Welcome to Lost HEMA Theory!

What are the positive, beneficial biological effects of EMFs?  To date, there has been substantial documentation to show that EMFs can, indeed, stimulate faster healing of bone and connective tissue:

"Electric and electromagnetic fields regulate extra-cellular matrix synthesis and stimulate repair of fractures and nonunions. Studies of electric and electromagnetic fields suggest they (1) regulate proteoglycan and collagen synthesis and increase bone formation in models of endochondral ossification, (2) accelerate bone formation and repair, (3) increase union rates in fractures previously refractory to healing, and (4) produce results equivalent to bone grafts. Electric and electromagnetic fields regulate the expression of genes in connective tissue cells for extra-cellular matrix proteins, which results in an increase in cartilage and bone. They also increase gene expression for and synthesis of growth factors, which may be an intermediary mechanism of activity and may amplify field effects through autocrine and paracrine signaling." (Source: Ciombor & Aaron, 2005.)

"Biophysical input, including electric and electromagnetic fields, regulate the expression of genes in connective tissue cells for structural extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins resulting in an increase in cartilage and bone production.... Electric and electromagnetic fields increase gene expression for, and synthesis of, growth factors and this may function to amplify field effects through autocrine and paracrine signaling. Electric and electromagnetic fields can produce a sustained upregulation of growth factors, which enhance, but do not disorganize endochondral bone formation. Progress in the areas of signal transduction and growth factor synthesis is very rapid and future directions are suggested." (Source: Aaron, Boyan, Ciombor, Schwartz & Simon, 2004.)

And faster healing of open wounds, using 'Pico-Tesla Electromagnetic Field' (PTEF) treatments....

"Procedure—An incision made in the dorsal aspect of the neck was sutured (n = 32) or left open to heal (32). In each group, 16 rats were not PTEF-treated (controls). Wound treatment consisted of exposure to a PTEF once daily. Rats in each group were euthanatized at days 2, 4, 7, and 14. Wounds were evaluated via tensiometry (sutured wounds), digital planimetry (open wounds), laser Doppler perfusion imaging, bacteriologic culture, and histologic examination. Blood samples were collected from all rats for analysis.  Results—At day 14, sutured wounds in PTEF-treated rats were stronger (ultimate stress) and tougher (strain energy) than were sutured wounds in control rats. Open wounds in PTEF-treated rats contracted more quickly at days 2 and 4 than did those in control rats. Compared with control wounds, histologic changes (indicative of improved healing) in sutured and open wounds in PTEF-treated rats were detected as early as day 4. Laser Doppler perfusion measurements, results of CBCs, serum biochemical analyses, and bacteriologic cultures were not different between groups.  Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Exposure to the PTEF caused no adverse effects on clinicopathologic, histologic, or bacteriologic variables tested in this study. It appears that PTEF is a safe form of adjuvant treatment for wounds and improves strength of sutured wounds and speeds contraction of open wounds."  (Source: Trostel, McLaughlin, Lamberth, Cooper, Elder, Pool, Gao, Cromiak & Boyle, 2003.)

Recent research has also demonstrated the effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PMFs) in stimulating faster nerve growth, nerve regeneration, and even recovery after a spinal cord injury (see Endnote 1.)

Even more intriguing is the research documenting the presence of magnetite within the human brain:

"Studies on the interaction of magnetic fields and biological organisms have centred on the influence of applied magnetic fields on the physiology and behaviour of organisms, including humans, and a search for magnetic sources within the organisms themselves. Evidence continues to accumulate that a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to vertebrates, can detect and orient to ambient magnetic fields (for examples see refs 2-4). Since the discovery that magnetic orientation by bacteria was due to the presence within the organism of magnetic particles of the ferric/ferrous oxide, magnetite, the search has begun for other biogenic deposits of inorganic magnetic material and ways in which the possession of such material might confer on the organism the ability to orient to ambient magnetic fields. Such magnetic material, often identified as magnetite, has been discovered in bees, homing pigeons, dolphins and various other organisms, including man. A variety of hypotheses for the use of magnetite in magnetic field detection have been proposed. We report here that bones from the region of the sphenoid/ethmoid sinus complex of humans are magnetic and contain deposits of ferric iron. The possible derivations and functions of these deposits are discussed."  (Source: Baker, Mather & Kennaugh, 1983.)

