Riding the Waves: Diagnosing, Treating, and Living with EMF Sensitivity
by
Elizabeth Maxim, PhD
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Published by:
Elizabeth Maxim at Smashwords
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Copyright © 2010 by Elizabeth Maxim
elizabethmaxim.com
* * * * *
With love and thanks to Aaron, my dreamcatcher, who encouraged me to never let go of my dream.
And to Dylan and Hunter, for being my office mates.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude to the following individuals for their tireless support and assistance with this book: Aaron Maxim, Derek Gauger, Brook Brown, Ken Hutchinson, and Robert Hamaker
I would also like to thank the following people for their friendship and encouragement as I walked the author’s path: Mike Trebilcott, Barb and Dick Cole, Maureen Trebilcott, Michael Trebilcott, Anne McKenna, Gregg and Kim Nichols, Tom Keel, Deborah Fruchey, Scott MacKercher, Sue and John Gainey, Andy Wick, Robert Paris, Richard Parker, Jack MacKercher, Tim Barrie, Mary Travis, Dr. Arturo Paz, Dr. Robert Levine, Dr. David Brownstein and the staff at the Center for Holistic Medicine, Dr. John C Webster, Dr. Yuan-da Fan, Dr. Stacia Lansman and the staff at Pediatric Alternatives, RWA, and the Northern Colorado Writers Group
And finally, to Eric Hoheisel, for giving me my first copy of The Writer’s Market and setting me on the path.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3: INVESTIGATIONS AND REVELATIONS
15: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
16: NEW LOCATIONS, NEW SOURCES
19: LIFE AS A CONTINUING EXPERIMENT
21: SO, WHAT IS EMF SENSITIVITY?
24: HOW DO I TREAT EMF SENSITIVITY?
25: WILL THESE THERAPIES HELP ME?
26: EMF SENSITIVITY, CFS AND FIBROMYALGIA
27: EMF SENSIVITY AND MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY
28: EMF SENSITIVITY, ADD AND ADHD
30: WHAT DOES MOTHER NATURE HAVE TO SAY?
33: OLD PATTERNS THROUGH A NEW LENS
35: LIVING WITH EMF SENSITIVITY
You have just purchased a book that may very well be the most important health guide in your repertoire. This incredible work provides invaluable insight into a complex and scarcely researched condition as well as beneficial techniques which will extend far beyond traditional methods for improving your physical, emotional, and interpersonal well being.
EMF Sensitivity (Electro Magnetic Frequency Sensitivity) is a commonly misunderstood condition, ironically primarily by the medical community and by those who suffer from it. Most of us recognize that the proliferation of electronic devices in our daily lives has made them not only ubiquitous but also integral to our lifestyles. This holds true regardless of the rate at which any one individual integrates technology in their life. Nearly every electrical device from mobile phones, remote controls, microwave ovens, to household appliances has the potential to emit EMFs in varying degrees of magnitude and in various frequency bands. The pervasiveness of these devices in our daily lives is increasing at an alarming rate and there is nothing that we as individuals can do to abate or avert this. For the few out there who are educated about the detrimental effects of the EMFs, this is an alarming reality; for the vast majority, unaware of this causal relationship, the negative impact of the EMFs on their equilibrium is endured as something “unexplainable,” “confusing,” and “frustrating.”
The engineering community has, for many years, understood the EMF interactions between electrical devices in the context of science. In this community, the terms EMI (electro magnetic interference) and EMC (electro magnetic compatibility) have been well understood and a vast amount of engineering effort has been applied to dealing with the complexities and challenges associated with both. Great effort and time have been expended on engineering and testing in order to make electronic devices compatible with one another; and, extensive studies have been conducted to understand the general environment of the electromagnetic world.
I have explained my condition of EMF Sensitivity to fellow scientists as EMI or Electro Magnetic Intolerance; the concept resonated well with them largely due to our shared engineering background.
Although sophisticated methods of testing and international standards have been developed to guide the engineering community in device-to-device interactions from EMFs, few studies exist for these interactions with humans. The few exceptions are standards that address the extreme case where extraordinarily strong EMFs can cause severe damage to the body such as the development of tumors.
This is precisely why Elizabeth’s research is immensely important. It will guide you through the steps of degrading the negative effects and enhancing your “immunity” against the condition.
