirin leading to gastric ueceration etc. Neuro Stim TM has no side-effects.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS: Gastric or intestinal ulcers; asthmatic patients; urticaria; acute rhinitis; porphyria; pregnancy; Crohn’s disease; impaired liver function; impaired renal function; dyshaemopoiesis; blood coagulation/clotting problems; undiagnosed pain. APS Compact is contra-indicated in persons fitted with a pacemaker; persons who suffer from epilepsy; may not be applied to open lesions; pregnancy; undiagnosed pain; mentally unstable persons; persons with heart conditions such as angina pectoris, persons with severe skin allergies.

OTHER: Expensive to treat a single person; prescription required; to be taken under a doctor’s supervision because the serious side effects and contra-indications. APS Compact is am inexpensive alternative which is simple to use. It needs very little specialised training and young and old can use it.

Prescription 2:

If the above prescription items are replaced with another also very popular anti-inflammatory product and analgesic preparation, but as a generic equivalent –

Rx Anti-inflammatory tablets 30

Sig: i od.pc

Anti inflammatory gel 50g

Sig: Applic pm to affected areas

Non-anti-inflammatory analgesic tablets 30

i tds pm

TOTAL COST PER MONTH : R 170.76 (treats one individual)

TOTAL COST PER ANNUM : R2 049.12 (treats one individual)

SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONS: See above

Prescription 3:

A non-anti-inflammatory analgesic, very popular used to treat adults, children and neonates –

Rx Non-anti-inflammatory analgesic tablets 30

Sig: i tds pm

TOTAL COST PER MONTH : R 80.70 (treats one individual)

TOTAL COST PER ANNUM : R968.40 (treats one individual)

SIDE-EFFECTS OF MEDICATION:

Skin reactions; blood disorders; central nervous system effects; gastro-intestinal disturbances; dry mouth; profuse sweating; facial flushes; vertigo; bradycardia, palpitations; lowering of blood pressure; lowering of body temperature; difficulty in passing urine; urethral spasm; urticaria; paraesthesia, weak feeling; headache; ataxia; visual disturbances; tachycardia; tremor; tinnitis; cardiac arrhythmia; intensifies porphyria reactions, dependence etc. The use of APS Compact does not lead to dependence.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS: Porphyria; epilepsy; respiratory depression; alcoholism; head injuries; bronchial asthma; lung infection or inflammation; MAO treatment; pregnancy; lactation etc.

In conclusion, therefore, the APS Compact was found to be extremely effective in the

treatment of a wide variety of pain in both soft and hard tissues of the body and in a wide

spectrum of health or medical disorders was found to be useful in the treatment of pain in

both young and old, sick and healthy individuals was found to be useful in the treatment of

pain in terminally ill patients e.g.carcinomas in some cases required a series of three

treatments, but a good accumulative and surprising residual effect were observed produced

no untoward or side effects is a good,inexpensive alternative for conventional medicines

which all have serious side-effects produced no tolerance or dependence is easy and

convenient to use by both children and adults, the young and the elderly is not habit-forming.

One particular problem associated with some potent narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics is

addiction and tolerance and the increasing need for higher doses with the risk of reaching

levels where severe side effects or toxic levels become a very serious health risk factor.

These aspects are not applicable to electrotherapy of this nature produced no untoward or

side effects is a good, inexpensive alternative for conventional medicines which all have

serious side-effects produced no tolerance or dependence is easy and convenient to use by

both children and adults, the young and the elderly is not habit-forming. One particular

problem associated with some potent narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics is addiction and

tolerance and the increasing need for higher doses with the risk of reaching levels where

severe side effects or toxic levels become a very serious health risk factor. These aspects a

re not applicable to electrotherapy of this nature.

