Originally published May 26 2005
New York doctor uses electromagnetic pulses to fight depression
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Some patients have enjoyed relief from their chronic depression using an experimental treatment developed by Dr. Sarah Lisanby, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York. Lisanby "jump starts" the left side of the brain, the side thought to control mood, with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is essentially applying powerful electromagnets directly to the skull. While the treatment is not 100 percent effective, Lisanby feels it is enough to just offer hope to a group of people who may have had none. While TMS can cause twitching, doctors say it is safe and painless, but more research will be needed before it is accepted for widespread use.
For 10 years, Martha Franco was so depressed that she says she couldn't enjoy the smell of flowers or laugh at jokes on TV comedy shows.
"I was suicidal a number of times," she said.
"It was like, 'This is not worth it.
Then Franco read about Dr. Sarah Lisanby's experimental treatment at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
The treatment, called transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, involves applying powerful electromagnets directly to the skull.
TMS uses electromagnets to send pulses of energy directly into the left side of the brain, which is thought to control mood.
The magnets create an electric current and get the brain cells to fire.
"One can think of this as sort of getting a jumper cable and jump-starting your car because your battery has been drained," said Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, who uses the treatment at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
While TMS can cause twitching, doctors say it is safe and painless.
Franco says the treatment restored her happiness and saved her marriage.
"The sun seemed brighter, food tasted different," she said.
"I mean, I could actually taste food.
TMS is still in the research phase and has not been approved by the government for widespread use.
Patients are generally treated for a few weeks and, if it works, the depression is staved off for months at a time.
"I don't want to get there anymore, ever again," she said, laughing.
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