Reply With QuoteBioresonace Therapy and all that.
The most effective treatment known for giving up smoking and also nothing more than a placebo.
Good day all
I'll open with an apology for the anecdotal reference that I'm about to give, but it is directly relevant to my query:
So, I dropped by to visit my Aunt and Uncle yesterday, my Aunt having just recovered from a hip operation. Whilst chatting in the lounge I spied upon the table what seemed to be a device not at all dissimilar from an e-meter (no doubt most UKS members will be familiar with the tool easily associated with scientologists and homeopaths). Immediately wary I enquired what the device was and my Aunt informed me that it was a "square wave resonator". My balloney detector started giving off little blipping sounds but I'm not one to dismiss things off-hand. My uncle (who happens to be a mechanical engineer) started telling me how they were first developed in the 1920's as a way of treating certain viruses and ailments.
Below are two links; one to a picture of an e-meter and one to a picture of a "square wave resonator". The picture of the resonator shows the device without the cylindrical "paddles" but if you look elsewhere on the internet I'm sure there'll be another picture about.
http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/images18/blue-e-meter.jpg
http://www.rifehealth.co.za/mediac/400_0/media/cd72f4cf2e7cb85ffff80937f000101.JPG
Apparently, according to my uncle, the designs and experiments of the square wave resonator were aimed at achieving the natural frequency for different bacteria, molecules, chemicals, etc.
I hadn't the faintest idea what "natural frequency" meant. Well, you know the pitch that an opera singer reaches and the champagne glass shatters in a somewhat spectacular manner? Well, the opera singer is reaching (and exceeding I think) the "natural frequency" of the crystal that the glass is composed of. When this happens, the crystal shatters.
So, if I'm extrapolating the anecdotal evidence (if I may be permitted such a grave oxymoron) correctly, square wave generators are supposed to resonate at the natural frequency of, say, the flu viruses' RNA particles, subsequently breaking them down and eliminating the virus.
Well, after searching online I can find little or no studies or articles that examine the effects of square waves or natural freqeuncies. But I'm a horribly poor online researcher, something I'm trying to remedy step by step. So I was hoping for something input/research from fellow UKS members. Would be great to get the current information out there and available. Please do let me know if any of my assumptions have been false or slightly skewed. I'm realise that I'm approaching this from a bit of a speculative viewpoint.
A couple of things I noted:
1. Anything described as a "resonator" fosters a heavy little feeling inside my gut. Magnetism healing in France, Scientology, Crystal healing, all contain similar descriptions. And all are based on out-dated, disproven methods of therapy/healing. Not that something should be dismissed by such a paltry observation, but it certainly makes me wary
2. Sure, after doing research on square waves I've figured out what they are and how they are formed (by combining several other different frequencies to create the square shape) this in itself doesn't explain why they should be effective in curing ailments.
3. After asking my aunt and uncle about the results of the resonator they both reported back very positively. My oh my, I think we've all experienced the temptation to believe stories from individual sources, especially if they're from close and trusted family and friends (remember, my uncle is a mechanical enigeer, and my aunt is a highly practical accountant). But another thing one should always remember (and I say this for myself rather than for the benefit of other members); always be highly, highly, highly sceptical of anecdotal evidence. Expectations, biases, the placebo effect (the mother of all underestimated confounding variables). These can all led to an opinion that runs contrary to the truth.
4. The resonator comes with multiple settings. Got the flu? Turn it onto the flu setting and it'll direct the square wave natural frequency at the little buggers. Got muscle cramp? No worries, just change the setting. Sore back? Cold? Headache? I've been well-enough tutored in contemporary and popular science literature to be sceptical of any product or device lauding itself as a cure-all.
Cheers and thanks. Hope this is deemed an interesting topic
Bioresonace Therapy and all that.
The most effective treatment known for giving up smoking and also nothing more than a placebo.
Resonant frequencies depend on physical dimensions. Wouldn't viruses be horribly close in size to cells within the body that we actually rely on? Scary!
Well, I've certainly heard of the bioresonance woo for curing cigarette addiction, and the associated schpeel about eliminating nicotine particles certainly smacks of the same stuff, except for the fact that I've never heard the "square wave" terminology before. It may be that this is a new and emerging term.Originally Posted by Matt
Well, next time I visit I'm going to try this contraption out. It just so happens that I have flu, so after trying it if I find I'm cured, I'll... well, do nothing really. I certainly won't infer efficacy of the device, nor will I disregard regression to the mean as a possible cure (), nor the placebo effect despite my apparent critical approach. But I may just take the device apart to see how it (supposedly) works. I hope my aunt and uncle don't mind.
But remember that just because it might not have a plausible mechanism doesn't mean it doesn't workWell, I've certainly heard of the bioresonance woo for curing cigarette addiction, and the associated schpeel about eliminating nicotine particles certainly smacks of the same stuff, except for the fact that I've never heard the "square wave" terminology before. It may be that this is a new and emerging term.
Well, next time I visit I'm going to try this contraption out. It just so happens that I have flu, so after trying it if I find I'm cured, I'll... well, do nothing really. I certainly won't infer efficacy of the device, nor will I disregard regression to the mean as a possible cure (
Don't worry, neither does anyone else.
I tend to get on my soap box a bit when the language of sceince is plagiarised in an attempt to support nonsense like this. Belivers dismiss the sceince when it challenges their fantasised view of the world but at the same time try to legitimise themselves with technical expressions stollen from the very desciplines they attempt to rubbish. It is, in my view, one of the most pernicious forms of woo. And in the end it is people like your uncle and aunt that can suffer at the hands of these pedlers of snale oil. Thanks for the rant, I feel better now.
