What is the relationship between the earth's geomagnetic fields and sleep, maintenance and repair?

W.O. Schumann a German astrophysicist, discovered in 1952 that there is a resonant cavity between the earth's surface and the ionosphere containing a frequency modulated electromagnetic field in the spectrum of from below 1 Hz to more than 100 Hz. Notice in the graph below that the dominant frequencies of these "Schumann Waves" is below 14 Hz. Anything above 15 Hz has been shown in dozens of animal studies to cause behavioral modification and stress hormone production. You'll see the peak in the graph (highest amplitude) at 7.8 Hz; what most people mistakenly believe is THE Schumann resonance, when in reality Schumann resonance is a SPECTRUM of frequencies with the majority of its amplitude below 15 Hz.

What is remarkable is that these fields overlay the (stress free) human EEG almost perfectly. Equally important, the mitochondria (cell power plants) of the body respond particularly well to the frequencies falling within this range. Research during 4 decades conclusively proves that a 10 Hz field produces the most exceptional healing and regeneration effects and these effects are due primarily from the effect it has directly upon mitochondria.

Schuman waves encircle the earth horizontal to the ground,  while 9.6 Hz resonates from the Earth's molten core perpendicular to the ground. Recent study into the workings of cells' mitochondria find that 10 Hz stimulation greatly enhances mitochondrial adaptation to both physical and neurological demands.

This Earth's-pulse is the primary reason you sleep so well on camping trips. It's not the fresh air and exercise; it's sleeping in touch with Mother-Earth and receiving her vital frequency. Until recently most camping was done outside of the wireless telecommunications "grid". Now even camping, unless you've got weak signal on your handset, you are well within the grid (though lying very close-to or in-contact with the ground when camping is far healthier than sleeping at home where you've got 50/60 Hz electric fields permeating in addition to full strength telecommunications grid). Pretty bleak picture.

Is it no coincidence that pulsed magnetic fields at 10 Hz have produced BY FAR the best recuperative effects in dozens and dozens of published, peer reviewed studies. And, recently been linked to improved mitochondrial migration and replication in response to physiological and neurological demands.

EMP is foreign to the body having only arrived on the scene during the post Vietnam war era. It clearly creates physiological and psychological stress as well as increased production of stress hormones.  Dozens of published studies (see animal studies link above) proved animals exposed chronically to frequencies above 15 Hz result in detrimental behavioral changes and stress hormone production; while frequencies around 10 Hz have beneficial effects. Man-made EMP impairs body's ability to reach deep, Delta-rhythm sleep where cellular repair occurs most efficiently. It also upsets the natural resonation (think of it as de-tuning an engine) of the mitochondrion debilitating the energy pool. Under this condition the body LACKS energy requirement for repair and regeneration. Further, only in slow-wave (Delta) sleep can the ATP synthesized by the mitochondria be about 80% devoted to maintenance and repair mechanisms. During lighter stages of sleep, the energy requirement just to sustain the body robs it of its energy pool requirement for ability to repair and regenerate. We propose all disease is mitochondrion related. Trauma-repair is directly related to mitochondrion as well, and that is why over more than 4 decades has only 10 Hz stimulation provided the very-best healing results. 

If this were not enough to convince you, NASA discovered in 2003 that a 10 Hz square wave electromagnetic field (their not stupid - they saw the same trend I did at the particular 10 Hz pulse repetition rate (PRR) turned the entire spectrum of 120+ maturation genes " off "; and the entire spectrum of 120+ developmental genes " on ". It also increased neurological tissue REGENERATION by a factor of FOUR. In another study 5 Hz and 15 Hz was found to  increase tissue proliferation only by a factor of TWO, while 10 Hz by a factor of FOUR. NASA also determined a static magnetic field was found to have little if any effect, nor did sine-wave magnetic fields have much effect.

The brain's natural EEG rhythms correlate directly with these Schumann resonances and the natural rhythm of the geomagnetic field.

Beta frequencies lie above 12 Hz and when you are in active thought process with no stress you're brain-wave signature is predominated by 12 - 14 Hz low-Beta-rhythm.  Beta frequencies, 12 to 14 Hz (and higher), are the “normal” predominant waking rhythm that occur during concentration. Frequencies above mid-Beta occur when agitated or fearful. If you are in fight-or-flight, then you are in the mid to high-Beta-rhythm brain state. The Beta brain state is required for human survival and has some physiological benefits, but excessive exposure to these higher brain frequencies (at the expense of frequencies at 14 Hz and below) is not healthy and cumulatively causes stress related health effects including poor sleep and increased production of stress hormones. If you are stuck in a mid to high-Beta brain state then you cannot sleep and you cannot heal or maintain hormonal homeostasis. To maintain robust health, quality of life, bolster immunity and have a positive outlook on life, then deep sleep and avoidance of high frequency Beta states are mandatory.

Alpha frequencies lie between 8 and 12 Hz and predominate when you are relaxed, calm, and in a meditative state.  Theta frequencies lie between 4 and 8 Hz and predominate during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Theta can predominate when in awakened states under many circumstances. You experience dream-like mental imagery and creativity during Theta-rhythm predominance. States of deep sleep are called Delta-rhythms and lie below 4 Hz. There are strong relationships between hormonal response, healing, and immunity when Delta-rhythm predominates during deep sleep.  This is also when energy demand for supporting the body is at its lowest, therefor the only time body can concentrate most of its energy on its physiological and neurological recovery and maintenance activities.

Notice in the graph above that the most dominant Schumann waves lie under 14 Hz which correlate well with Delta, Theta, Alpha and low-Beta brain states -or- deep sleep, calm, relaxed and active thought process respectively. Notice too that amplitude in the Delta-Theta area is greater than the Alpha-Beta. This is not coincidental correlation; it is the way nature keeps us psychologically and physiologically in balance and able to shut our brains down at night while remaining relatively stress free during the day.

Entrainment occurs when our mind-body state locks into the rhythm of an external oscillator. The external oscillator is either undesirable EMP (causing stress and poor sleep) or the beneficial Schumann and geomagnetic field frequencies. Normally the brain structure called the thalamus controls our brain waves, alternatively either Schumann resonances, geomagnetic fields or EMP are ‘picked up’ by the thalamus, particularly the pineal gland and other magnetite-bearing brain tissues. During these intervals of entrainment the brain’s pacemaker is external: the Schumann resonances, geomagnetic field (beneficial) or EMP (detrimental). We were meant to be relaxed and meditative with natural magnetic fields being the pacemaker; but increasingly we are not.

Nighttime EEG recording of subjects exposed to externally applied Delta rhythm signals show enhanced slow wave sleep resulted throughout the night as well as more flexibility in Fibromyalgia/Sleep Apnea subject.

In November 2006 researchers at the U of Wisconsin described a method of using 1 Hz (Delta rhythm) transcranial magnetic stimulation to trigger slow way sleep. Earlier the same month the University of Lubeck, Germany  reported that 1 Hz transcranial electric  stimulation resulted in deeper sleep and improved memory consolidation. In contrast, a study published in -'08 January- through the prestigious Karolinska Institute and Wayne State showed cell phone radiation delayed Delta -slow wave- sleep onset.

In contrast to our somnogram, the U of WI tested effects of magnetic fields hundreds, if not thousands of times more powerful than ours. Their study had to be shut down because of overheating of the magnetic coil due to the prolonged activation of it.