I truly believe that everyone suffers to some extent from EMF Sensitivity. Some, like myself and Elizabeth, go through a daily struggle ranging from low levels of anxiety to debilitating symptoms. In some of the extreme cases, the symptoms combined with the medical community’s lack of understanding, can severely impact one’s personal relationships and well-being. When one explores even the most simplistic models of the human body as a system (much like the engineering community would approach a design), they are still faced with a vastly complex and, despite the existing research, a largely misunderstood science. What we do know is that the human body is an intricate electro-chemical system; therefore, it should not be at all surprising that the overabundance of electrical devices in our lives actually do disrupt the system, hence the balance of human health.
For most of us, answering the question of whether or not we have EMF Sensitivity and to what extent is difficult. Those who are too young to remember the days when computers, cell phones, computer controlled cars, and digital music systems didn’t exist, you have never lived in an environment with much lower EMF levels. For those who aren’t, the transition both to higher levels and the associated symptoms has been gradual.
I belong to the latter group. It wasn’t until I met Elizabeth when I realized that my “habit” of continually “breaking” electronic devices (I can never make a cell phone last more than 8 months) was not just bad fortune; that walking into a room full of computers and feeling anxious was not coincidental; that feeling depressed in an office lit by fluorescent lights was not circumstantial. For those of you who may have a similar condition and are unaware as I was, it requires an open mind to come to terms with it. It’s just the same as visiting a doctor’s office and being diagnosed with an ailment whose origin and remedy are both foreign.
On a much more positive note, Riding the Waves provides all of us with solutions, many of which are not costly or are entirely free of charge. Elizabeth’s work is both poignant and pragmatic. I predict sufferers will relate immediately while skeptics will perhaps have difficulty with certain aspects of the book, particularly in the first section where Elizabeth describes many of her extreme case conditions. I encourage all of you to continue reading through to the ensuing sections as I believe that everyone can benefit from understanding EMF Sensitivity. Elizabeth, a well educated, caring, and insightful practitioner, writes from the heart in a grounded manner, much like the way she interacts with patients, friends, and family.
With well wishes for harmony and health, enjoy!
Derek Gauger
CEO, Proxisafe Ltd.
The material in the following pages may contain information that is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of your health care provider. It is not intended to replace the advice of a physician. Please consult with your health care provider on specific medical questions.
For continuing updates please check out my website at www.elizabethmaxim.com.
July 1, 2009
Interstate 580, Bay Area, CA
“This is where I start to feel bad,” I said, gazing up at the Oakland Hills.
The San Francisco skyline, visible in the passenger side mirror, receded into the distance.
“This is the Hayward Fault,” my husband replied, his hands on the wheel.
“Then it gets better for a bit and then starts up again further up the freeway, at 680.”
“That’s the Calaveras Fault,” he answered.
“Interesting,” I responded, absently drumming my fingers against the door. “There aren’t any in San Francisco, you know.”
I was silent as we drove through the Caldecott Tunnel, mentally reviewing symptoms, dates, and locations. My eyes widened. The fault lines were making me sick.
WE relocated to the Bay Area in the fall of 2000 after I received a job transfer. Wanting to get a feel for the different neighborhoods before buying a home, we rented an apartment near my office in the East Bay. Shortly thereafter, I began to experience health issues, the worst of which was severe fatigue. I also had difficulty sleeping and a recurrence in migraines, a problem I hadn’t suffered from in years.
At first, I was willing to chalk it up to the stress of moving across the country and starting a new job. However, as time progressed and things settled down but the symptoms didn’t, I decided to look deeper. I scheduled a physical.
The doctor and I discussed low thyroid as a possible cause of the fatigue and he ordered the appropriate blood tests. I asked for something to help me sleep, figuring that after about three full nights of sleep, my body’s natural rhythm would kick in and I’d be fine.
Most of the physical was routine. However, an EKG turned up an irregularity; inverted T waves. These waves on an EKG represent the resetting of the electrical cells in the bottom chamber of the heart. This was a surprise as previous EKGs had always been normal. The doctor didn’t seem overly concerned but still made a note of the new development in my chart. The rest of the physical went well; no health issues were uncovered.
The test results from the blood work showed my thyroid hormone levels within the normal range. However, since I was still suffering from severe fatigue, the doctor prescribed thyroid medication to see if it would make a difference.