Ha ha, rant one, rant all. Happy to provide a soap-box opportunity for you Bunny.
Well, after a little more investigation I thought this information might be of interest.
1. The are two definitions for natural frequency. The one is widely accepted, being synonomous with "fundamental frequency", this simply meaning the normal frequency that something resonates at (whether it be a crystal glass, the string of a guitar, the air column within a trombone) when it is forced to vibrate. Nothing higher grade there.
The second meaning is used primarily with regard to CAM therapies and treatments, usually in the vein of "we need to alter your fourth meridian so that your body functions at it's natural frequency?" This, as most are now aware, uses poor, arbitrary terminology and consequently says very little.
With regards to using vibration, standard waveforms and the natural frequency in practical application check out myth busters, they actually manager to shatter a glass with an unamplified human voice (this is merely of interest, it does not lend any credence to the theory that one can use natural frequencies for medical use) http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2005/05/m...glass_a_r.html
2. The square waveform resonator is being marketed almost exclusively in South Africa (where I'm visiting at the moment). They can be found online but as far as I can tell this seems to be a South African fad.
3. Sigh, as per usual, what seems to be a vaguely interesting research task turns out to be yet another, straight forward case of pseudo science woo. I was looking on Pubmed for research regarding the resonator, but all I needed to do was google. By following a link on the actual resonator site, I found the following specifications on the operating mechanics of this "amazing" device: A square wave crystal controlled oscillator is comprised of a quartz crystal monolithic dual resonator, having a pair of signal electrodes and a reference electrode cooperating therewith. After reading this my brain immediately fried into a burnt-out husk, rendering me incapable of typing the fifty giant question marks needed to follow that quote.
4. I'm sorry, but I just needed to post another quote from the site: The crystal controlled oscillator as set forth in claim 12 wherein the logic gate means includes first and second inverting logic gates, the input of said first gate being coupled to the first signal electrode, the output of said first logicgate being coupled to the input of said second logic gate, said switch means being interposed between said second signal electrode and said logic gate means for selectively coupling the output of said first and said second logic gates to said secondsignal electrode. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!! Actually, just please visit the site. If I quote any more I'll combust. Beware, cognitive damage may result.
Here is the site to the actual guys who peddle the oil: http://www.rifehealth.co.za/24312.html
Here is the US patent site link to a very similar product:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4044317/claims.html
Hope this proves informative for further searches on similar subjects
So, from your researchers, what is the 'square wave' itself? Is it an electrical current that passes through the body?
Like most of the words and phrases used by woo-sters "square wave" does have a real meaning:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_wave
Can't see how that helps to explain a Square Wave Resonance healing device however...
Okay, with regard to the square wave itself, it's actually very simple. We're all familiar with the regular sine wave, made up of peaks and troughs. Well, if you play a normal sine wave (say at a natural frequency of 500Mhz), then start adding other sine waves which are at odd multiples to the original frequency, you'll eventually get a square wave. Literally, when depicted on a wave graph, the wave will appear flat and square. Apparently the actual harmonics of a square wave are not pleasant to the ear.
For illustrated examples check out these links:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_7/2.html
http://www.fly.net/~ant/bl-synth/4.harmonics.html
Square waves are most practically used in circuits. Because of the literally flat or square nature of the wave (think about it, they go up and down much faster and more consistently) they tend to have fast transitions and are used in synchronous logic circuits. Think of a digital watch. Square waves are ideal to keep the parts synchronised because of the wave's fast and regular pattern.
However, this is all very well and fine, but it provides absolutely no indication (never mind proof), that square waves can be used as a treatment for cold, flu, back pain, etc.
Phew, hope that makes sense.
Yeh, I know what a square wave IS, I'm interested in what this one consists of. You could, for instance, have a magnetic square wave or an electrical one or sound or physical vibration or electromagnetic wave and so on ... Would I be right in saying this one consists of an electric current passing through the body?
Last edited by Mulder; 4th August 2009 at 11:33 AM.
So I thought I'd try to research this. I googled "healing square wave" the first page it found had references to both Deepak Chopra and Mercola.com. I'm just saying
Ah, sorry Mulder, my apologies. Well, the resonator has two paddles similar to an e-meter. I've just gripped both of them and yes, the waves consists of an electrical current.
However, would the medium in which the wave was delivered (auditory, magnetic, electrical, etc) make any difference to it's efficacy (well, assuming that it was effective at all)?
Another question is, surely running any sort of current through one's body would stimulate a response, whether it be an urge to urinate, light-headedness, "tingly" sensations, etc. All of these could be misconstrued as an effect on the ailment, rather than random side-effects, and ultimately to inferring that the device works.
So this page http://www.squarewavewellness.com/technology.html talks about a heritage from Royal Rife and Georges Lakhovsky so we're tallking about the same sort of thing as BRT, electrical waves. Except they then get all confused and start talking about frequencies of sound, light and even plasma too.
The website is in the US, so I guess their right to imply they can treat cancer is protected by by their precious 1st amendment
Indeed, once the claims of frequencies seeking, finding and destroying cancer cells start circulating, the little angry man in my head starts jumping up and down. The transition between curing the common cold and eliminating cancer seem to be but little steps for the mighty bio-resonance miracle makers.
But as you say Matt, the whole schpeel fits neatly within the BRT category, albeit with a slightly different background.
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