Relaxation Induced by Microwave Resonance Therapy: EEG Correlates

By

Dejan Radenovic¹, Dejan Rakovic^{1, 2} , Zlata Jovanovic-Ignjatic³, Milorad Tomasevic⁴,
Vlada Radivojevic⁵, Emil Jovanov ^{1, 6}

e-mail: jovanov@ieee.org

1Faculty of Electrical Engineering, PO Box 35-54, 11120 Belgrade, Yugoslavia
²European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD) of the United Nations University for Peace,
Terazije 41, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
³Private Medical Practice ?Lav?, Vlade Zecevica 14, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
⁴Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
⁵Institute for Mental Health, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology,
Palmoticeva 37, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
⁶Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Abstract

Microwave Resonance Therapy (MRT) as a novel medical treatment represents a synthesis of the ancient Chinese traditional knowledge in medicine (acupuncture) and recent breakthroughs in biophysics. Affecting the appropriate acupuncture points by the generator of high frequency microwaves (52-78 GHz), significant clinical results of the treatment are being achieved. In this paper the EEG correlates of the MRT effects on psychophysical relaxation are evaluated within a group of 28 adults. Upon the MRT application, a few-percentage decrease in the EEG power is observed in most subjects ? suggesting some relaxation MRT effect. Such a tendency is particularly significant in the theta frequency band (4-8 Hz), which might be related to the resonance sensitivity of the acupuncture system in this ultralowfrequency (ULF) region.

1. Introduction

The yin-yang concept of acupuncture, affecting the network of energy-information processes of an organism, represents one of the most specific and most useful segments of the renowned Chinese traditional medicine [1]. Indian traditional medicine, and especially one of its most prominent representatives, swara yoga, is also acquainted with an energy system analogous to the Chinese acupuncture system: in Indian terminology the qi entity is known as prana, and meridians as nadis (14 of them being basic, like in acupuncture, although 3 of them are of special medical and spiritual significance) [2]. In the definition of contemporary scientific acupuncturology it can be said that acupuncture deals with somatotrophic representation of organs and tissues on the surface of the body, on the extra-bioactive acupuncture (trigger) skin points. Biophysical activation of acupuncture points (by sticking metallic needles, but also by heat, pressure, magnets, weak laser beam, ultralowfrequency currents, microwave resonance, aeroionic, and biotherapeutic stimulation [1]), produces effects which are manifestation of the nervous (peripheral, autonomous, and central) and endocrine systems, owing to interaction and integration of sensitive stimuli.

Besides its practical medical aspects, Chinese traditional medicine is deeply colored with mystical connotations, which was one of the reasons why Western science has been hardly accepting experiences of Eastern tradition. The second reason was that within the 12 visceral organs corresponding to the 12 paired meridians, Chinese tradition has not included the brain and endocrine glands: however, in the past few decades it was found that the acupuncture system was in close functional interaction with both central nervous system and endocrine system, as well as with peripheral and autonomous nervous systems [1]. The final reason was a lack of clear anatomical basis of the Chinese acupuncture system. However, new investigations of gap junctions (specific intercell channels, whose ionic conductivity between excitable cells can be modulated by intracell pH-factor, Ca²⁺-ions, neurotransmitters and second messengers, and even by voltage) have shown significant increase of concentration inside the acupuncture points and meridians [3].

A better organization of cell structures and an ionic basis of the qi entity of the acupuncture system is also suggested by approximately 10 times lower skin electrical conductivity of the acupuncture points in respect to the surrounding tissue, as well as much higher reabsorption of aeroions in these points [1]. Theoretical predictions of the biophysical model of altered states of consciousness also imply an ionic nature of the qi entity of the acupuncture system, with possibility of its partial displacements from the skin surface in these states [4]. Ionic acupuncture currents, and accompanying electromagnetic fields, have ultralowfrequency (ULF) and microwave (MW) components, i.e. the MW component is modulated by the ULF component: in support to the ULF nature of ionic currents in acupuncture channels, one can cite the resonance ULF (~ 4 Hz) stimulation of the acupuncture analgesia endorfin mechanism [5]: on the other hand, the evidence for the MW component of ionic acupuncture currents is provided by resonance MW (~ 52-78 GHz) therapy, efficient even in very serious diseases [6,7].

The inventors of the microwave resonance therapy (MRT), former Soviet scientist Sit'ko and his coworkers [6], proposed in early 1980?s that acupuncture system represents a dynamic structure, differentiated at the locations of maximums of three-dimensional standing waves, formed as a result of the reflection of coherent microwave (~ 100 GHz [8] Fr?hlich excitations) of molecular subunits in the cell membranes and proteins - supported also by other investigations which have demonstrated that differentiation of gap junctions (of higher density at acupuncture points and meridians) is slightly sensitive to voltage [5]. In the above context an explanation of MRT efficiency, as noninvasive nonmedicamentous medical treatment, should be sought [7]: some disorders in the organism give rise to deformation in the three-dimensional standing wave structure of electrical field of the organism in MW region, which influences corresponding changes in spatial structure of the acupuncture system, and consequently its resonance frequency, resulting in some disease. During the therapy, applying the MW sound at corresponding acupuncture point the excited acupuncture system of the patient is relaxing to the previous healthy condition, while reaching its normal resonance frequency response upon the wide spectrum MW source - and following to physiological mechanisms of the acupuncture regulation [1] the organism biochemically overcomes the disease.

