Magnawave & Schumann Resonances

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One of the AOPP certification classes was taught by a chiropractor, Dr. Jerry Dreessen, who uses Magnawave/Aurawell equipment. Some PEMF frequencies were claimed to have tissue specific therapeutic properties. Was this personal experience or something in the literature? Magnawave has Schumann Resonances (featured image) embedded in 50→1 Hz of each power setting. The relative magnitudes are proprietary. After fact checking, I’ve come to the conviction that particular resonances a group of scientists got locked into for a given condition don’t necessarily reflect on what could be a bigger biological reality. Cryptochromes, the circadian and magnetic field sensing proteins, are the antennas for Schumann Resonances found in Magnawave PEMF. individual Schumann resonances influences on plant crytochromes will be presented in an upcoming post. This current post will simply back up the AOPP class claims with peer reviewed scientific studies and present the possibility that mammalian cryptochromes are Schumann Resonances antennas.

Astronauts need Schumann Resonances

A NASA review Ames Research Center claims that Schumann resonances may promote  mammalian healing.  According to references cited by these authors,  the first five Schumann Resonances overlap with the frequency range of the first four electroencephalogram (EEG) bands with the primary EEG frequency bands being Delta, 0.5 to 4 Hz, Theta, 4-8 Hz, Alpha, 8-13 Hz and 13 to 30 Hz.  According to the NASA authors the band at 7.8 Hz is observed with subjects in a state of relaxation and that at 13.7 Hz with subjects in a state of concentration.  If we are to trust Wikipedia authors, the following is some fact checking.  Peer reviewed literature was used to supplement well referenced Wikipedia pages.

Brain wave	origin	frequency	Channels	Function
α waves	Pacemaker cell thalamus	8-12 Hz	Voltage gated Ca2+ Cav2.2	REM sleep, meditation
β waves 1	Lateral pre frontal and motor cortex	12.5-16 Hz	GABAA Cl channel	Wakefulness consciousness
β2		16.5–20 Hz
β3		20.5–28 Hz,
γ waves	Cortico-thalamic	25-140 Hz		Wakefulness
δ waves	Supra chiasmic nuclei	0.5-4 Hz	T-type Ca2+ channels	sleep
mu wave	Visual and motor cortex	Primarily 9-11 Hz		Voluntary movement visualization there of
ϴ wave	Hippocampus →sensorimotor medial septal	6-10, 7-9 Hz	AMPA receptor for glutatmate	Learning, memory REM sleep, nociception
SMR wave	Sensorimotor cortex	mu (8–12 Hz), β (18–30 Hz), γ (30–200 Hz) bands

In preparing this table, it was noted that the publications discussed “pace maker cells” that establish rhythms.  One reference was fund for a putative PEMF target voltage gated Ca²⁺ channel. T-type calcium channels are also opened by depolarization of the cell membrane, i.e. voltage gated.  This list is by no means comprehensive.  Just because “brain waves” might have the same frequencies as Schumann Resonances does not mean that one may augment the other. Use of trans-cranial PEMF of Schumann Resonances does pose many questions.  Do these ion channels have a PEMF refractory period as well as a refractory for channel opening?  It does, after all, take more than one ion channel to create an action potential.

The Semi-10

• Digital PEMF Machine
• 1-90 Minute Timer
• Plug machine attachments
• Made in Louisville, Kentucky
• High Voltage – Low Frequency, max 0.47 T
• Voltage Input: 120V/60 Hz
• Pulse Output: 1-50 Hz .

2 Hz nerve regeneration, unofficial peak [1]

Is this unofficial peak stirring up crevices of sciatic nerves(Faraday Law of Induction), acting on cryptochromes, both, or something totally different? The diurnal component points to cryptochromes.

Zu and coauthors frequency of 2 Hz, a magnetic field with amplitude of 0.3 mT, and a pulse duration of 20 ms. The authors cited two previous studies as the reason of using 2 Hz: Siskin 1989 and Siskin 1990. These links access Sci-Hub free papers. Neither study examined other frequencies for nerve healing specifically.

the circadian rhythm protocol of Zhu and coworkers [1]

These authors used self-made “collagen-chitosan” nerve conduits to bridge the 15-mm sciatic nerve gaps in Sprague-Dawley rats’ severed sciatic nerves. The above images are meant to illustrate the unstirred components of both the gel used to guide the regenerating sciatic nerve and the nerve itself. The rats in experimental groups were subjected to daily PEMF exposure from the second day after surgery.

