Flux Health Forum

Can Kidney Disease Be Reversed?

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#1

To set the background, I am an 81 year old Caucasian male. In 2013 I began to show signs of kidney disease, my creatinine level moving above 1.27 (the upper healthy limit for a Caucasian over age 50), and my estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) moving below the border line level of 60 (normal is 90 or greater). By the end of 2018 those markers had moved to around 1.60 and 41 respectively, indicating stage 3b, or moderate to severe, kidney disease.
Doctrine within the medical community is that it is not possible to reverse kidney disease. Although there are many blogs on the internet that claim otherwise, none provide any credible data to contradict the standard view of irreversibility. However, sometime around late 2018 Dr. Dennis included on his website a paper in which a veterinarian had experimented with PEMF and reversed renal disease in a cat. I have not been able to relocate the paper, but it provided a sliver of hope that I may not have to end my life on dialysis two or three times a week. Accordingly, I started PEMF therapy in December, 2018, at first by simply sleeping on quad coils driven by a B1 Omni 8 program. Around mid-year I began a 24/7 routine of wearing a belt with 2 A9 units each driving single coils during the day, and a belt with double coils driven by the B1 at night.
The table below shows values for creatinine, BUN, eGFR, and the BUN/creatinine ratio from my medical records dating back to September, 2010. The data is pretty noisy, but you can “eye-ball” in a linear progression in creatinine from March, 2011 to early 2019 at a rate of .07mg/dL per year. If we consider the 2013 and 2014 data points as anomalies a clearer picture emerges, providing a rate of increase of .08 mg/dL per year. It took several months after starting treatment in December, 2018 for the PEMF to show any effect, but by the second half of 2019 creatinine was decreasing at the rate of .46 mg/dL per year, and was approaching the “safe zone” of 1.27 mg/dL.

DATE CREATININE BUN eGFR BUN/Creatinine
Range .76-1.27 8-27 >59 10-24

09/20/10 1.09 >60
03/15/11 1.09
04/03/12 1.18 13 61
05/23/13 1.49 24 46
01/30/14 1.38 14 37 14
06/26/15 1.19 13 59
07/01/16 1.22 11 57
03/31/17 1.49 44
04/07/17 1.39 48
10/24/17 1.42 13 47 9

11/08/18 1.59 41

12/05/18 start PEMF

03/26/19 1.47 13 44 9
06/18/19 1.64 22 39 13
06/21/19 1.57 23 41 15
07/08/19 1.50 45
08/07/19 1.57 16 41 10
09/17/19 1.50 23 43 15
11/05/19 1.48 29 44 20
12/17/19 1.37 24 48 18

eGFR, which is considered the best gauge for kidney disease as creatinine can be influenced by other factors, improved, but not quite so much. The eGFR data is noisier so it is harder to infer a best fit curve, but by throwing out the 2013 and 2014 data again we get a reasonably clear picture. From 2015 through early 2019 eGFR decreased (bad) at a rate of 5.3 mL/min/1.73 per year. In the second half of 2019 it increased (good) at the rate of 5.6 mL/min/1.73 per year, moving the kidney disease diagnosis from 3b to 3a, i.e. from “moderate to severe” to “mild to moderate”.
My experience certainly does not prove that PEMF can reverse kidney disease, but it hints there may be something to it. I hope others can follow on to verify that the effect is as I suggest.

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Chronic kidney disease
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#2

Thanks so much for sharing Steve. So glad you’ve been able to make a dent in your kidney problems :slight_smile:

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#3

This is really awesome. Thanks!

I have 5 years of data for a case study of a cat, showing Creatinine steadily rising, then falling when PEMF was used regularly (A9-Omni8), then rising again when ICES-PEMF was discontinued, then falling again when ICES use was resumed. Three full cycles of creatinine up-down-up when ICES-PEMF not used - then used - then discontinued. I am writing up a paper on this now. Feline kidney disease is a serious problem for cats, and accepted doctrine is that there is no way to reverse it, the only option being “palliative care”.

If you are interested, we could write a case study and publish it… de-identify your individual information of course. People may really benefit from knowing this. Let’s watch your trend, make sure you think it is solid.

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#4

I understand that mret water can help people with kidney problems. Earthing mats also is very helpful.