After a few weeks I returned for follow up blood work. The fatigue hadn’t improved so we began to look for other causes, including low dopamine levels. He suggested I try an anti-depressant. I didn’t think I was depressed but if it would help with the fatigue, I was willing to give it a try.
When I returned for the results of the second blood test the doctor told me that my thyroid levels had actually gone down. He explained that my thyroid gland, in response to the supplemental medication, had scaled back production. This was an indication that low thyroid was not the source of the problem. We both agreed that I should stop taking the medication.
A short time after that I quit taking the anti-depressants. I actually felt worse while taking them, and in any event, I didn’t feel I was depressed.
Over the next several months I continued to struggle with fatigue, migraines, and difficulty sleeping. I tried natural therapies, including Bach Flower Remedies, vitamins, and juicing, but nothing helped.
In the summer of 2001, we bought a condo in San Francisco. Almost immediately after moving in, the symptoms vanished. I no longer had difficulty sleeping and my energy levels surged. My headaches disappeared and life returned to normal.
We lived in the city for four years until, with our first child eight months old, we decided to purchase a house. After an extensive search, we settled on the East Bay and moved into our home in August 2005.
Soon after moving in I began to feel unwell, lethargic. As the days passed, I realized something was wrong, though I wasn’t sure what. At first I said nothing, just tried to organize my thoughts and get a better understanding of what was happening. Unable to point to anything specific and finding no logical explanation, I focused on the mundane tasks associated with settling into a new home and neighborhood.
However, simply ignoring the symptoms didn’t make them go away. As the months passed I began to feel worse. I started having difficulty concentrating which took a toll on my writing career. I was tired and run down. I had a sense that things were going in the wrong direction, though I had nothing specific to point to.
My husband, Aaron, listened patiently as I tried, but failed, to find the words to describe what I was going through. He was supportive, but pointed out that we hadn’t lived there very long and suggested I give it a little more time; that things may get better. Although this went against my gut feelings, it was certainly a logical approach, so I pushed uncertainty aside in favor of waiting for things to improve.
Unfortunately, as the weeks and months passed, the rundown feeling worsened to a terrible fatigue, and I began to feel depressed about being so tired all the time.
I talked to my doctor but nothing ever turned up; all medical tests came back normal. I followed up with my ob/gyn. All the blood tests he ordered came back normal. Post-natal vitamins especially formulated for extreme fatigue had no noticeable effect. Herbs that strengthened the adrenals were ineffective. I tried acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Any positive effect was very temporary.
In 2006, I became pregnant with our second child. The fatigue was unbelievable. Even the doctor seemed surprised at how tired I was, especially when the fatigue lasted the entire pregnancy.
“Maybe next time you’ll feel better,” he would say sympathetically.
In addition to the constant exhaustion, I found myself suffering from a mysterious skin irritation on my left wrist and hand. Although the skin looked absolutely normal, no rash or redness, it itched terribly. I removed my watch and scrubbed it. I tried cleansing the skin, but it continued to itch. Thinking it could be dry skin, I tried moisturizer, but that didn’t help either. I tried switching laundry detergent and bath soap, changing my diet, but nothing made a difference.
One night, when I couldn’t sleep because of the itching. I decided to try Benadryl© lotion. Fortunately, I got enough relief that I was finally able to fall asleep. However, nothing completely eliminated the problem and the symptoms of skin irritation continued to come and go at random for no explicable reason.
INVESTIGATIONS AND REVELATIONS
AS time went on I became more firmly convinced that whatever was wrong had to do with where we were living. Unfortunately, I didn’t know why that might be the case, and I had no proof.
I continued to feel depressed which was truly unusual for me. I lamented that I was too young to feel so old and too healthy to feel so sick.
Traditional medical tests always came back normal and my physicals, aside from the inverted T waves, hadn’t turned anything up. Since I have a doctorate in holistic medicine, I left no stone unturned in considering alternate remedies. I pursued every natural therapy I could think of. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to help.
Then, starting in April 2008, I noticed that periodically the fatigue would become so severe that I was practically debilitated. It got to the point where I refused to drive on those days because I felt my ability to react was impaired; that I couldn’t drive safely. My eyes burned with fatigue and I felt heaviness in the area of my forehead. Everything seemed to slow down and I had difficulty concentrating. It was as if someone had poured molasses on my brain.
I never knew when this extreme fatigue would hit. It would last approximately three days and then improve to the constant level of fatigue that I struggled with on a daily basis.
