Electromagnetic radiation blocking fabric reduces fibromyalgia pain
Date: January 25, 2007
Author: Matthew Hogg

New study finds that a special fabric called Farabloc can effectively reduce the pain felt by fibromyalgia sufferers.

Now there may be a drug-free alternative for fibromyalgia sufferers that initial published research has demonstrated to effectively reduce pain in the condition. The research published on January 11th in the respected medical journal, Clinical Rheumatology [abstract], studied a special fabric known as Farabloc, which has previously been shown to benefit athletes, enhancing muscle health, soothing aches and strains, and promoting rapid healing.

The research was a collaborative effort between Dr. Gerhard L. Bach of Germany, who collected the clinical data, and Dr. Douglas B. Clement, Professor Emeritus, Division of Sports Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Canada, who compiled and analyzed the data. Professor Bach, who has an academic affiliation with the Department of Medicine/Rheumatology at the University of Munich, conducted the trial of Farabloc at Clinic Auerbach, Bensheim.

Farabloc is made by Farabloc Development Corporation of British Columbia. The Farabloc fabric was developed by the company's president, Frieder Kempe, who was initially looking for a way to help his father, an amputee suffering from phantom limb pain. Kempe developed Farabloc from ideas based on the work of Michael Faraday, the 19th Century British scientist, hence the name Farabloc.

According to the product's Website, Farabloc is made up of a series of ultra thin steel fibres woven into a nylon fabric. The company says Farabloc works by blocking high frequency electromagnetic radiation, allowing the low frequency radiation to pass through. They cite research indicating that this affects the durability and stability of connective tissue cell membranes.

The Farabloc fabric can be used the way any other fabric would be. It can be made into wraps to be placed directly over sore or injured areas on the body, or it can be made into garments such as jackets, socks, gloves, or blankets.

For the fibromyalgia research Dr. Bach used nightgowns made from the Farabloc fabric and compared them to placebo nightgowns made from regular fabric. The research actually consisted of 2 individual studies carried out over a period of 4 years. In the phase 1 study, 126 fibromyalgia inpatients at a rheumatologic and rehabilitation hospital were randomly assigned to wear either a Farabloc nightgown or a placebo nightgown. Of the 126, 42 were given Farabloc gowns and 84 placebos. The patients wore the gowns for 8 hours per night for 20 nights. In the stage 2 study, 25 fibromyalgia patients were again randomly assigned to either a Farabloc nightgown or a placebo nightgown; but this time after 10 of 21 days of the trial, the gowns were switched without the patients' knowledge.

Before the studies began, the patients were each assessed to determine the severity of their pain, the frequency they experienced pain, and the amount of paracetemol they needed to control the pain. These factors were then reassessed halfway through the study period and again at the end.

The results of both studies revealed that the Farabloc was consistently superior to the placebo at reducing pain in the fibromyalgia patients. In the phase 1 study, the patients wearing the Farabloc nightgowns experienced significant reductions in all 3 of the indicators that were assessed. In the phase 2 study, the patients who wore the placebo nightgown for the first 10 days and the Farabloc gown until the end of the study showed similar improvements.

Commenting on previous Farabloc research, Dr. Clement said, "I have been involved in sports medicine for many years, and I never came across a product like Farabloc. This electromagnetic shielding fabric not only relieves pain but also reduces inflammation. Farabloc is an effective drug free alternative for pain reduction and injury recovery."

Farabloc Development Corporation president Frieder Kempe has talked about how rewarding it is to see his theories confirmed and said, "It's almost overwhelming to think of how much relief this product has provided for so many people."

Dr. Bach and Dr. Clement have acknowledged that there were some limitations to their study, notably the single-blind rather than double-blind design (Dr. Bach knew which patients were using the Farabloc nightgowns and which weren't). That said, the results would seem to be quite convincing, especially when combined with the previous studies involving different kinds of pain.

Farabloc could be an exciting alternative to conventional drug therapies for fibromyalgia pain, along with other alternative therapies such as massage, exercise, etc. It has the advantage of being free from side-effects and without contraindications. Drugs may not be an option for some fibromyalgia sufferers due to sensitivity and intolerances, so something like Farabloc could be the perfect alternative. It is available from the Farabloc Website in a variety of forms, from long and short sleeve shirts to wraps and strappings aimed at specific joints and muscles. After having a look at the store, the prices initially seem quite high; but over the life of the garment, they will probably compare very favourably with drug therapy over the same period.

On a final note, the Internet is flooded with Websites claiming to offer magnet and electromagnetic field (EMF) shielding based devices for the relief of pain and other ailments. Some of the claims are backed up by scientific evidence and some are not. Since many of these devices are sold for vast amounts of money, it is wise to investigate whether a particular product has been subjected to controlled clinical trials that found significant benefits, such as the Farabloc study reported on here.

» Clinical studies of Farabloc (provided on Farabloc website)

[Complete article: http://www.ei-resource.org/news/2007/farabloc-fibromyalgia.asp ]