Stress from Electromagnetic Fields: Natural Solutions

A Remarkable Experience
The blizzard dumped six inches of heavy, wet snow in a matter of hours. In our rural New England setting, as overburdened tree limbs snap and take down some electric lines, we are left without power.

This particular night, I am working on the computer. Fortunately, I just finished sending emails to my clients. As I begin work on a new article, the lights flicker for a brief instant. Blackness falls as all electrical current stops dead.

I am perturbed at being so rudely interrupted in my work. More noteworthy is the transformation taking place in my body. What astounds me is the feeling of shock, as though some essential underpinning of my life has suddenly been yanked away. You know that feeling when you are in an elevator stopped at a top floor, and it begins to plummet all the way to the basement? That's the best way to describe this feeling - like dropping into a void.

Fear of the Wild
Without the prop of that subtle EMF background buzz, everything suddenly is very quiet.

Except for one thing - the sound of wind gusts lashing the windows and outside walls of the house with snow. Suddenly, the blizzard has gotten a LOT closer! The wild is closer in another way; no heat. The furnace needs electricity to run.

A delicious feeling of aliveness accompanies the unaccustomed feeling of vulnerability. In addition, I have the warm comfort of a different kind of wildness. She lies by my side - calm, confident and alert.

Have We Become Overly Habituated to EMF's?
In the deep silence and darkness, I consciously choose to let go of the need to get more work done. Pausing to experience the profoundness, I open to receive the full impact of the sensations running through my body.

I allow myself to surrender to the quiet that has suddenly descended on me. It takes a conscious choice to revel in this sudden change that initially felt like a shock.

Though if you asked me about the bodily effects of electromagnetic fields, I would surely say that they place a burden on the body, this experience has impact that eclipses intellectual understanding. In a single moment, my body has suddenly been unburdened of a load of which I am normally quite unaware.

As I begin to enjoy the deep quiet, I also become aware that there is the feeling of missing something, of emptiness, a void. I have become unwittingly habituated and addicted to the constant stimulation of being surrounded by the electrical current that runs through the walls of my home. There is always static in my nervous system, and now it's gone!

Clear Thinking
I rummage around and find a candle. Lighting it, I locate an emergency light and some batteries. I hang the light on the wall, and sit down to do some more writing; this time the old-fashioned way - with pen and paper. I recently had an enlightening conversation with a world-class nutrition expert, and made many notes which I now set out to organize.

As I write in the immense quiet, it dawns on me that my thinking processes are remarkably clear and strong. While sometimes I feel overwhelmed by information overload, now I am in command. My mind is more fully functional than usual, effortlessly and capably organizing complex concepts..

Lucid Dreaming
Another remarkable occurrence takes place after I fall asleep. My dreams are unusually lucid, filled with luminous light and glorious colors.

They have a visionary magical quality, imbued with a sense of exultation and wonder. I am more able to make choices and take actions. Untarnished by the usual electromagnetic interference, my dreams leave me feeling healed and energized.

While in the past, I have generally noticed feeling different when the electricity in the house goes off, this experience was the most profound. I reflect on why this experience is so palpable. I realize that my ability to feel has become highly refined through years of detoxifying, healing and nourishing my body.

The body is the physical instrument through which we perceive and through which we express. Physical and emotional toxicity blunts our ability to fully experience life. I want to write in depth about this some time soon. My passion is to help people to develop not only health, but full aliveness and attunement.

An Experiment
Intrigued by my experience, I decided to see if similar results could be created by turning off the bedroom circuit switch before going to sleep. I also told my husband that I had done that, so this was no 'double-blind' experiment.

Even so, when I walked into the bedroom a little later, there was a distinct sense of quiet.

"It feels like camping out," Chuck commented.

Indeed it did! All through the night, we basked in the pleasure, feeling as though we were on an outdoor vacation. I felt more energized, yet also enveloped in a deep sense of peace. Most remarkably, my dreams were once again vivid and full of light.

A Research Expert Explains the Health Dangers of Artificially Created Electro-magnetic Fields
According to Dr. Robert O. Becker, researcher and author of 'The Body Electric,' and 'Cross Currents, The Perils of Electropollution,' the human body is fundamentally a coherent, highly sensitive electrical system - emanating its own electromagnetic field, known as a biofield. All physical matter, including the earth, radiates electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) found within the natural world are harmonious with and supportive of life.

On the other hand, artificially created EMFs are 100-200 million times greater than what existed just two generations ago. Awake or asleep, we are continually exposed to a barrage of man-made electromagnetic frequencies.

Interference with our natural energy fields by EMFs eventually harms our own energy fields. This causes many physiological imbalances, most notably the hardening of the cell membrane. As a result, waste products can’t get out and nutrients can’t get in. This leads to free radical damage that alters the DNA and causes cell mutation. Such serious imbalances will also adversely impact hormone production and neurological processes.

