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Cross Currents: The Promise of Electromedicine, the Perils of Electropollution

Robert O. Becker

4.32 · Rating details · 53 ratings · 5 reviews

Dr. Becker tells of the emergence of electromagnetic medicine, which promises to unlock the secrets of healing, and the growth of electromagnetic pollution, which poses a clear environmental danger. He explains the effectiveness of alternative healing methods that use parts of the body's innate electrical healing systems, and warns that our bodies are being adversely ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published December 1st 1990 by TarcherPerigee (first published December 1st 1989)

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Apr 24, 2013 Charlie Canning rated it it was amazing

Great book that is becoming more important by the day

Technological breakthroughs have accelerated to the point that most of us have no more than a rudimentary knowledge about the science and engineering behind many of the things that we rely upon to live. Fortunately, this ignorance does not prevent us from enjoying technology's benefits. Unfortunately, it does not protect us from its consequences either.

In Cross Currents: The Perils of Electropollution; The Promise of Electromedicine, Dr. Great book that is becoming more important by the day

Technological breakthroughs have accelerated to the point that most of us have no more than a rudimentary knowledge about the science and engineering behind many of the things that we rely upon to live. Fortunately, this ignorance does not prevent us from enjoying technology's benefits. Unfortunately, it does not protect us from its consequences either.

In Cross Currents: The Perils of Electropollution; The Promise of Electromedicine, Dr. Robert O. Becker writes of the proliferating medical problems associated with the rise of electromagnetic fields (EMF), extremely low fields (ELF), and radio frequencies (RF). The terms EMF, ELF, and RF are used to describe the various forms of wave-like energy given off by power lines, electrical appliances, TVs, microwaves, radios, transmitters, and cellular phones.

Dr. Becker explains the concept of energy medicine in the first section of the book. Throughout history, physicians had known that the body had its own electrical system and that it played a central role in both development and healing. But after proponents of the chemical-mechanistic paradigm took over the medical establishment in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, energy medicine was discredited and this ancient knowledge was shunned.

In the middle section, Becker discusses the possibilities of using the body's innate electrical system to affect therapies and cures through the use of what he calls "electromedicine." He divides this into three categories. In the first are "minimal-energy techniques" like hypnosis and visualization that require no external energy. The second category is for "energy-reinforcement techniques" like acupuncture and homeopathy where the external energy administered is minimal. In the third category are "high-energy transfer techniques" that use comparatively large amounts of energy to stimulate cell growth and healing.

The final section is on "the perils of electropollution." As the subtitle indicates, these are considerable. According to Becker, the medical problems associated with dangerous levels of electromagnetic fields and extremely low fields can be divided into two classes: 1) new diseases and 2) changes in preexisting diseases. Among the new diseases, he lists Electromagnetic-hypersensitivity syndrome, Chronic-fatigue syndrome, AIDS, Autism, Fragile X syndrome, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Regarding changes in pre-existing diseases, he notes that there have been alarming spikes in the number of cases of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, many forms of cancer, and mental illness.

So as not to sound alarmist, it is important to note that Becker does not make any claims that electromagnetic fields alone are responsible for these problems. In the case of low-frequency fields (the kinds that we are exposed to every day), for example, Becker does not categorically state that they are cancer producing. Rather, they are "cancer promoting:" "At this time, the scientific evidence is absolutely conclusive: 60-Hz magnetic fields cause human cancer cells to permanently increase their rate of growth by as much as 1600 percent and to develop more malignant characteristics." And the reason that this is important is that: "We are constantly exposed to cancer-causing agents in our environment, ranging from carcinogenic chemicals to cosmic rays. As a result, we are always developing small cancers that are recognized by our immune systems and destroyed. Any factor that increases the growth rate of these small cancers gives them an advantage over the immune system, and as a result more people develop clinical cancers that require treatment."

Of course, Becker's thesis that extremely low frequencies (ELF) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) are creating a toxic environment for humans begs the question of why they have not been more closely regulated by the authorities. Becker says that this is due to the nature of the evidence: "... no effective action has been taken, ostensibly because no mechanism of action has been identified. The governmental agencies that are responsible have discounted the reports of bioeffects because it is thought that these simply cannot be true; `scientific standards of proof of causality' have been stringently applied."

Another problem in locating the source of all of these illnesses "... is that the disease patterns resulting from exposure to man-made electromagnetic fields are, in general, not new. Instead, for the most part they are increases in preexisting disease types, which may be attributed to many other causative factors (such as toxic chemicals)."

The final thing to note is that Dr. Becker's Cross Currents was published in 1990, about ten years before the cellular phone was to become the preferred form of communication for a whole generation of young people. Now the jury is still out on whether the radio frequency (RF) radiation produced by all of these cell phones will have a negative effect on public health. Let's hope that it will not.

It should be recalled, however, that at one time there were plenty of people in the scientific community and among the general public who thought that DDT was safe and that there was no verifiable link between cigarettes and lung cancer. The case against the harmful effects of radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields may be harder to make, but that may be only because the underlying principles are more difficult to understand. ...more

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Oct 04, 2010 Mike S rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction

This is a fascinating book filled with provocative ideas and studies. If you are interested in electricity and its function in or interaction with the human body, this is a must read. Becker is intelligent, thorough, interesting, and humble. His work will eventually be recognized as ahead of its time, once the stranglehold of greed is removed from our medical institutions and governing bodies.

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Aug 05, 2010 Tim rated it it was amazing

Very intriguing look at the effects of electromagnetic radiation (ie from electronics and wires) by a man who won the Nobel Prize for his work in the field of electromagnetic fields and the human body. His chapter on electro-acupuncture is interesting as well.

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Jul 27, 2019 Ostilio Portillo rated it it was amazing

This is a very interesting compilation of facts associated with the perils of electro-pollution. I always new that electric & electronic devices are capable of generating an electromagnetic field around them, but I never imaging the extent of the damage they can cause to human health in general. It was surprising to me that some individuals are more prone to become sick by electro-pollution because somehow they tend to be more sensitive to electromagnetic fields.

On the other side, it also ...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Steven Magee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: electromagnetic-radiation-emr-poi

For those who study the field of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) poisoning of the human, this is an excellent book. What I find amazing about this book that it was written in 1990! Today, wireless radiation is classed as a suspected carcinogen that is known to increase the risk of brain disease. The free Bioinitiative Report 2012 is saying that autism appears to be an electromagnetic disease. The rise in Autism is almost directly following the rise in adoption of wireless communications. I no ...more

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