I continued to feel very depressed. In fact, I’d noticed that at times, the depression darkened to a feeling of hopelessness and deep despair. I was completely puzzled by these symptoms because there didn’t seem to be any logical explanation for them. Strangely, the depression was kind of hollow; it didn’t feel emotionally or mentally created. I began to wonder if the constant fatigue was making me feel depressed or if I really was depressed and one of the symptoms was constant fatigue. What was truly puzzling, however, was the fact that the feelings of depression would come and go, seemingly at random, for no identifiable reason.
Interestingly, although I felt these overwhelmingly dark moods come over me; I never felt they were part of me. As crazy as it sounded, I continued to insist that whatever was happening was not psychological, emotional, or mental. I knew something very wrong was happening. I didn’t have an explanation for it and I had no cause I could point to, but I knew myself. I knew that whatever was going on was outside of me; that I was reacting to something. I knew it in my gut.
Still, I believed a bit of due diligence was in order. I contacted my father and a couple of longtime friends to discuss my disposition. All of them agreed that I was generally an upbeat person not prone to depression, and that I was someone who rebounded rather quickly from the curve balls life occasionally threw. I certainly felt vindicated by their assurances, but also frustrated. I still had no explanation for the mysterious symptoms.
It was at this same time, April 2008, that I began to suffer a constant runny nose, mucous drainage, and my eyes would water and burn.
What next?!
Resenting this new development, I tried allergy medication but got little relief. I tried cold tablets but that didn’t work at all. I switched back to allergy medication, trying a different brand. I got some relief, but not much.
I was still having the itching problem on my left wrist and hand, but I was fairly certain it was not an allergic reaction. There were no visible signs of irritation; no rash, no redness, and no swelling. Additionally, it came and went at random, not in response to any specific event or stimuli.
I read up on allergies and although severe fatigue was listed as a symptom, I wasn’t convinced. My instincts told me that my symptoms were being caused by something other than a simple allergy. Besides, if it was an allergy, why wouldn’t it have started right after we moved into our house, back in 2005?
Interestingly, I had noticed that when we were away from home, I often felt better. This suggested that whatever was causing the issue was very close to the house, so, in spite of my strong belief that the symptoms were not the result of an allergic reaction, I did some intense detective work.
To start, I considered any changes I might have made, including detergents, food and beverage choices, lifestyle changes, anything I thought could result in the strange symptoms.
Next, I considered the trees and plants in our neighborhood. With the exception of the sycamores and the Monterey pines, I had been around most of them at other times in my life and never recalled having had a problem. In fact, I had never before suffered allergy symptoms like the ones that began in April 2008.
Withholding judgment, I went about normal activities, always paying close attention to when and where I felt better or worse. One day we took the kids to a nearby park and I noticed that in spite of the fact that we were surrounded by the same trees and plants that grew near our home, my symptoms were absent. Obviously, I could put the allergy theory to rest.
Life continued to be punctuated by symptoms that varied in severity, that would come and go, seemingly at random. This made getting to the bottom of what was going on a supreme challenge. Then, one summer day in 2009, a casual conversation with Aaron changed everything.
We lived in the Bay Area. The implications that fault lines were compromising my health were staggering.
IF fault lines were in fact making me sick then I should feel the symptoms, not just in the East Bay, but anywhere where they were located.
I discussed the situation with a friend who is a mechanical engineer. It was gratifying to be able to talk about the issue in-depth with an objective third party. Derek not only agreed my hypothesis had merit, he suggested it would be easy enough to test. As we sat eating lunch at the Sea Breeze in Berkeley, he outlined his idea to both Aaron and I. Aaron would create a driving route that would take us over and near various fault zones around the Bay Area. As a passenger, I would make note of any symptoms or lack of them and see if they coincided with the location of those fault lines. Naturally, I would have to be unaware of the location of any fault lines Aaron selected. This would prove to be an easy requirement to fulfill.
As a transplant, my knowledge of Bay Area faults was pretty limited. Other than what I’d learned decades before in a geology 101 course, my only understanding was that the Hayward Fault was probably in Hayward, the Calaveras Fault was near Pleasanton, and the San Andreas Fault was somewhere out in the Pacific Floor. Complying with the conditions of the test would be simple.
Aaron obtained fault line data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS)1. Their website soon became a valuable resource in our efforts to get to the bottom of what was happening.