This massive infusion of artificial energy overwhelms the system and leads to accelerated aging, elevated blood glucose levels, elevated lipid levels, high blood pressure, increased neuro-regulatory disturbances, and compromises the central nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems.

Dr. Becker explains that our human bodies and immune systems are adversely affected by man-made electromagnetic fields from many sources, including, power lines, cell phones, radar, microwaves, satellites, ham radios, computers, video display terminals, electric appliances and Wi-Fi hot spots. He believes that radiation once considered safe, is now correlated with increases in cancer, birth defects, depression, learning disabilities, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Alzheimer 's disease.

Deleterious Effects of Man-made EMF's
1 - Hardening of cell membranes creates stasis in the flow of substances through the cell membrane. Waste products have a difficult time exiting the cell and nutrients can't easily enter. This results in free radical damage, damage to DNA, and cell mutation.

2 - The overwhelming excess of dissonant artificial energy accelerates aging, elevates glucose and lipid levels, and contributes to high blood pressure. Immune, cardiovascular, and nervous system health is compromised.

3 - Comprehensive disruption of hormonal balance.

Symptoms That can Result From EMF Pollution Overload

Remember, some people are more affected by air pollution or other toxins than others. So you may not experience any symptoms, while another person in the same situation becomes very ill.

However, electromagnetic pollution affects us all, just like other forms of pollution. Even if you are not experienceing symptoms, you may notice as I did, that when you rearrange your environment you suddenly feel better!

Neurological: headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, altered reflexes, muscle and joint pain, leg/foot pain, “Flue-like” symptoms, fever. More severe reactions can include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke.
Cardiac: palpitations, arrhythmias, pain or pressure in the chest, low or high blood pressure, slow or fast heart rate, shortness of breath.
Respiratory: sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma.
Dermatological: skin rash, itching, burning, facial flushing.
Ophthalmologic: pain or burning in the eyes, pressure in/behind the eyes, deteriorating vision, floaters, cataracts.
Others: digestive problems; abdominal pain; enlarged thyroid, testicular/ovarian pain; dryness of lips, tongue, mouth, eyes; great thirst; dehydration; nosebleeds; internal bleeding; altered sugar metabolism; immune system abnormalities; redistribution of metals within the body; hair loss; pain in the teeth; deteriorating fillings; impaired sense of smell; ringing in the ears.

Source: “No Place To Hide” Volume 3, Number 1, April 2001, “Special Issue on Russian and Ukrainian Research” by Arthur Firstenberg. Cellular Phone Taskforce, P.O. Box 1337, Mendocino, CA 95460)

How to Minimize Harm From EMF's in Your Bedroom
The idea of minimizing EMF's in your environment can seem overwhelming.

Why not take it one step at a time? An ideal place to start is in your bedroom. You can turn your bedroom from an EMF disaster into a safe haven where sleep is restorative, rejuvenating, peaceful and pleasureable.

1 - Remove clocks, clock-radios, lamps, TV sets, computers, and other electrical devices from within six or more feet of your bed. Be relentless in banishing as many of these devices from your bedroom entirely!

My husband and I have a small battery-operated clock in our bedroom, plus minimal lighting.

2 - If you are planning on buying a bed or mattress, stay away from any product that contains box springs or any form of metal! Metal objects act as receivers and conductors of radio waves.

3 - Why not go all the way? Turn off the bedroom electrical circuit entirely! (Make sure to take a flashlight into the bedroom with you so you don't bump into anything or trip over the dog).

Chuck and I have already felt significant benefit from shutting off the entire bedroom circuit last night. As I write, we have not turned it back on. We plan to leave it off for maybe a week, then do some 'double blind' tests together. I will report on how that goes!

Life Under High-Tension Wires
As I write this article, I remember that twenty-five years ago, I lived in a garden apartment less than 50 feet away from high tension line towers! Not only that, but my body therapy business was there, so I spent a lot of time in a high-frequency EMF environment.

Less than a year after moving in, I noticed some pain under my left arm. It gradually got worse, and I discovered a lump, which proceeded to get larger.My self-care program was excellent, ate a whole foods diet, exercised over an hour a day, and meditated. Other symptoms that arose were depression, emotional volatility, and severe bronchitis that would last months at a time.

Within a few weeks of moving out of that apartment, my mood improved. Months later, the lump under my arm was less painful. It took 10 years of living in a more healthy rural area and improving my self-care routine for the lump to go away completely. I almost never get colds or flu, and know how to recover with no outside intervention on those rare occasions when I do.

Electromagnetic Pollution and Suicide Rates
My depression and emotional instability living under those high-tension wires was not a random occorrence: Statistical research on EMF frequencies and suicide rates was done by Dr. Robert Becker and several associates. They found that electromagnetic fields at homes where suicides had occurred averaged 22% higher than at addresses of a control group of homes.

