Medical Acupuncture
A Journal For Physicians By Physicians

Volume 13 / Number 2
"Aurum Nostrum Non Est Aurum Vulgi"

Editorial
Electroacupuncture: Electrons and Prions

Electroacupuncture influences basic elements composing living cells. The use of an electrical current (flow of electrons) attached between 2 or more needles produces a flow of electrons. The flow of electrons (negative charges) travels to other cells where there may be a paucity of electrons, i.e., it may travel up or down the electrical potential gradient. The flow of electrons produce a magnetic field. If we modulate the flow of electrons with a frequency change, we now have an even more complex electromagentic field interacting with a biological system. It has been demonstrated that electroacupuncture causes significant physiological and psychological changes in man. It may be that this flow of electrons, oscillating at various frequencies, influences an interaction of complex neurotransmitters, i.e., proteins to react in a beneficial and complex manner. The mechanism is still unclear. The magnetic field caused by the movement of electrons produces a field that attenuates by the laws of physics through the body, but, in space, does not attenuate power in a geometric dimension; a difficult concept to understand. It is feasible that metal needles may even serve as resonant and non-resonant antennae reacting with "meridian energy" that may surround our body. Perhaps the "meridian energy" from the physician is electrically coupled into this very complex event (the role of therapeutic intent and Healing Touch).

Virtually all neurodegenerative disorders involve abnormal processing of neuronal proteins. Recently, the
discovery of prions may be related to the etiological nature of neurodegenerative illnesses. Prions are the only known examples of infectious pathogens that are devoid of nucleic acid. Secondly, prion diseases may be manifested as infectious, genetic, or sporadic disorders. In mammals, prions reproduce by recruiting normal cellular prion protein
(PrPC) and stimulating its conversion to the disease-causing isoform (PrPSc). Thirdly, prion diseases result from
accumulation of PrPSc, which has a substantially different conformation from that of its precursor, PrPC. Fourthly, PrPSc can have a variety of conformations, each of which seems to be associated with a specific disease.1
The use of electroacupuncture and its role with prions remains unknown. It would be quite interesting to determine whether prions are frequency-sensitive to the use of electroacupuncture at various frequencies. Indeed, this is worthy of further research.

This issue of the journal was indeed fraught with major distractions caused by the terrorist attack on the United States, and the deaths that ensued at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the plane crash in Pennsylvania. These events appeared to overshadow all of our lives. To the people who lost loved ones, we express our deepest sorrow. All of our lives have been deeply touched and will never be quite the same again.
Once more, I express my deepest thanks to the Editorial Board, the AAMA Board for their continuing support, and especially to Roz Royal for her ongoing hard work and steadfast determination to keep the journal on track no matter what, and to Stacy Christiansen Krol for her consistent, dedicated assistance.
- Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH

REFERENCES
1. Prusiner SB. Neurodegenerative diseases and prions. N Engl J Med. 2001; 344:1516-1526.

EDITOR INFORMATION
Colonel Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, is a Radiation Oncologist on active duty in the United States Air Force. He is currently assigned to the United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California, as their first physician-acupuncturist. Dr Niemtzow practices Medical Acupuncture full-time with oncology and general patients, and is also involved in research.

Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH
1835 E Main St
El Cajon, CA 92021-5255
Phone: 619-447-6806 • Fax: 619-447-6881 • E-mail: N5EV@aol.com

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