The Little Known History of Electrotherapy

When you think of the history of electrotherapy you probably think of it as a relatively new type of treatment. After all, electricity was not being properly utilised in the modern sense until the 1800's.

However, that assumption is incorrect.

Electrotherapy is not a recent discovery, nor were its medical applications unknown. It has been used by physicians for ages.

Ancient Applications

Electrotherapy has been around much longer than most people realise. In fact, it's been used as a medical treatment for thousands of years. The ancient Romans were using electrotherapy since as early as 63 A.D.

How was that possible? It's simple; they used electric fish.

It is documented that the Roman physician Scribonius Largus used electric fish as a means of treating chronic pain. He wrote that a physician should place a live electric ray on the area of pain and it will be cured.

It wasn't just the Romans who used electrotherapy either. The ancient Greeks and ancient Egyptians used electrotherapy as a pain treatment as well.

Classical Applications

Eventually, use of electric fish became less common as they were replaced by pharmaceuticals. However, electrotherapy would make a comeback in a different form.

As electricity was gaining mainstream applications in the 1800's a French neurologist name Guillaume Duchenne was experimenting with electrotherapy.

He concluded that alternating current was better than direct current for electrotherapy. The direct current needed to be constantly stopped and restarted in order to not cause the skin to blister. Alternating current, on the other hand, did not.

In 1745, the German doctor Kratzenstein published a book about electrotherapy. In the book, he describes a method of treating patients with frictional electricity.

In 1840, England opened its first electrotherapy department at Guy's Hospital. This eventually leads to the use of Pulsed Galvanic current.

Since those times, advancements continued to be made in the field of electrotherapy.

The US War Department was experimenting with electrotherapy in the 1940's as a way to restore muscle mass and muscle strength. Their research gave positive results, which encouraged further research and development in the field.

Modern Applications

In modern times, electrotherapy is fully accepted as a treatment for chronic pain.

The most common electrotherapy modalities available today are EMS, TENS, HVGPS, IFT, and MC. You can read our full explanation of the different types of modalities here.

Electrotherapy devices are regulated by the FDA. Most can be purchased over the counter, while others require a prescription from a healthcare professional. You can find more information about popular TENS unit models for home use here.

Electrotherapy has made a lot of progress since ancient times. Modern devices are controllable, convenient, and most importantly safe.

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Pain Relief with Top 5 Electronic Devices

Have you ever had those days where your pain just makes it impossible to enjoy your day? An electronic pain relief device could be the answer to your problems.
We understand that there's nothing worse than having to deal with chronic pain every day. We know the feeling of not wanting to get out of bed because it just means more pain. That's why we want to help you find a pain relief solution.
When you're in pain you don't want to go through the process of finding out what works and what doesn't. That's why we're reviewing the 5 best electronic pain relief devices so you don't have to go through the trial and error of finding what works.

Relieve Your Pain with Electronic Pain Relief Devices

Icy Hot Smart Relief

The Icy Hot Smart Relief TENS Therapy is a wireless electronic pain relief device.
This TENS unit is designed to be small, discrete, and convenient.
It's small size makes it easy for you to take it on the go. The lack of wires means you can wear it without anyone noticing it. You'll be able to move around while wearing it, which means you can participate in physical activities pain free.
The Icy Hot unit is small enough to be discrete, but also strong enough to provide effective pain relief for general use.
As a cheap device that can be used almost anywhere, you can't really go wrong with the Icy Hot. You can read our full detailed review of the Icy Hot TENS unit here.
If you're interested in TENS units and want to know more about them, be sure to read our comparisons of the best TENS units on the market.