• DPEMF group, rats were exposed to the PEMF 4 h during 7:00–11:00
• NPEMF group, rats were exposed to the PEMF 4 h during 19:00–23:00
• CF group, rats were normally fed up without PEMF exposure.

Day light PEMF exposure consistently out performed the nocturnal PEMF exposure. The most striking difference was seen in the approximately 2x more nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor in the DPEMF vs NPEMF groups. [1]

The authors discussed melatonin but not the blue light absorbing cryptochrome 2. Cry2 has been proposed to be be magnetic sensor in PEMF treatments. These five Cry2 and PEMF PubMed abstracts hint that Cry2 can generate reactive oxygen species in response to PEMF. There is also a blue light component. Indeed Wikipedia authors have compiled an excellent history of cryptochome that is involved in diurnal variations and magnetic field sensing of plants and some animals. Charles Darwin noted the role of blue light in seed germination. It took us a while to pin his observation to this “hidden color” protein. We do not know if the neurons/glia/stem cells in the Zu 2017 study “saw” blue light. It would be very interesting to combine blue light and PEMF just like companies like MagnaWave are combining red light and PEMF.

Zhu and coworkers’ [1] discussion

“Further evaluation of motor functional recovery also revealed that the rats in DPEMF group achieved better curative effects than those in NPEMF group. In addition, the up regulation of the promoter of neuronal survival nerve growth factor NGF, brain derived neurotrophic factor BDNF, and Ca²⁺ binding protein S-100 mRNA levels at 3 weeks after surgery further proves the critical role of CR in the treatment of peripheral nerve regeneration by PEMF stimulus. Taken together, these findings indicate that CR dramatically influences the microenvironment of nerve regeneration, and the application of PEMF can optimize the electromagnetism microenvironment, hence improve the peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. ”

The authors have been directly quoted on this post just because they seem to be saying something profound. Does PEMF stimulate nerve regeneration by Faraday Law of Induction stirring things up? Where are these cryptochromes located in the nervous system?

Crytochromes 1 and 2 in the hippocampus

Unfortunately data on crytochromes in peripheral nerves is not going to be in this post.

Our understanding of how Schumann Resonance PEMF is being challenged. Is it simply mixing up unstirred microenvironments via Faraday’s Law of Induction? Could cryptochromes, clock proteins and sensors of magnetic fields, be antennae? Unfortunately Atlas Antibodies has not produced immunohistochemistry images of Cry1 and 2 in peripheral neurons and their glia.

7 Hz bone growth [2]

PEMF in bone growth has been covered in a different post. 7 Hz promoting bone healing is decidedly not the complete picture by any stretch of the imagination. This different post covers many of the Schumann resonances being linked to peer reviewed studies. See this post on studies suggesting that 7.5 Hz is pro-bone absorbing osteoclast while non Schumann frequency 45 Hz inhibits osteoclasts.

Instead of finding the perfect cross section of a bone section that is not copyright protected, Protein Atlas immunohistochemistry images of bone marrow using Atlas Antibodies immunohistochemistry cryptochrome 1 and cryptochrome 2

A different Luo publication [2] summarized bone energy regulation by clock genes: muscle and brain ARNT like-1 (Bmal1), circadian rhythmic motion output cycle stagnates (clock), cryptochrome (Cry) and period (Per) [2]

• Clock and Bmal1 are transcription factors that bind to the E box element that is upstream of genes that code for circadian proteins PER and CRY.
• PER and CRY form a dimer.
• Upon phosphorylation by CK1-epsilon (casein kinase 1 epsilon) this complex transloates to the nuclease and and inhibits the Clock/Bmal1
• Per1 and Per2 are necessary for the daily resetting of the circadian clock to normal environmental light.
• Cry and Per deficient mice have increased osteoblast activity and bone volume. Cry2 regulates osteoclast activity.
• Cry2 regulates extracellular matrix cartilage.

