Sleep Environment & Bed

Problems to fall asleep and to sleep through in spite of an expensive box-spring? We have the solution!

More and more people with sleep disturbances and problems to fall asleep sleep on top of a stylish box-spring. Most of the time, they invest 5,000 to 10,000 Euro and hope to finally have a better sleep. But, often they are not aware that their persistent sleep- and health-problems might be connected with their box-spring. Besides the many amenities of a box-spring, the negative characteristics due to the accumulation of metals actually might be the main reason for sleep disturbances, problems to fall asleep as well as a no longer restful sleep. Furthermore, according to research they might also increase the risk of cancer.

Sleep disturbances are a serious clinical picture

Representative surveys show that already 80 percent of the working population are suffering under a bad, disturbed, or non-restful sleep. Science more and more reveals that this has catastrophic consequences for our health and that the risk for infarction, stroke, blood pressure disturbances, diabetes, depressions, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and many other diseases drastically increases. So, more and more people desperately look for solutions for a better sleep. The offers are manifold – and many are taken in by the promising advertising messages of the numerous suppliers of mattresses and sleeping systems, including the box-spring which constantly become more and more established. According to the GfK – a huge German market-research company-, over the last five years there have been sold more than three million box-spring beds and mattresses in Germany alone.

Old technique – new design

Basically, the supposed innovation is a 100 years old technique, coming from the USA. Box-spring is nothing else than a spring mattress in modern design. Admitted, expensive spring mattresses are technically at a high level and nowadays the comfort clearly is increased. But, the basic principal of the ergonomic support by hundreds of metal springs is not new. Though, the number of box-springs has tripled since their invention. These days, two to three layers of spiral springs are used in a box-spring. This leads to 40-60 kg steel springs directly underneath your body!

And this is still one of the main reasons why the sleep as well as the health most of the time are not able to improve significantly. Although you have bought a luxurious and expensive box-spring. To the surprise of many, the opposite occurs more and more often: the sleeping quality further declines and the performance continuously decreases. This phenomenon does not depend on the quality of the box-spring but is a electro-biologic phenomenon with an increased risk for sleep and health.

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are the problem

For insiders who scientifically deal with sleep it seems logical that sleep disturbances cannot simply be solved by box-spring sleeping systems. But, hardly any of the owners are aware that in particular the high number of metal springs further worsen sleep and lead to a wide range of health disturbances. When listing the causes of sleep disturbances, EMFs are on the forefront. And exactly this is a significant problem arising by metals at the sleeping place – and especially applies to the electrically highly conductive box-spring beds and mattresses. Added to this there is a further problem: most of the time, the springs are magnetically charged and distort the for the sleep so important Earth’s magnetic field and make it biologically ineffective. This further worsens sleep, like studies of the Max Plank Institute proved in the 1990’s.

The human’s nature is bio-electric

We humans are bio-electric beings, without any doubt. Our health, our well-being and finally the so important sleep depend on these electric processes. Because, starting with cell-communication via physical and mental regeneration, the immune-system up to our muscular activity and movement – all things are controlled by electrical-chemical processes. Here, especially our brain and its millions of neurons are very active. Via nerves, the brain is frequently sending electric impulses and signals into our body. Each one of the 70 trillion body cells has electrical potential and all cells are constantly interacting, inwards and outwards. The special thing about this is, that this is an incredibly powerful DC net which exceeds any computer by far. But, these natural body fields very sensitively react on environmental influences, especially on EMFs. Especially at the sleeping place, a disturbance of high and low frequency EMFs may trigger a series of symptoms and health disturbances. These also include sleep disturbances and the no longer restful sleep. Science agrees, that 70 percent of our physical and 100 percent of our mental-emotional regeneration depend on the quality of our sleep.

Electromagnetic pollution at sleeping places is continually intensifying

Since long, we have high-tech houses and apartments which therefore are fully electrified – even our bedrooms. Beginning with the low-frequency home power network with 220 Volt and 50 Hertz and with numerous powered devices up to the high-frequent fields of mobile communications, WLan, DECT cordless phones and so on. So, the modern human being lives, works and sleeps in a permanent artificial electrical potential field. Especially at our sleeping places, these artificial energy fields have a significant negative effect on our health and on our sleep, as hundreds of studies round the world show. Because, due to these influences our endogenous bio-electricity becomes massively disturbed, down to the smallest cell.

The physical coupling should not exceed 100 millivolts or 1V/m at our sleeping places.

A measurement on the skin of the cell membrane results in a voltage of about 70-90 millivolt (mV = one thousandth Volt). That’s why the sleep-biological limit value of low-frequency fields are only 100mV at sleeping places – clearly below the legal limits. The load can easily be determined by different measurement methods like e.g. a body-coupling-measurement. Empirically, the sleep-biological limit value is clearly exceeded at 95 percent of all sleeping places. The average value is 1,500 to 2,000 mV. Especially high values – often ten times of the basic load – are measured at sleeping places with box-spring beds!