Most Harmful Sources of High Electromagnetic Frequencies
- dimmer switches
- halogen lights
- touch lamps
- plasma tv’s
- fluorecent lights
- decorative flashing lights (each time they go on and off, high frequencies result)
- many cordless phones
- cell phones

Cordless Phones Harmful?
Some experts believe that digital wireless phones can be as bad for us as cell phones.
These phones operate using the same technology as wi-fi computer systems and mobile phones. The base station acts like a miniature mobile phone mast.

A recent survey by the Dutch Electrohypersensitivity Foundation found that digitally enhanced cordless telephones, Dects, are the main source of radiation in homes where they are installed. The researchers reported that they frequently cause headaches, fatigue, heart palpitations, difficulty concentrating and sleep problems.

Cancer specialist Professor Lennart Hardell from the University Hospital, in Orebro, Sweden says, "The risks are the same as for mobile phones, but they haven't been studied because researchers thought the Dect operated like a landline." Professor Hardell's research suggests that habitual users have a three-fold risk of acoustic neuroma (a benign tumour between the ear and brain) and a four-fold risk of a malignant brain tumour.

Professor Hardell emphasizes that the risk is not just from the continual output of harmful frequencies, but also because of where the Dect phones are located. "They are usually in rooms where people spend a lot of time and people tend to spend longer on them than they do on a mobile."

Dr Andrew Goldsworthy, honorary lecturer in biology at Imperial College London: "The effect is you have a double whammy, because the base station is powering up 24-hours-a-day and the handset is picking up and sending signals whenever it's held to the head."

The signal can travel though walls and ceilings, so someone in the next room will also suffer exposure.

And, of course, cell phones...
For greatest protection, it is recommended to turn cell phones entirely off as much as possible.

Swedish researchers from the University Lund, Salford, Brun, Perrson, Eberhardt and Malmgren, have studied the effects of microwave radiation on the rat brain. They found a leakage of albumin into brain via a permeated blood-brain barrier. [1]

Microwaves Open Up Leaks in Blood-Brain Barrier!
Our blood-brain barrier is comprised of special capillaries which strictly limit the kinds of molecules allowed to enter the delicate environment of nerve cells. The blood-brain barrier protects our brain from damaging toxins that can enter from the rest of our bloodstream. Since we are exposed to an increasing number of harmful, toxic substances, we are dependent on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier to keep our brain safe so we can function normally.

Scientist Allen Frey found that microwave radiation as low as 30 microwatts was harmful to the blood-brain barrier.

Nutritional Supplements Can Help Protect Against Electromagnetic Fields and Microwave Radiation
Anything you do to optimize your health and increase your energy level will help keep you strong when faced with EMF exposure. Ideally, it would be great to entirely avoid EMF’s, but it is a rare person who can do that.

Protect Your Nervous System With Supplements
Brain and nervous system tissue is very susceptible to the damaging effects of EMF's, so you want to look for nutritional supplements that nourish and protect the brain and nerves.

- fish oil and cod liver oil not only nourish and protect the brain and all nerve tissue. They also keep cell membranes supple, thus helping to offset the dangerous hardening and stiffening of cell walls that is a result of EMF exposure.

- Melatonin: a powerful anti-oxidant noted to prevent DNA breaks in brain cells. Also effective in preventing kidney damage from cell phones. Exposure to high frequencies, including from cellphones, decreases melatonin secretion. Melatonin is a hormone that is essential for a good night sleep. It also has antioxidant and cancer fighting properties. Sleeping with a cellphone that is not turned off is therefore not conducive to getting the best night of sleep and has the potential for further health consequences.

- Bilberry extract helps to reduce oxidative damage to the eyes.

- Gingko Biloba: an herb considered a powerful anti-oxidant which prevents oxidative damage in the brain, eye and kidney. Also helps support the production of SOD, catalase and glutathione. Ginkgo biloba is the first supplement to be tested against cell phone radiation. Pretreatment with this brain-protective supplement reversed cell phone-induced oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidant enzymes in rodents.

- Resveratrol and grape seed extract both protect against the type of oxidative stress induced by cell phones.

- Antioxidants such as SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) and Coq10 need to be replenished, since microwave radiation depletes them. Other helpful nutrients are alpha lipoic acid, lycopene, acetyl-L-carnitine, selenium, and vitamins A, C and E.

- Zinc: protects the eye from oxidative damage and helps preserve the levels of anti-oxidants in the blood;

Also, remember that a healthy, organic diet and balanced lifestyle is imperative. Organic egg yolks, for example, contain choline, inositol, B vitamins, and other nutrients that support nervous system health. Wild salmon contains DMAE, a nutrient that is not only good for brain and nervous system health, but for skin and other tissues.

Even in a world where electropollution is never far away, you can be vibrantly healthy.

[1] Salford, Leif G.; Arne E. Brun, Jacob L. Eberhardt, Lars Malmgren, and Bertil R. R. Persson (June 2003). "Nerve Cell Damage in Mammalian Brain after Exposure to Microwaves from GSM Mobile Phones" (in English). Environmental Health Perspectives 111 (7): 881–883. United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. PMID 12782486