History of EHS

Electromagnetic Field Syndrome, also known as  Electro-Hyper Sensitivity (EHS) is not a new disability. It’s just become more common because of the ubiquity of our addiction to wireless technology.

The term “radio wave sickness” was first used by Russian doctors to describe an occupational illness developed by large numbers of workers who were exposed to microwave or radiofrequency radiation.

The symptoms were called “neurasthenic.” “Neurasthenia” was an older term for this group of symptoms, coined by an American physician George Beard in 1868. It described a new type of illness that followed the building of the railroads and the telegraph systems, and was more commonly called the “disease of civilization.” The illness was particularly prevalent among telegraph line installers, and then later among telephone switchboard operators who were exposed to great amounts of electricity in their occupation.

In 1906, the Toronto telephone switchboard operators went on strike due to the neurasthenic symptoms they suffered. A commission was set up to study the illness and the findings reported that the operators were affected by the flashing lights and over work.  It’s a fascinating look into the beginnings of this “disease of civilization” that involved the use of electricity.

Click Here to read the historical report (PDF)

The most serious cases of neurasthenia were sent to mental sanatoriums in the countryside to rehabilitate. Here the sunshine, fresh air and the absence of electromagnetic fields allowed the operators to recover. The term “neurasthenia” is listed in the WHO as a medical condition but fell out of fashion in the twentieth century in North America, when this cluster of symptoms, or a large number of them, began to be referred to as “anxiety” symptoms, presumably of purely psychological origin.

With the introduction of microwave technology, used in radar installations, the symptoms started to show up in military installations. In the 1980’s, wireless telephones, computers and cell phone technology brought neurasthenic symptoms into the public’s homes and offices.

Today with the saturation of wireless technology throughout most major cities, in cars and in the home, it’s hard to escape the constant exposure to the radio waves that are used in the telecommunication industry.

All people are affected by the radio waves emitted by these devices; however, many do not experience immediate symptoms such as ringing in the ears, headaches, rashes, nervousness etc. Studies on subjects that report they are electrosensitive fail because they can’t immediately detect that presence of an electromagnetic field.  This is because the effects they experience are not immediate and take time to manifest, and then once they do, they can remain for several hours after exposure.

People who don’t experience the immediate effects of over exposures to wireless electricity often complain of pains that move around the body, as well as poor sleep, loss of memory, brain fog and depression. When they take extended vacations and go camping, they notice that the symptoms gradually diminish and attribute it to the fresh air. After the vacation has ended, the symptoms often return and they chalk it up to stress at work.

The main problem that we all need to be concerned with is when this chronic stress turns into a serious disease that affects the arteries, organs and bones which leads to a chronic condition that becomes difficult to repair. The best method to live a long healthy life is to recognize the symptoms that doctors often misdiagnose and make changes to your environment, diet and lifestyle.

Most doctors that specialize in treating electrosensitive patients believe that there are other underlying conditions in the patient such as metal or chemical toxicity, viruses, parasites and weak immune systems that become overstimulated when exposed to chronic wireless electricity.  By removing these offenders that are inside the body and relocating the patient to live in an environment closer to nature – the patient will often recover and can eventually return to a more balanced lifestyle that combines the safe use of technology and regular ventures into nature.

Click here to access more historical documents (Zory archives)