Willow Curve

The Willow Curve is an electronic pain relief device with a unique shape.
It's curved form allows you to treat an area more completely. The Willow Curve is ideal for treating areas such as the arms, legs, and neck due to its curved shape, but won't be good for areas on the torso.
It uses low level lasers to temporarily reduce many types of pain, and has no harmful side effects.
The Willow Curve is not just a pain relief device, but a smart device. It automatically gathers information from your body's responses and adapts the treatment specifically to you.
That way, you don't have to mess around with so many options. It's all taken care of for you.
The device will help increase blood circulation and lymphatic system flow, which will allow your body to clear away toxins and start the healing process.
The Willow Curve is a fairly expensive option, but it might be worth it if you're suffering from chronic pain in your arms, legs, or neck. It doesn't have any parts that need to be replaced, so once you buy it there won't be any more ongoing expenses.

Quell Relief

Quell is a wearable pain relief device that allows you to get pain relief while moving around.
It's designed to be worn around the calf regardless of where you're experiencing pain. It works by stimulating your nerves in a way that releases your body's natural painkillers. This means the Quell pain relief unit will give you pain relief for your whole body, not just a specific area.
Quell offers temporary relief only. It doesn't fix the source of your pain, and it isn't a cure. However, it will provide you with much needed relief while wearing it.
Quell is completely safe, and FDA approved to be worn 24/7 if you want non-stop pain relief. It uses a rechargeable battery, so you may need to wait for it to recharge from time to time.
The replaceable electrodes are fairly expensive, but each one will last for an entire month. Buying them in bulk will help reduce the price.
Interestingly, Quell comes with an app for iOS and Android that allow you to control the unit and track your sleep and therapy trends. It allows you to track 8 important sleep factors over the timespan of 1 day to 3 months.

Alpha Stim

The Alpha Stim is a handheld electronic pain relief device. The device looks like two pens connected by a wire. It also has a wireless controller which is used to adjust the settings.
It sends microcurrents directly to the pain site, which modulates the pain signals of the cells, thus reducing pain.
It's also capable of cranial electrotherapy stimulation, which relieves anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
The Alpha Stim is handheld, which means you'll have to actually hold it in place to get pain relief. This is fine in most cases, but can be troublesome if your pain area is in an awkward spot.
Also, the Alpha Stim is not available over the counter. You'll need to have a valid prescription from a healthcare professional in order to get one.
It's an expensive option at over $1,000, but since you need a prescription to buy it your insurance should cover most of it.

Cefaly

The Cefaly anti-migraine device helps treat and prevent migraines. It is a small wireless device that is worn on your forehead.
It's an FDA approved device, and is available by prescription. Its side effects are very minor and have only been observed in a small percentage of users.
The worst side effect observed was an allergic skin reaction at the contact point. Skin reactions can be reduced by cleaning the contact point before use.
The point of contact happens through an electrode pad placed on your forehead. It can be used around 20 times before needing to be replaced. Replacement pads are somewhat expensive, but it's offset by their long lifespan.
Cefaly is easy to use. The only options are the on-off button, and the intensity settings. It runs on an automatic cycle and will shut off on its own after 20 minutes.
Cefaly is one of the few electronic pain relief devices intended to treat migraines. If you're suffering from chronic migraines you should ask your healthcare professional about getting a prescription.

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using a TENS Unit

TENS units used only to be available in medical institutions. The price of TENS units have dropped dramatically, and now it's completely possible for anyone to have a TENS unit for home use.

Here are five compelling reasons why you should have a TENS unit for personal use.

Why You Should Consider TENS Units For Pain Relief

Pain Relief

TENS units are an effective way to manage pain, both chronic and acute. From back pain to arm pain, a TENS unit is capable of providing effective relief from most symptoms.

The device will send low current electrical signals to your nerve cells which will block them from sending pain signals to your brain. TENS devices are highly effective and used by many people to provide much-needed pain relief.

Mobility

Want pain relief on the go? Wireless TENS units might be for you.

Mobile TENS units are completely wireless and are designed to be discrete and allow you to move around while using them. This makes them effective for use on the road, at work, or any other public place.

A mobile TENS unit will allow you to forget about your pain and live your life again.