"Modification of chemical and magnetic extraction techniques has yielded biogenic magnetite/maghemite from human hippocampal tissue. Particles were identified using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and elemental analysis. Though its presence has been inferred from magnetic analyses, this is the first direct observation of magnetic biominerals from the hippocampus."  (Source: Schultheiss-Grassi, Wessiken & Dobson, 1999.)

The bottom line is that a growing body of research, spanning multiple disciplines, is documenting the positive effects-- as well as the negative effects (more on that later)-- of various types and levels of electromagnetic energy on the functioning of human beings, including our ability to heal.  The above research shows how Energy can, indeed, effect Material Applications in the form of faster healing (HEMA... more on the "H", later....)

Hmmm.... If electromagnetic energy has been implicated in faster nerve growth and regeneration, is the island's electromagnetic anomaly sufficiently powerful or weird to take things to the next level, namely to serve as a basis for the regeneration of life itself?  Shades of Star Trek III.... beam me up!  Will we see Jack's father alive, again, in a future episode (recall that empty coffin!)  And what role will he play?  And if the island can regenerate the dead, are Juliet's dead mothers walking and stalking around the island....?

Selective Electrical Healing?  What About Boone, Ben, and da Marshall?

Which brings us back to the issue of whether or not the island's power to heal is inconsistent, capricious, or systematic....  On the Home: HEMA Theory page, I proposed that the island's electromagnetic field was not uniform, since it appeared to be characterized by distinct 'healing' spots of positive energy, and potentially spots with negative, 'dark-side' energy.   (An example of the former is Rose's spot on the beach, where she went to meditate on the waves and was joined by Locke, who used the spot to 'speed-heal' his hatch-door-injured thigh.  One example of the latter may be the Swan hatch location....) 

All of this brings me to the consideration and enumeration of possible explanations for the apparent inconsistencies in the island's power to heal:

1. Major Trauma, Dude!-  One possible explanation for Boone not healing is that major, profound injuries may overwhelm or overpower the healing effects from the island's electromagnetic field (EMF.)  Simply put, Boone may be one example of situations that are so traumatic they cannot be reversed, due to massive structural damage that outstrips the healing forces and does not provide enough time for the patient to heal. 

2. The 'Yin-Yang of EMF' Theory-  To date, research has shown that EMF can have positive AND negative biological effects.  We know that EMF can help to explain faster healing in bones, connective tissue, nerves, etc. (Locke's hatch-door-injured leg, Mikhael's force-field funtime spewing, and perhaps Naomi's recovery from stick-in-lung disease....  And we know that EMF can also damage DNA and cause cancer, as in the case of Ben (see Endnote 2).   So once we set aside the more majorly traumatic cases like Boone, some of the positive and negative effects can be explained by what we already know EMF can do, good and bad....

Unfortunately, while this theory might help explain why more minor injuries can heal faster and why Ben may have contracted cancer, the theory does not explain Rose's cancer remission...  Furthermore, this theory predicts negative, adverse EMF effects on fertility,  a prediction we know is definitely not borne out by the evidence so far (five times the normal sperm count, with previously infertile males like Jin, now fertile.)  Is there a way to extend and improve the 'Yin-Yang of EMF' Theory, to reconcile these apparent contradictions in a systematic manner?  Yes, and to this end, I will invoke an idea I originally proposed on the Home: HEMA Theory page....

'Hot Pockets' Theory:  Good and Bad EMF Effects On The Island- 

According to this theory, the island's unique electromagnetic properties do not comprise a single, symmetrical field, but instead are characterized by multiple fields emanating from different 'poles' around the island, each with a different set of effects, resulting from the different and distinct energy characteristics found in these locations (energy strength, frequencies, harmonics/resonances, etc.)  So if we mapped the beach, we would find a 'pole' operating at Rose's healing spot, the one the faith healer in Australia presaged.   In short, the island comprises a set of distinct 'pockets' hot with 'good' or 'bad' EMF, depending on where you are standing.... 