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#5

Can Kidney Disease be Reversed? Part II
In January I posted some results from treating my kidney disease with PEMF. I recently had another test and now include those results. Below is the data posted previously from just before I began PEMF treatment, with the most recent test added.
DATE CREATININE BUN eGFR BUN/Creatinine
Range .76-1.27 8-27 >59 10-24

11/08/18 1.59 41
12/05/18 start PEMF
03/26/19 1.47 13 44 9
06/18/19 1.64 22 39 13
06/21/19 1.57 23 41 15
07/08/19 1.50 45
08/07/19 1.57 16 41 10
09/17/19 1.50 23 43 15
11/05/19 1.48 29 44 20
12/17/19 1.37 24 48 18
02/13/20 1.39 19 47 14

Although there was an apparent improvement in March 2019, the deterioration in kidney function did not reverse until June, 2019, 6 months after starting PEMF. Averaging the two June readings, Creatinine reached 1.60 and eGFR dropped to 40. Since then, averaging the December and February readings, Creatinine and eGFR have improved 15% and 17% respectively. The slight deterioration in kidney function from December to February seems consistent with the variability in data previously encountered. Hopefully, readings will continue to improve with time.

As an aside, eGFR declines with age. A 2007 study on subjects in the Netherlands found that the mean eGFR for healthy males 18 to 24 was 100 with a standard deviation of 13. Healthy males aged 80 to 84 had a mean value of 67 with a standard deviation of 15. The authors argue that a fixed threshold of 60 for CKD is inappropriate, and that a better measure is the 5th percentile of the measured population, or 46 in the 80-84 age range.

In a separate study, using a database of the VA system, it was shown that a GFR of 50–59 ml/min/1.73 m2 was associated with an increased mortality risk only in younger persons (age 18–54 years). For older persons, GFR values below 50 ml/min/1.73 m2 (age 55–74) or 40 ml/min/1.73 m2 proved better thresholds.

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#6

What kind of belt did you wear to secure the A9’s near the kidney area?

#7

One that was referenced on the ICES website, but unfortunately seems to have been discontinued. I would buy another one if I could find it. Dr. Dennis, do you know if it is still being sold someplace?

#8

Hi Steve: You mean this company?

https://www.pemfwrap.com/

I purchased the small wrap which I never used as I found it uncomfortable (around the neck).

#9

try elastic velcro gun belt…i think that will help you find what you’re looking for

#10

Yes, the one I purchased was from PEMFWRAP. It is about 46 inches long, so the tag end is a bit of a nuisance, but it works well.

#11

Apparently PEMFWrap is out of business. Clicking on any of the order buttons takes you to a 404 page not available message

#12

you don’t need anything fancy… this was what i was talking about:
https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Multifunction-Actical-Elastic-Holster/dp/B01DKINH1W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=elastic+velcro+band+gun+holster&qid=1582594819&sr=8-1

#13

Side Note: This recent study showed improved GFR using DHEA, HGH, and metformin.

https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2020/3/older-people-grow-younger

#14

answering everyone…
Yes, it is almost impossible to keep track of which companies make good quality/value wraps and bandages (and batteries and everything else).
We end up searching for and trying new sources every few weeks. But the good news is that there always seems to be a good vendor on amazon.com with good wraps, ankle/knee/shoulder supports, etc. All of these seem to work pretty well with our devices, but they change all the time so we can’t give a single recommendation.
We work hard to keep prices down, so unfortunately PEMFwraps could not make a viable business because their business model was to try to sell a bandage/wrap for a lot more money than you could just buy an equivalent from amazon. We don’t support any form of exclusivity, and basically that means you can get the best value on the open market if you are willing to do a bit of work to adapt a generic bandage to your specific needs. This will end up saving each person hundreds (or thousands) of dollars because a “special” bandage simply is not necessary.

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#15

Can Kidney Disease be Reversed? Part III
On February 22 I posted further results from treating my kidney disease with PEMF. Those results showed a favorable trend, reducing blood level creatinine from around 1.60 in late 2018 to 1.39 by February 2019. At that time, I was employing a 24/7 regime with 4 single coils driven by two A9 units at an M setting during the day, and a B1 unit driving 4 double stacked coils with an Omni 8 setting at night. On February 26 I changed procedure by using different belts during the day and at night. This was done as a matter of convenience so I would not have to reconfigure the one belt for day time use versus night time. I purchased a gun belt that can only hold one double coil on each side for day use. So essentially, for daytime use I went from two single side by side coils on each side to one double stacked coil on each side. However, I made a serious, sloppy, mistake by stacking the coils smooth to bumpy side for both belts, thereby canceling the fields (the coil tester still showed a field). I realized my mistake on June 10, and corrected the configuration, and also setting the A9 units to the highest, X, setting. Essentially, I went for 3 and ½ months with no benefit from PEMF.
Because of Covid 19 restrictions, I had not had a blood test since February 13, but did get one on June 16, for which I have just received the results.
They are not good. Creatinine has increased from 1.39 to 1.47 and eGFR decreased from 47 to 43 (they move in opposite directions), undoing months of improving results.
The full results are posted in the table below.