Metal spirals act like an antenna

Therefore, from the sleep biologic point of view, a metal-free sleeping place is one of the most important precondition for a healthy, restful sleep. Metals are excellent electrical conductors and therefore intensify electromagnetic fields from the surrounding.

Steel spirals absorb EMFs from the surrounding and radiate them intensified like a helix-antenna to the sleeping person. Since alternating current (AC) is unnatural, our body – working with DC – becomes stressed by these fields, the bioelectricity as well as the important production of the sleeping hormone melatonin is disturbed. Sleep disturbances and a severely reduced regenerative capacity are the consequences.

The approximately 600 metal springs of a box-spring bed have a spiral-structure. This circular system is also used to increase the transmission- and reception-power of helix-radio-antenna. In the past, these helix-antenna were especially popular with CB-radio-users for improvement of the range. In contrast to this antenna form, each steel spring installed in a mattress additionally contains two metal-ends which become magnetic when getting in contact with electric fields. As mentioned before, in a standard box-spring bed, there are up to 600 metal springs shaped like a helix-antenna. Now, these antenna permanently receive artificial radiation fields and radiate them intensified on the sleeping human being. So in box-spring beds, this results in an intensity of artificial energy fields at sleeping places well above biologically recommended safety limits, from the electro-biological point of view.

How electromagnetic pollution is intensified in the bedroom

All of a sudden, it becomes an alarming picture when considering that electromagnetic waves radiated by transmission masts are absorbed and intensified by antenna of suitable length. Metallic bedframes of e.g. two meters length or box-springs where the steel springs are connected like a metallic network often oscillate in the same or in a ratio of the wavelength of ultra short waves which is from 1 to 10 meters. Thus, metal-bedframes and/or box-spring mattresses actually act like an antenna and intensify the impinging electromagnetic waves.

Scientists provide more and more evidence

An increasing number of scientists warn that metalliferous bed-systems and –frames are a serious health problem. Years ago, researchers found that in Japan the rates of breast-, skin- and prostate cancer are much lower than in Western countries. The scientist see one plausible cause for this difference in different beds and mattresses used. In Japan, most people sleep on futons while spring- and box-spring mattresses are more used in Northern America and Europe. Futons contain no metals whereas spring- and box-spring beds contain a large amount. Scientists assume, that the electromagnetic field of a spring mattress combined with the springing of a box-spring might also increase the risk of cancer. The Swedish scientists Prof. O. Hallberg (Hallberg Independent Research) and Prof. O. Johansson (Karolinska Institute) have published a study concerning this matter: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19647986)

As soon as you use box-spring and spring-mattresses at your sleeping place and/or have a metal-bedframe you are exposed to increased electromagnetic radiation during sleep. According to an analysis of the Swedish scientists, the maximum radiation is 50 to 100 cm over the mattress. Depending on the preferred sleeping position (most people prefer sleeping on the right side), the other side of the body is closer to the maximum radiation and therewith permanently exposed to a higher radiation dose. This load of electromagnetic pollution might be responsible for the 10 percent higher rate of cancer of the left breast.

How do EMFs influence your sleep?

There are thousands of experiments and studies with animals and humans about the possible health hazard of EMFs. Scientists have particularly dealt with the question, on how EMFs are able to disturb the so important process of sleeping. Here, there are two scientifically confirmed methods.

First, it is about the so-called oscillation-rate. Technically induced EMFs have a much higher frequency than bio-electric fields of your body. As already mentioned, our home power network has a frequency of 50 Hertz, meaning 50 oscillations per second. In contrast, during deep sleep you will have a frequency of one to three Hertz. Since especially certain fields of our brain are going into resonance with outer fields, EMFs are potential sleep disturber of electro sensitive people. As well falling asleep as sleeping through become difficult; the sleep regeneration is significantly disturbed. This is just one of many examples: mobile phones for example generate an actually dangerous microwave radiation that oscillates at a much higher frequency. And this really might keep you awake, especially, when these signals are massively intensified by metal-springs in your bed.

The second mechanism is the production of the hormone melatonin – which is important for sleep regulation. Australian scientists proved in animals as well as in humans that EMFs trigger a so-called melatonin suppression. Meaning, the production of melatonin is delayed, inhibited or even obstructed. Recent research indicate, that EMFs might also disturb the function of our cells – the cellular uptake of melatonin might be impaired. Melatonin is the most important hormone when it comes to the sleep-wake-cycle. It supports falling asleep and sleeping through. This hormone is produced from serotonin in the pineal gland in the brain, especially when it’s dark. That’s why a dark room is essential for a restful sleep. Melatonin also is the best antioxidant and protects from free radicals. At the same time your immune system is strengthened by melatonin during sleep. Studies agree that melatonin is important in prevention from and treatment of cancer, especially breast cancer. Scientists observed that cells of breast cancer grow when the melatonin level is decreased and cells are exposed to man-made EMFs.