Simplicity

TENS units, especially wireless TENS units, are easy to use. You won't have to spend all day reading instructions on how to set it up or operate it.

Some machines have more options than others, but for the most part, all you really need to do is attach the electrodes and turn it on. Depending on your machine, you may have a few buttons or simply have to turn a dial.

Finding the right spot to place the electrodes can be tricky at first, but as you'll quickly get the hang of it after a few uses.

The hardest part of using a TENS unit is picking one out from the many available options.

Affordable Pain Relief

It used to be that TENS units were too expensive to own. Now, you can easily buy them over the counter for prices as low as $20.

In addition to having a low price tag, TENS units will also save you money over time. By managing your pain with a TENS device, you'll save money on expensive pharmaceutical drugs and doctor visits.

Ask yourself, how much does a single doctor visit cost? What about a month's supply of your current pain medications?

Not only that but imagine all the time you'll save not having to wait around at an office or standing in line for a prescription.

Safety

Safety is important and is perhaps the biggest reason you should be using a TENS unit.

Think about what you're using to manage your pain right now. Pharmaceutical drugs? Risky and invasive surgeries? Those methods are both expensive and potentially dangerous.

On the other hand, TENS units have a distinct lack of severe side effects. In fact, all of the side effects are completely avoidable just by following the simple instructions that come with your device. TENS units are by far the safest way for you to find pain relief.

Article Source - 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using a TENS Unit

Acupressure Point Linked with Stress and Pain Relief, and Other Health Benefits

Sometimes, modern medicine is not meant to do the trick. When all the pill bottles in the world can't solve your problem, where do you turn? Many practitioners of alternative medicine swear by acupressure as the be-all and end-all of health remedies. Among other spots on your body, the LV 3 point is noteworthy as a powerful multipurpose booster for all-around health.

Located near the metatarsal bones in your foot, LV 3 — also known as Tai Chong — stands for Liver 3 because of its connection to the liver meridian, which connects to numerous different parts of your body and helps affect your health in several ways. Here are a few examples of the way the LV 3 point can influence your body.

1. Stress relief
Modern Reflexology reports the LV 3 point can affect stress levels positively by increasing your concentration and clarity of thought. The point is also said to relieve fatigue.

2. Painkiller
WebMD indicates that LV 3 can be a great source of pain relief, as it is connected to the lower back. Explore IM adds that genital problems in general can also be lessened by stimulating LV 3, including but not limited to menstrual cramps. Lastly, it is also said to help with eye problems and headaches.

3. Digestion
According to Acupressure Wellness, LV 3 can help cure indigestion, upset stomachs, and even hangovers. By managing your metabolism through this point, you could also potentially find ways to slim down, the website suggests.

4. Antidepressant
WebMD says studies suggest LV 3 may also have to do with improvements with regards to depression and anxiety, possibly as a consequence of fewer instances of stress and insomnia.

5. Fight Parkinson's
This one is a little different, as it involves acupuncture as opposed to acupressure. The Northwest Parkinson's Foundation reports LV 3 has been historically used to fight tremors caused by Parkinson's disease.

In order to find your LV 3 point, locate, while barefoot, the area between your big toe and the adjacent one, then find the famous spot by moving two fingers' width downward. Explore IM says the point is located just near the protruding bone there, but not quite on it. Once you've found a slight depression in your foot, press down gently and massage the area. Do this in short intervals, a few times a day.

While you are free to experiment with gentle stimulation of the LV 3 and other acupressure points, it is recommended to exercise caution, as this form of medicine can have unforeseen consequences for your health. WebMD says to avoid the practice if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins, or are pregnant, as these could cause complications; if you have heart disease or cancer consult your doctor before trying acupressure. As far as acupuncture is concerned, it is strongly recommended not to experiment with it yourself, as there is obviously a serious risk for injury. Only go to licensed professionals for assistance.

This article has been first published on home.remedydaily.com