DATE CREATININE BUN eGFR BUN/Creatinine
Range .76-1.27 8-27 >59 10-24

11/08/18 1.59 41
12/05/18 start PEMF
03/26/19 1.47 13 44 9
06/18/19 1.64 22 39 13
06/21/19 1.57 23 41 15
07/08/19 1.50 45
08/07/19 1.57 16 41 10
09/17/19 1.50 23 43 15
11/05/19 1.48 29 44 20
12/17/19 1.37 24 48 18
02/13/20 1.39 19 47 14
06/16/20 1.47 34 43 23

Although this result is personally discouraging, it does not negate the premise that PEMF can improve human kidney function. In fact, it is consistent with the feline study by Bob and his brother in the Journal of Science and Medicine, dated May 18, 2020, namely, when PEMF is withdrawn kidney function resumes its deterioration.
Now that stay at home restrictions are somewhat relaxed, I will resume monthly testing to monitor my progress. Meanwhile, please criticize any of my observations or comments that seem out of line, and encourage anyone you know who is plagued with kidney disease to give PEMF a try.

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#16

@steverhodes1, this is really helpful. It would have been much better of course if it had helped you more, but this seems to be how PEMF works sometimes: alternately great results with not-so-great results. This is what happened with my hips: severe degeneration in both hip joints, but the right hip responded and completely recovered whereas the left hip continues to degenerate. I am working to figure out why this sometimes happens, but this seems to be the reality we are dealing with at this point in the technology: hit and miss. Thanks for sharing your excellent quality data.

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#17

Thanks, Bob. For the present I am going to chalk this up to “operator error”. Hopefully I will see some renewed progress over the next couple readings.
From a technical standpoint, can you say how much the field is reduced by improperly stacking the coils?

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#18

OK, that is very reasonable. My perspective on the issue of operator error:
-About 6% of people do, at least initially, use Micro-Pulse products incorrectly. We know this because we occasionally get calls complaining the product does not work. Almost always, we can trace this to incorrect use: for example, a few people do not realize that batteries need to be recharged, etc.
-Keep in mind, this compares to studies that show that the rate that people who use mainstream FDA-approved prescription medications or devices incorrectly usually floats around 30%.

But it is easy to stack the coils incorrectly. I have done it myself a few times. This is the design trade-off: the more flexible you make any system, the greater the chances that human error can occur.

If you stack the coils directly together, but do not stack them correctly, you will cancel out 90% or more of the magnetic pulse. So, it is important when stacking individual coils to stack them either bumpy-side-to-bumpy-side, or smooth-to-smooth side. For the 2x2 coil arrays, use the coil tester to verify that when stacked, you get a stronger pulse (green flash), not a weaker pulse. If it is weaker, then rotate one of the 2x2 arrays by 90 degrees, stack, and re-test for a stronger pulse.

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#19

8/12/20
Can Kidney Disease be Reversed? Part IV
On June 18 I posted further results from treating my kidney disease with PEMF. They showed a disturbing regression, with creatinine increasing from 1.39 to 1.47 and eGFR dropping from 47 to 43. Both parameters indicated a worsening condition. However, the regression coincided with stacking the coils smooth to bumpy side, thereby canceling the fields. I realized the mistake on June 10, and corrected the configuration, and also set the A9 units to the highest, X, setting. Essentially, I had gone for 3 ½ months with no benefit from PEMF.
The feline renal disease study published by Bob and his brother showed that when PEMF was withdrawn creatinine levels increased, only to be reduced again when PEMF was reapplied. Fortunately, that appears also to be the case for human subjects. After 6 weeks of proper application my creatinine dropped to 1.37 from 1.47, and eGFR increased from 43 to 48.
The full results are posted in the table below.
DATE CREATININE BUN eGFR BUN/Creatinine
Range .76-1.27 8-27 >59 10-24

11/08/18 1.59 41
12/05/18 start PEMF
03/26/19 1.47 13 44 9
06/18/19 1.64 22 39 13
06/21/19 1.57 23 41 15
07/08/19 1.50 45
08/07/19 1.57 16 41 10
09/17/19 1.50 23 43 15
11/05/19 1.48 29 44 20
12/17/19 1.37 24 48 18
02/13/20 1.39 19 47 14
06/16/20 1.47 34 43 23
08/04/20 1.37 25 48 18
I expect the trend will continue to improve as I continue to use PEMF 24/7, and that if I stop PEMF I will quickly regress. Cats and humans seem to react the same.

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#20

@steverhodes1 That is wonderful, thank you for sharing. I wrote a similar post to @russf - have you considered additionally pulsing your water and drinking it? I began to watch many of the Dr. Gerald Pollack videos and read his Fourth Phase of Water book, and I recall him mentioning on a webinar an anecdote about someone with kidney issues drinking structured water and seeing positive results. Obviously, your mileage may vary. As I have noted in other posts, our family has experienced positive biological benefits from ICES PEMF structured water, particularly with gut health, clarity of thought, energy and mood.