He mapped out a route for our first test. Armed with a notebook, we packed the family into the car. I took my place in the passenger seat and we set out to see if we could confirm my suspicions.
I scribbled out information, noting symptoms, their severity, and the locations where I was affected. I also wrote down when and where they eased up. The symptoms came and went pretty instantaneously, as if someone was flipping a switch on and off.
About halfway through the trip Aaron told me it was evident I was able to correctly identify the locations of fault lines based on feedback I gave him about how I was feeling. The symptoms coincided with fault locations on the route he’d designed.
At one point we passed through an area where Route 4 veered toward the city of Richmond. I felt symptoms quite intensely, yet Aaron said he wasn’t aware of any fault lines nearby; none had shown on the map he’d referenced. I countered by pointing out that the maps would only list known fault lines, and that more than once authorities had become aware of a fault line only after an earthquake alerted them to its existence.
I was able to subsequently confirm the presence of a fault line in that exact location when the USGS reported a quake on it only a week later.
The drive around the Bay Area was certainly illuminating. By the time we’d returned home I was exhausted. I felt as if I’d been beat up. For several miles and for over an hour I had experienced one or more symptoms, including difficulty breathing, dizziness, a runny nose, burning, watery eyes, mucous drainage in my throat, a tightness in my chest, a knot in my stomach, nausea, and heartburn, something I’d never suffered from in my life.
Symptoms turned on and off in a very precise way. The moment we were on or very close to a fault line, they appeared. Once we’d moved on, they vanished as if they were never there.
The experiment was indeed a success. The fault lines were definitely making me sick.
The question was, why?
MY initial research into the geology of our planet proved fruitful in that I learned a great deal about fault lines. Unfortunately, none of it explained why I was feeling so sick around them. Obviously, more investigation was needed.
Even as I dreaded the prospect of feeling so awful, I needed to learn more, so, more driving was in order. Aaron chauffeured me around, varying the route but always making sure to travel near and over fault lines, which isn’t difficult when you live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It made sense to be chauffeured for these experiments for a number of reasons. For one, I was able to take notes in a spiral notebook I was keeping for that purpose. Secondly, I had someone who could act as a witness and assistant. Lastly, because the symptoms were debilitating at times, it was better to have a healthy person behind the wheel.
*****
“Do you think it could be electromagnetic waves?” I wondered aloud as my family drove back from Berkeley one afternoon.
It certainly seemed plausible to me that waves from the earth’s magnetic core could travel up through the fault lines, through the atmosphere, and into my cells where they proceeded to wreak havoc. But how could I test such a hypothesis?
At that point I had to smile at one of life’s little ironies. I had married an electrical engineer. Who better to discuss the principles of electromagnetic theory with?
Aaron and I had an in-depth discussion about electromagnetic waves including the highly flammable debate regarding whether or not electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) were harmful to humans.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if electromagnetic waves came out of the fault lines,” Aaron answered. “That’s an opening in the earth. I’m just not sure what part of the spectrum that would be.”
The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the name used to refer to various types of wave-based radiation; radiation being energy that travels and spreads out as it goes. The different types of energy on the spectrum are described in terms of wavelength, and amplitude. Amplitude is the magnitude of the wave. Wavelength is the distance from the top of one wave to the next. Frequency is the number of waves passing a point per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).
Radio, microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and Gamma-rays are all forms of electromagnetic energy and refer to ranges of frequency. They appear on the spectrum in order from lowest to highest and because wavelength is inversely proportional to its frequency, energies with the lowest frequencies have the longest wavelengths. This means they can travel the furthest distance and, surprisingly, may have the strongest impact.
It’s understood that the energies at the high end of the frequency spectrum are highly radioactive and pose a threat to human health, but what about those at the opposite end?
“I worked in the technology industry for nearly twenty years and never had any issues,” I pointed out. “I’ve never had any problems around cell phones or microwaves either; at least, none that I’m aware of.”
I paused, thinking. I needed to prove whether or not electromagnetic waves were causing the symptoms, but how?
As we drove through the Caldecott tunnel I thought about the nature of electromagnetic waves. If I could find something to absorb the waves in place of my cells or at least deflect them away from my body, and I got relief from the symptoms, I could be pretty sure I had my answer. So, what could I use?
“Too bad I don’t have a Faraday cage.”