More and more physicians warn

Electro-sensitivity is a clinical picture with numerous possible symptoms and meanwhile also known in medical profession. Possible symptoms are bad, disturbed and non-restful sleep; but also persistent headache, nervousness, anxiety, tinnitus, cardiovascular and hormonal disturbances, blood-pressure problems, exhaustion, depression, immunodeficiency, and many more. In future, physicians, therapists and alternative practitioners have to deal with this topic and ask their patients whether they sleep on top of spring-mattresses or box-spring beds.

You’re already sleeping on top of a box-spring? Optimize your box-spring with Lokosana®

There is a solution for box-spring sleepers

Due to ongoing disclosures of scientific findings, questions like: “Is there an effective solution against electromagnetic pollution without an expensive change of beds?” frequently reach us. This exactly concerns owners of box-springs whose sleeping quality has not improved in spite of high investments made. It is important to understand that it was no bad buy per se, because box-springs do have advantages, as mentioned. The problem is the increasing load of EMFs in bedrooms combined with metals at the sleeping place. By now, you’ve surely realized why SAMINA products are free from magnetizable metals. Box-springs lead to drastic loads of EMFs or radio signals, distort the natural Earth’s magnetic field and destroy the benefits of a box-spring. Some box-spring producers want to deceive their customers by using alloys for their box springs or by shrink-wrapping them in PVC or other materials. But, this is not changing the fundamental problem at all.

The conclusion is:

Only by using a non-metallic bed and by avoidance of spring- and box-spring mattresses, the load of electromagnetic pollution in the bedroom can be significantly reduced. The consequences are a more restful sleep as well as a decreased risk of developing cancer.

Upgrade and optimize your box-spring with Lokosana®

Of course, it would be best to completely renovate and optimize your sleeping place with the holistic SAMINA sleep-healthy-philosophy. But, for 30 years there is a natural and very effective bio-technology: the Lokosana® Earthing- and magnet-Pad developed under the lead of Prof. Dr. med. h.c. Günther W. Amann-Jennson. Combined with a temperature-regulating SAMINA sheep-wool overlay it best is placed on top of a spring- resp. box-spring mattress. Due to the large scale body-grounding, the load of electromagnetic pollution at the sleeping place can largely be compensated. The included bio magnets care for a stabilization of the Earth’s magnetic field. This also has a positive effect on the sleep biology. Like US-studies concerning large scale body earthing reveal, this not only diminishes the hazardous influence of technical radiation fields up to 90 percent, but also more than 40 further biologically valuable effects like quicker reduction of the stress hormone cortisol including increase of the important sleep- and protection-hormone melatonin occur. Thus, falling asleep as well as sleeping through including the physical-mental-emotional regeneration are measurably improved. Well-known experts like the sleep-medic Prof. Dr. Karl Hecht (Berlin) or Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt (Seattle), who won two awards as Worldbest Atlernative Medical Practitioner, are convinced that besides SAMINA, Lokosana® worldwide is the best product for optimization of sleeping places. More and more owners of box-springs become convinced of these facts and electro-biologically remediate and optimize their box-springs with the Earthing Pad Lokosana®. Thus, the sleeping quality improves and your health is protected during sleep. Don’t hesitate – every night counts!

Further information to Lokosana® Earthing Pad

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Box-spring beds

Especially in their structure, box-spring beds differ from a classic bed. Instead of a slat frame, the box-spring consists of a base frame with springs. Box-springs are also called “continental bed” or “American bed”.

The base frame with springs is surrounded by a frame, mostly made of massive wood. The box-springs themselves often are “Bonell-springs” better known as “spring core”. These springs often consist of metal. Depending from the producer, the base frames are furnished with various layers of springs. On top of the layers of springs there is the mattress itself. The mattress may be completed with a topper. Box-springs are widespread, especially in America, Scandinavia and Canada. The mattress-height varies country-specific. In America, often 30 cm high mattresses are used. In Scandinavia, the version “mattress plus topper” is widespread.

Metals at the sleeping place

Already more than 100,000 studies dealt with the topic of electromagnetic pollution. The harmful accommodation-poison can be determined in almost every household. In bedrooms, too. Besides classic causer of electromagnetic pollution like mobile phones, WLan or other electric devices, metals further intensify these EMFs. Electromagnetic pollution covers all artificially generated electromagnetic radiations, waves and oscillations.

Besides headache, sleep disturbances, too, are consequences of electro-magnetic radiation. The negative impact of these artificially generated fields affects our brain as well our hormone- and nervous-system as the production of melatonin. Therefore, especially in your bedroom you should care for a surrounding free from any electric devices as well as a metal-free sleeping place. For electro-sensitive persons the consequences of the radiation are especially severe.

The metals included in the bed intensify the effect of the electromagnetic radiation. Signals from radio- as well as mobile-radio-transmitter are intensified. The springs in the box-spring beds act like an antenna and further increase radiation exposure.

A further negative consequence of metals in bed is the distorted Earth’s magnetic field. A North-South alignment of the bed leads to an improved phase of deep sleep. When the Earth’s magnetic field is distorted it further has a negative effect on sleeping quality.