Based on this theory, whether or not you are healed (or succumb to cancer) is a function of where you happen to be on the island; some spots promote faster healing (even remission from cancer), some spots promote cancer and other destructive biological effects, and other spots are 'dead', with no pronounced positive or negative effects.

To extend this to a full-fledged HEMA Theory variant, we must further extend the 'Hot Pockets' view to incorporate the role of thoughts and emotions (Heuristics.)  Here I would propose that Rose was drawn to that particular spot on the beach, through an attraction borne of resonant feelings of peace, harmony, and fulfillment, and by channeling her positive faith, feelingss and thoughts (Heuristics) through the Energy field manifest in that particular spot, she experienced the Material Application of a remission from her cancer (H-->E-->MA).  So, while there may be 'Hot Pockets' of good and bad energy on the island, not everyone may be in a position to leverage the energy where they are at, since it may depend in part on whether one deploys positive or negative Heuristics.  This is where Faith intersects with Science....

So not surprisingly, we saw that Locke was able to leverage Rose's beach healing spot, through positive faith, feelings, and thoughts, at one point sharing the flow with Rose, knowing glint in his eye, punctuated by a fleeting acknowledgment of the power of this positive Hot Pocket of healing EMF.  (Hmmm.... what would happen if Ben were to sit in that same exact spot, and attempt to leverage its energy?  My guess is that he would not succeed in shrinking his tumor, or stopping it from coming back, since true Faith, and heartfelt positive feelings/thoughts, cannot be 'faked' even by someone so mired in the 'long con' of deceit, distrust, and manipulation.)

In summary, 'Hot Pockets' Theory proposes that: (1) there are distinct spots or locales on the island that are characterized by positive or negative EMF energies, and (2) leveraging the full power of these spots is in part a function of the extent to which a person is exuding positive or negative Heuristics-- Faith, feelings, and thoughts.

Does the theory work both ways?  If Ben might have trouble leveraging the positive healing power of Rose's beach 'Hot Pocket', since he would be exuding negative Heuristics incompatible with the positive Energy field, might Rose or someone else exuding positive Heuristics be able to 'block' or impede the effects of a negative Energy field'?  

And, does the 'speed-heal' process require consciousness, in addition to presence in a particular location?  For example, what if an unconscious Naomi were to be placed on Rose's beach spot-?  What if Naomi were conscious and exuding positive Heuristics-- would she heal even faster?  What if more than one person was with Naomi at Rose's beach spot, exuding positive Heuristics (Faith, feeling, thoughts...)  Would this accelerate the process even more?  Hmmm.... I wonder if Locke's leg healed even faster when both he and Rose were present at the beach spot....

Faith meets Science meets Energy meets Material Applications....

Why Do Mothers Die From Pregnancy On The Island?

Babies that are conceived on the island are a product of sperm and egg cells which have been exposed to the island's weird yet powerful electromagnetic energy field.  One effect of the positive side of this field is increased sperm count, rendering Jin and other previously 'infertile' males as fertile.

But there is a profound and pronounced dark side to the positive energy field.  Exposure of sperm and egg cells to the hyper-vital positive energy field effects changes in these cells which, ironically, put the life of the mother in danger.  More specifically, a fetus produced from sperm and egg cells exposed to the island's energy field has a different growth rate (accelerated like the speed-healing) and a different electromagnetic signature than a normal fetus.  The latter is analogous to rh blood differences between the mother and fetus, only in this case it is a distinct and deadly difference in electromagnetic signature, comprised of harmonic resonance patterns....

A fetus created on the island grows faster, draws nutrients from the mother more quickly and extensively, all while generating an electromagnetic field that is toxic to the surrounding cells of the mother, in the womb.  In short, a baby conceived on the island is so infused with the island's strongly vital energy that in part it 'sucks' the life out of the mother, all while generating an electromagnetic signature that is toxic to the mother, but for some reason it does not cause a miscarriage.

One way to confirm this theory is to extract island-conceived babies late enough in term to survive in an incubator, saving the mothers in the process, as well.  The testable hypothesis is that a male and female who were conceived, born, and raised on the island should have no trouble conceiving a child which the mother is subsequently able to carry to full term and deliver, without complications, since the mother's cellular make-up and electromagnetic field/signature would be in sync with those of the baby....