Also known as a Faraday shield, the device is an enclosure used to block external static electrical fields, and, if constructed for such a purpose, electromagnetic radiation2. Anything and anyone inside such a device would be protected.
However, since I couldn’t get my hands on such a device, nor easily build one in my backyard, I knew I had to focus on materials I could get access to.
“I wonder if lodestone would help, or quartz crystal?”
Touted by New Age practitioners for their therapeutic and grounding properties, crystals and minerals have a history in healing that spans multiple cultures and goes back thousands of years. In fact, I had studied these modalities while earning my doctorate; with a course in vibrational medicine and one in magnetic healing. While my family waited in the car, I paid a visit to a local New Age store.
I easily found the section with baskets full of minerals, crystals, and stones purported to heal or otherwise promote well-being. Excited, I reached for a large piece of lodestone, a naturally magnetized piece of the mineral magnetite, fairly certain that once I held it I would feel a moment of Ahh.
To my utter dismay, a strong burning electrical sensation traveled through the fingers of my right hand, up my arm, down my spine and straight down my right leg. Yelping in pain, my arm jerked and I tossed the lodestone away from me. Vigorously shaking out my fingers and leg, I worked to regain my equilibrium. I wiped my hand against my jeans several times before staring at the seemingly innocuous mineral. I had handled lodestone before, while living in San Francisco, and had never had that reaction. I decided to try again. This time, when the same thing happened, I was somewhat prepared, and therefore, a bit more controlled in releasing the stone. I tried holding it in my left hand and although it wasn’t quite as painful, I got the same end result.
I picked up an information placard that listed the geologic and reputed healing properties for various crystals and stones, scanning for any others that were magnetic. Tiger iron, a combination of golden tiger’s eye, red jasper, and black hematite, was described as having magnetic properties. However, the basket for tiger iron was empty.
I decided to test each stone individually and then collectively by holding all three at once. My lips curled in distaste, however, as I eyed the hematite. Although reputed for grounding and healing properties, I had never been able to touch the stone without feeling immense discomfort. In fact, the sensations I felt when I held the stone were so unpleasant, I decided to forgo including it in my little experiment.
I picked up the golden tiger’s eye but felt nothing. Putting it back, I reached for the red jasper. An unpleasant electrical sensation began to move up my arm so I quickly put it back. Although this bit of research had only taken a few minutes, I had gained a great deal of knowledge.
I started to leave when I remembered the quartz crystal. The store had several varieties to choose from, including rose and smoky. However, holding these crystals had absolutely no effect. Putting them back in the baskets, I returned to the car to give my report to Aaron.
ONCE we were home, both of us got on the Internet. I kept thinking back to the Faraday cage and my desire to have something absorb the energy in place of my cells.
“I wonder if copper would do the trick?”
I knew from my days working with computer networks that it was an excellent and affordable conduit. Across the room, Aaron nodded and we proceeded to have an in-depth discussion about the conductivity of metals. He located a table that ranked various metals (see Table 1). The higher the conductivity was, the better the metal’s ability to shield from electromagnetic fields.
I noted that copper was second only to silver when it came to shielding strength.
“Silver is ideal but it’s too expensive,” Aaron pointed out. “That’s why copper is used in homes and office buildings.”
In fact, copper is the de facto standard for conductive material.
I noticed that stainless steel was toward the bottom of the list. I stared at my watch, considering. Since moving to California I had had to replace the battery two to three times more often than average. I even had one jeweler jokingly suggest that I offer my services to battery manufacturers as a tester.
Staring at the stainless steel band, I pursed my lips. Even if my watch was absorbing some of the waves in place of my cells, it wasn’t effective enough to lessen the negative physical effects.
“I found the frequency of fault lines,” Aaron called from across the room.
I gave him my attention.
“Wow, it’s really low. It’s something like .01 Hz.”
I didn’t know much about the ultra-low frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum other than that they traveled farther distances than their higher counterparts.
“I remember reading in that book, The Intention Experiments, that researchers had had a hard time shielding some of the experiments from magnetic waves,” I told him. “They used a Faraday cage. I really want to try the copper.”
Fortunately, my kids love a trip to the hardware store almost as much as a trip to the toy store. While they played with little plastic gizmos and gadgets I grabbed onto a rope of copper wrapped around a spool.
“Nothing,” I said, disappointed. My plan had been to buy some of the copper and fashion it into a bracelet or necklace and see how that worked.