References

Bibiolography and Articles

A

Alvarez, O.M. (1983), The healing of superficial skin wounds is stimulated by external electrical current, J. Invest. Derm., 81, p. 144 (as per Kirsch and Lerner in 1995)

Assimacopoulos, D. (1968), Low intensity negative electric current in treatment of ulcers of leg due to chronic venous insufficiency: Preliminary report of three cases, Amer. J. J. Surg., 115, p. 683

B

Barron, J.J. and Jacobson, W.E. (1985), Treatment of decubitus ulcers: A new approach, Minn. Med., 68, p. 103

Basset, C.A.L., Pawluk, R.J. and Pills, A.A. (1974), Augm,entation of bone repair by inductively coupled electromagnetic fields, Science, 184, p. 575

Becker, R.O. (1981), Mechanisms of growth control, Springfield, MO: Charles C. Thomas Co. (as per Kirsch and Lerner in 1995)

Becker, R.O. (1982), Electrical control systems and regenerative growth, J. of Bioelect., 1(2) (as per Kirsch and Lerner in 1995)

C

Cheng, N., Van Hoof, H., Bockx, E., Hoogmartens, M.J., Mulier, J.C., De Ducker, F.J., Sansen, W.M. and De Loecker, W. (1982), The effects of electric currents on ATP generation, protein synthesis and membrane transport in rat skin, Clin. Orth. Rel. Res., 171

Constable, J.D., Scupicchio and Opitz, B. (1971), Studies of the effects of diapulse treatment of various aspects of wound healing in experimental animals, J. Surg. Res., 11, p. 254

F

Frank, B. (1998), Confidential Medical Report, Strand, South Africa

G

Goldin, H. (1981), The effects of diapulse on the healing of wounds: A double-blind randomized controlled trial in man, Brit. J. Plas. Surg., 34, p. 267

J

Jeran, M. (1987), PEMF stimulation of skin ulcers of venous origin in humans: Preliminary report of a double blind study, J. Bioelect., 6, p. 181

Jeran, M (1990), Effect of low frequency pulsing electromagnetic fields on skin ulcers of venous origin in humans: A double blind study, J. Orth. Res., 8, p. 276

K

Kaada, B., Flatheim, E. and Woie, L. (1991), Low-frequency transcutaneous nerve stimulation in mild/moderate hypertension, Clin. Phys., 11, p. 161

Kirsch, D.L. and Lerner, F.N. (1995), Innovations in pain management: A practical guide for clinicians, The textbook of the American Academy of Pain Management, Volume 4, GR Press, Inc., Winter Park, Florida, United States of America

L

Loeser, J.D., Black, R.G. and Christman, A.J. (1975), Relief of pain by transcutaneous stimulation, J. Neurosurg., 42, p. 308

Lundeberg, T.C. , Eriksson, S.V. and Malm, M. (1992), Electrical nerve stimulation improves healing of diabetic ulcers, Ann. Plas. Surg., 29(4), p. 328

M

Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia (1989), Editor: Reynold, E.F., The Pharmaceutical Press, London, United Kingdom

McCord-Uys, J. (1998), Confidential Research Report, Pretoria Technikon, Pretoria, South Africa

Mitchell, P. (1976), Vectorial chemistry and the molecular mechanism of chemiosmotic coupling: Power transmission by proticity, Biochem. Soc. Trans., 4, p. 400

Mulder, G.D. (1991), Treatment of open-skin wounds with electric stimulation, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab., 72, p. 375

N

Nordenström, B.E.W. (1974), As per Kirsch and Lerner in 1995)

Nordenström, B.E.W. (1983), Biologically closed electrical circuits: Clinical, experimental and theoretical evidence for an additional circulatory system, Nordic Medical Publications, Stockholm, Sweden (as per Kirsch and Lerner in 1995)

R

Romero-sierra, C and Tanner, J.A. (1974), Biological effects of nonionizing radiation: An outline of fundamental laws, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 238, p. 263

Rowley, B.A., McKenna, J.M. Chase, G.R. and Wolcott, L.E. (1974), The influence of electrical current on an infecting microorganism in wounds, Ann. Y.Y. Acad.Sci., 238, p. 543

S

Spadaro, J.A. (1977), Electrically stimulated bone growth in animals and man: Review of the literature, Clin. Orthop., 122: p. 325

T

Tapio, D. and Hymes, A.C. (1987), New frontiers in transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, Minne-tonka, MN: LecTec Corporation, U.S.A. (as per Kirsch and Lerner in 1995)

V

Van Niekerk, W.P. (1998), Confidential Medical Report, Benoni, South Africa

W

Wolcott, L.E., Wheeler, P.C. and Hardwicke, H.M. (1969), Accelerated healing of skin ulcers by electrotherapy, South. Med. J., 62, p. 795

-----------------------

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download