Goldimplantationen: Ein elektrophysikalisches Phänomen zur Therapie von schmerzhaften Gelenkserkrankungen bei Tieren: – Auswertungen von Versuchsmessungen

Abstract

Background In veterinary medicine, the implantation of pure gold beads in acupuncture points has been a common procedure for 30 years. In 1973, Dr. Young reported on the efficacy in dogs suffering from epilepsy. Dr. Durkes used this method on dogs with hip dysplasia. In the meantime, a great number of veterinarians has worked with gold implants to treat various symptoms. Although there have been many successful case reports, the exact mechanism behind these findings has yet to be elucidated. Objectives It is assumed that electric activity originating from the 24 carat gold implants inserted into muscles in the proximity of the treated joint could be responsible for the analgetic effect. This may seem feasible, although experts know that 24 ct gold does not consist of 100 % pure gold. It rather always contains so-called ”accompanying side elements” like silver, iron, copper, lead, bismuth etc. needed to stabilize the material. Pure 24 ct gold consists of 99.95 % gold and 0.05 % „acconpanying side elements”. The aim of this study is to investigate the role these accompanying elements play in the therapeutic effect of gold implants. Methods The postulated importance of the „accompanying side elements” in the induction of an electric field inside an acidic environment as resembled by damaged and inflamed body tissue was the initiation to start the experimental measurements on a specially prepared, in-vitro acidic veal model. A portable measuring instrument was used and 6 measuring sets of an electric field between two 24 ct pure gold electrodes were recorded followed by the same procedure between a 24 ct gold and a pure silver 925 electrode, both unmoved and in motion. Results After insertion of the electrodes into the veal models, an electric potential could be detected between two 24 ct gold electrodes (pure gold to pure gold) even in the unmoved experiment. When the electrodes were moved, the electric potential increased significantly. Electrodes in the combination pure gold to pure silver 925 showed a higher indicated value even when unmoved, and also increased in motion. Conclusion A common therapy for dogs with pain due to hip dysplasia is the insertion of pure gold implants around the painful joint. After implantation, the animals show less pain and soon will be able to move like before. This effect is undoubtedly due to the gold implantation and can be reproduced. The described measurements allow the conclusion that accompanying side elements within the gold implants will, in an acidic environment, produce an electric potential which in turn will inactivate pain mediators such as serotonin and histamine. The described effect will improve in motion.