“Maybe you should go try that jewelry?” Aaron suggested, referring to copper bracelets sold at golf supply and New Age stores. They had a reputation for healing.
With nothing to lose, I went back to the New Age store. Idly, I wondered if they were thinking, Oh no, here’s that lady again. I hope she doesn’t throw anything this time.
On the counter was a selection of bracelets. Although some of them were purely copper, most of the ones displayed were a combination of copper, silver, and jeweler’s brass. I tried one made from copper only and felt nothing.
I then selected a pretty one with all three metals fashioned in a wave-like design. The moment I placed it on my right wrist I felt an immediate sense of relief and a slight, though not painful, tingling on my arm. Excited, I wondered if the effect was cumulative. I added a second bracelet, also made of all three metals, and felt even better.
Since I already had my watch with the stainless steel band on my left wrist, I decided that a single bracelet would probably be sufficient. Through trial and error I decided that one made from copper and silver felt best. Ecstatic at the relief I felt, not to mention the surge of energy, I purchased the bracelets and drove home, anxious to share the good news with Aaron.
I’d found a cure.
Or, so I thought.
IT seemed too fantastical that just wearing bracelets made of copper, silver, and brass could have such a profound effect on my health, but I couldn’t argue with how much better I felt. I had more energy than I’d had in years, the itching on my left wrist and hand had stopped and the allergy symptoms I’d been suffering from for over a year had vanished completely. I no longer had a runny nose or watery, burning eyes. I was thrilled that my theory had proven valid and that there was even a scientific explanation.
Magnetic shielding is achieved when materials are used to create an area of higher magnetic field. Essentially, the bracelets, with their higher magnetic field, were drawing the waves, absorbing them in place of my cells, just as I’d theorized.
Still, further testing was needed. I wanted to know, for instance, if anything else would have the same effect. Salt water, perhaps?
I loved the ocean. I felt energized sitting on a beach, smelling the salty air, and watching the waves roll in. I had read something about negative ions improving human health but felt it rather inconclusive. Still, there was something healing about salt water.
That evening I removed the bracelets and got into a bath into which I’d added a cup of baking soda and a half a cup of non-iodized sea salt. I chose this combination not only because of the salinity it would create but also because it is a healing bath in and of itself.
Within minutes of removing the bracelets I began to feel poorly. I paid attention to the symptoms and their severity and decided that, in the bath, they weren’t quite as bad. I suspected this was because of the salt content of water. I believed it was acting as a low-level shielding. After I got out of the bath I put the bracelets back on. Within minutes I was feeling better.
My next test was to drive back over the fault zones while wearing the bracelets and see if I noticed any difference. This time I drove alone. I discovered new areas where I felt symptoms and noted that, although I was still able to feel the physical effects when I was on or very close to fault lines, the symptoms didn’t seem to be quite as severe and there weren’t as many of them. The bracelets were definitely working.
The medical use of copper dates back to ancient Egypt and Rome3. Early theories suggested that copper worn next to the skin was absorbed into the bloodstream through the dermis, facilitating healing.
I had noticed that there was a unique green coloring on my wrists, and that the veins near where the bracelets touched my skin had raised closer to the surface, appearing to be almost engorged.
That evening I checked my husband’s wrist. He had purchased a bracelet made from silver and brass. While his reaction wasn’t as strong as mine, he said he noticed a slight tingling sensation, adding that he felt the bracelet had a soothing effect.
Sure enough, the veins near the bracelet were close to the surface and very green. He also had the same slight discoloration on his skin.
I didn’t believe this was the discoloration some people got when they wore cheap jewelry; a result of a chemical reaction. I had never had such a reaction to any jewelry. The green hue near where the bracelets touched our skin did not wash off, and it faded and reappeared at random.
Anxious to get my mind off my symptoms, we decided to do something fun. We decided to go hiking. Of course, since fault zones and mountains go together like peas and carrots, I knew this meant being subjected to some physical discomfort. However, my life had become a living experiment anyway, so I chose to focus on learning everything I could while doing something I loved. Besides, I had the bracelets.
We hiked at a vigorous pace and both of us carried the extra weight of a child. However, since I exercised regularly and was physically fit, I was only slightly winded. In fact, I realized that I had more difficulty breathing when simply sitting in the car near a fault line than from hiking up a mountain, carrying a toddler in the extreme heat associated with East Bay summers.