These bullet points are illustrated in the summary cartoon. 7 Hz and bone growth will not be discussed further on this post because all Schumann resonances seem to be doing something. The possibility of Cry proteins may inter the discussion in a subsequent post given the MagnaWave combination of PEMF and red light.

10 Hz ligament healing, maybe 15 Hz, second resonance [3]

Ligament is connective issue that connects bones. I was only able to find one paper that proposed a clinical trial for ligament healing using parameters used in cell culture. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has its own Wikipedia page. The featured image of Schumann resonances says it all: While 15 Hz used in the referenced studies, is closer to the 14.1 2^nd harmonic, 10 Hz is not that far away.

Anterior cruciate ligament images

These images suggest restricted flow of ions at rest that might be induced to move in response to “mechanical stress.” Perhaps PEMF is a kinder and gentler way to get ions and perhaps cytokines moving out of the site of inflammation.

proposed clinical trial [3]

This study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) for patients with quadriceps muscle weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The intervention groups would receive PEMF treatment whereas the control group would receive the treatment-as-usual (TAU).

The procedure of PEMF treatment:

• The subject will be seated at a 90° position on a chair.
• The solenoids of the PEMF device would be adjusted to be over the quadriceps and hamstring.
• 1 mT, 15 Hz on one leg for 10 min.

Why 15 Hz and 1 mT?

“Our group (Prof. Alfredo Franco-Obregon) showed that brief 10-min exposure of 1.5mT amplitude of PEMF (Quantum Tx) on myoblast in nitro could activate myogenesis. It is done so by stimulating the TRPC-1-mediated calcium entry and downstream factors as well as PGC-1α; this mechanism (mentioned above) is similar to the myogenesis in exercise.”

This combination of 15 Hz and 1.5mT has been discussed previously in the TRPC1 post.

15,20 Hz stimulation of capillary formation [4]

These frequencies are close to the 2^nd and 3^rd Schumann resonances. These images also came from ProteinAtlas.org. Smooth muscle images came from an unspecified source that is likely not blood vessels.

The Peng review had a table of most, if not all publications at the time on PEMF for angiogenesis. There were 12 publications total, most of which used 72 Hz; 15 Hz was mentioned some. They had a nice summary cartoon

1. Ca²⁺ in released inside the cell,
2. Ca²⁺ binds to calmodulin (CaM)
3. CaCaM activates nitric oxide synthase, which makes NO
4. NO activates guanylyl cylase, which makes cGMP
5. cGMP activates protein kinase G.
6. Protein kinase G phosphorylates many different proteins.

This mechanism is covered in greater detail in the Assisi Loop post. The issue with the cartoon and the Assissi Loop is that CaCAM activates more than just nitric oxide. One may make the same argument for MagnaWave Schumann Resonance PEMF.

15 vs 30 Hz rodent myocardia infraction recovery study [5]

The magnetic field intervention device was created for the treatment of myocardia infarction MI mice. Note that 15 Hz is close to a Schumann Resonance of 14.1 Hz and 30 Hz is between 26.4 and 32.4 Hz.

• 15Hz, 1.5 milli Tesla (mT), and 45min per day, The infarct size was about 0.12% of the entire area.
• 30Hz, 3.0mT, and 45min per day, The infarct size was about 0.1% of the entire tissue section area and significantly less than the control but not 15 Hz.
• control group, sham PEMF for 45min by a dummy simulator. The infarct size was about 0.22% of the total tissue cross section.

treatment	infarct size	# vessels per view	CD31 +	FGF2	VEGF	VEGFR2	pAkt/Akt	peNOS/eNOS	β1 integrin	FGF2 mRNA	VEGF mRNA	HIF-1α mRNA
control	0.2%	~30	0.5	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
15 Hz	0.1%	-40	0.7	2	1.5	1.5	1	1.5	1.2	2	2	2
30 Hz	0.1%	~50	0.9	3.05	1.5	2.5	2	2	1.4	2	2.5	2

The circadian and radical pair sides of FAD bound Cry [6,7]

In a previous post this site has already covered the work of the Franco-Obregon Lab in terms of reactive oxygen species generation by cry2, that subsequently activates Ca²⁺ channel TRPC1. This group favors 15 Hz and mT. Sherrard and coworkers used cell culture models to demonstrate the role of human Cry1 and Cry2 in ROS generation in response to 10 Hz and 2mT. Silencing of the Cry1 and Cry2 genes in human embryonic kidney cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Hirano provided a connection between free radicals generated by FAD/FADH redox cycling and zeitgeber/time keeping functions of Cry proteins.