It is experimentally demonstrated that the organism is resonancely sensitive to the 1% frequency changes in MW range of 52-78 GHz, as observed in the EEG, ECG, pulse normalizing, change in tension and respiratory rhythm [6]. At the moment of establishing resonance frequency, the patient?s sensory response can be manifested as local (feeling of warmth, pricking, weight, goosflesh, bites, or cold at the contact point), systemic (related to organ or system), and general (in the form of comfortable and uncomfortable reactions).

The recommended MRT treatment at an acupuncture point is at last 10 minutes, while the duration of the whole treatment is maximum 20 minutes, applied daily or bidaily. 10 treatments in a course are applied, with a minimum pause of 21 days and optimally one month, in the case a repeated course is necessary. The courses of prophylaxis are advised every 6 months, concerning psychophysiological relaxation too. This motivated us to start investigation of the MRT-induced relaxation effects on EEG changes [9].

2. Method

SUBJECTS - The study was carried out on 28 healthy adult volunteers (13 males and 15 females)

APPARATUS - Electroencephalographs were recording by a MEDELEC 1A97 EEG machine, with lower and upper band-pass filter limits set at 0.5 Hz and 30 Hz, respectively. Silver chloride electrodes were placed at 16 locations (F7, F8, T3, T4, T5, T6, Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, C3, C4, P3, P4, O1, O2) according to the International 10-20 system, with average reference. The EEG outputs were digitized with 12 bit precision at a sampling rate of 128 Hz per channel using A/D converter Data Translation 2801

PROCEDURE - The experiment was conducted in a sound-proof room, dimly lit for observation. Subjects were laid comfortably. Each recording session was divided into three sequential periods:

• relaxing 5 min with eyes closed;
• MRT 20 min;
• relaxing 5 min with eyes closed.

During those periods two random samples, one minute each, were recorded for every subjects. The EEG record was stored on a hard-disc.

The MRT was applied by the wide spectrum apparatus POROG-3, and the measurement of frequency was achieved by the narrow spectrum apparatus AMRT-01, adjusted manually. The frequency range of the POROG-3 is 52-78 GHz. Up to 10 mW low-power microwave generators, of the output power density of 0.2-5 m W/cm² - much lower than biologically limited 10 mW/cm² during 8 hours, as prescribed by USA National Standards, or 10 m W/cm² during 8 hours, as prescribed by Russian and Ukrainian National Standards [6] - are power supplied by the 220? 22V/50Hz a.c. or the autonomous 4.5V d.c. The output power density as well as the seance duration significantly influence the MW absorbed dose and corresponding MRT bioeffects, which can be biostimulative for low-level therapeutically recommended doses of typical 20-minute daily MRT treatments (causing local temperature increases up to 38? C, with maximally fast bioeffect), and biodepressive and even biodestructive for much higher doses (causing much higher and harmful local temperature increases) [6]. MRT generator was applied on acupuncture points in the following order: Du 20, and the left-side points Li 4, Pc 6, H 7 and Ap 55, which resulted in relaxation, similarly to the parasympathicus effect [1]. The choice of the acupuncture points for the relaxation seance was achieved on the basis of well known principles of acupuncture stimulation, characteristics of the chosen points, and the therapeutist experience.

DATA ANALYSIS - Time-varying EEG spectra (spectrograms) with 0.5 Hz resolution were calculated by the MATLAB program using a 256-point FFT algorithm performed on 2 sec Hamming-windowed half-overlapping epochs. An array of EEG partial power spectra for each subject and each derivation was computed by integration by the trapezoidal rule of the spectrogram over the five frequency bands.

The coherence spectral arrays was estimated using Welch?s averaged periodogram method at 512-point (4 sec) epochs of EEG data divided into 256-point (2 sec) detrended Hamming-windowed subjects with 240-point overlap. Total coherence for the each frequency band was calculated using the same methods as those described by Levine et al. [10]. Within every frequency band, at any moment, the maximal value of the coherence was taken

Table 1. Adopted frequency intervals for the EEG power and coherence analyses

We have adopted as significant changes only those observed in more than 50% subjects. In Table 1 the adopted frequency intervals for every frequency band used in the power and coherence analyses are presented.

Since those arrays are not distributed in a Gaussian manner, the Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon matched pairs test were used to determine significant differences between the spectral arrays of the pre-therapy period and the spectral arrays of the after therapy period.

3. Results

3.1. Power analysis

The subjects were classified in to two groups: group 1 (11 subjects) not previously subjected to the MRT treatment, and group 2 (17 subjects) being subjected to the MRT in the past two years. In Table 2 a survey of significant changes (p < 0.05, obtained by the Wilcoxon test for corresponding pairs of channels) of the EEG power in all frequency bands over a whole head is given, while in Tables 3 and 4 such surveys for all EEG channels are presented.

Table 2. The number of subjects with significant changes of the EEG power over the whole head, for the two groups (group 1, having not ever been previously MRT treated; group 2, previously MRT treated) in all frequency bands; the frequency bands with corresponding changes observed in more than 50% subjects are shaded.