Hirano and coworkers took a completely different approach in their review supporting the notion that the role of FAD+/FADH/FAKH2 as a cofactor in metabolism helps set the diurnal clock. [7] SlideShare has a good review on FAD (yellow),

• Cellular redox state represented by the relative ratio of FAD (oxidized)/NADPH (reduced) oscillates in the rodent supra chiasmic nuclei where the master clock resides [7]
• NAD⁺ and a rate-limiting enzyme of the biosynthetic pathway of NAD⁺, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), cycle in a circadian manner as well as a cofactor for Sirt1.
• Sirt1 is a deacetylase for Per2.
• By switching its redox state (FAD⇋FADH₂), an electron is transferred to or from the flavoprotein, thus modifying its activity. FAD also acts as a chromophore of photosensing proteins including CRY in plants and Drosophila [7] Other reviews have covered the role of visible light and redox cycling of FAD with the generation of superoxide.
• These authors demonstrated that FAD stabilizes Cry proteins. Adding FAD causes Cry proteins to accumulate. FAD binding to Cry prevents Cry from interacting ubiquitin E3 ligase; ubiquitin tags proteins for degradation.
  
• A riboflavin (B2) deficient diet and knockdown of riboflavin kinase Rfk decreased CRY1 and CRY2 at ZT18 
• In this 2017 publication Hirano and coauthors claim that Cry1 and 2 transcription regulation is light independent and that magnetic field regulation of mammalian Cry1 and Cry2 is unproved. [7]

It is claimed that the body only absorbs the EPMF energy that it needs and discards the rest. If cryptochromes are the antennas for PEMF, we know have a working hypothesis to support and test this claim. PEMF energy is only absorbed if FAD⁺ is available to bind to cytochrome antennas. Availability of FAD⁺ depends on the metabolic status.

References

1. Zhu S, Ge J, Liu Z, Liu L, Jing D, Ran M, Wang M, Huang L, Yang Y, Huang J, Luo Z. Circadian Rhythm Influences the Promoting Role of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration in Rats. Front Neurol. 2017 Mar 15;8:101. PMC free paper
2. Luo B, Zhou X, Tang Q, Yin Y, Feng G, Li S, Chen L. Circadian rhythms affect bone reconstruction by regulating bone energy metabolism. J Transl Med. 2021 Sep 27;19(1):410. PMC free paper
3. Ong MT, Man GC, Lau LC, He X, Qiu J, Wang Q, Chow MC, Choi BC, Yu M, Yung PS. Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field as an intervention for patients with quadriceps weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a double-blinded, randomized-controlled trial. Trials. 2022 Sep 12;23(1):771. PMC free paper
4. Peng L, Fu C, Wang L, Zhang Q, Liang Z, He C, Wei Q. The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Angiogenesis. Bioelectromagnetics. 2021 Apr;42(3):250-258. doi: 10.1002/bem.22330 Sci-Hub free paper
5. Peng L, Fu C, Liang Z, Zhang Q, Xiong F, Chen L, He C, Wei Q. 2020. Pulsed electromagnetic fields increase angiogenesis and improve cardiac function after myocardial ischemia in mice. Circ J 84:186–193 Sci Hub free paper
6. Sherrard RM, Morellini N, Jourdan N, El-Esawi M, Arthaut LD, Niessner C, Rouyer F, Klarsfeld A, Doulazmi M, Witczak J, d’Harlingue A, Mariani J, Mclure I, Martino CF, Ahmad M. Low-intensity electromagnetic fields induce human cryptochrome to modulate intracellular reactive oxygen species. PLoS Biol. 2018 Oct 2; 16(10): e2006229.  PMC free paper
7. Hirano A, Braas D, Fu YH, Ptáček LJ. FAD Regulates CRYPTOCHROME Protein Stability and Circadian Clock in Mice. Cell Rep. 2017 Apr 11;19(2):255-266. PMC free paper