| Magnetic field therapy is one of several alternatives to | | | | flow and circulation in the magnetized area is |
| conventional medicine that uses magnets for health | | | | enhanced as iron in the blood is drawn by the |
| maintenance and treating disorders. The approach has | | | | magnets. Overall, most health experts and analysts still |
| already become highly popular recourse for pain relief | | | | advise a physician-guided comprehensive examination |
| and healing, generating over $5 billion in sales on | | | | and treatment for many conditions. |
| magnets and related products. The non-invasive | | | | Among studies that found evidence of a positive |
| therapy assumes that emotional and physical changes | | | | health effect is one presented during the American |
| in human beings flow from the interaction of the body | | | | Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine's 51st Annual |
| and the earth - both are natural sources of magnetic | | | | Scientific Meeting in early November 2004. The study |
| and electric fields. In addition, magnetic therapy | | | | established that repetitive transcranial magnetic |
| assumes that good health is maintained when a | | | | stimulation in stroke patients enhanced motor and brain |
| person's electromagnetic field is in balance. | | | | function and helped hasten recovery. The process |
| 1. History | | | | involves passing electric current through an insulater |
| The view that magnets offer medicinal benefits go | | | | wire coil, leading to a magnetic pulse that stimulates the |
| back to Ancient Greece, with believers surging in the | | | | cortex and either affects reflexes or makes a hand, |
| Middle Ages - 15th-century alchemist Paracelsus was | | | | arm or muscle twitch. |
| a proponent of the idea that iron's attraction to | | | | 5. Factors Against |
| magnets could be extended to diseases. | | | | On the other hand, a study published in The Journal of |
| - Magnetic therapy is an external treatment - Magnets | | | | the American Medical Association found that the use |
| deliver an electrical pulse to the affected body part - | | | | of bipolar magnets failed to relieve patients having |
| Magnets are combined with acupuncture needles | | | | chronic low back pain. Dr Edward Collacott, the lead |
| 2. Conditions Treated | | | | author and VA Medical center physical medicine and |
| - Arthritis - Other joint problems - Migraines - | | | | rehabilitation medical director, emphasized that he is not |
| Post-surgery pain - Chronic pain - Injured or | | | | ready to concede that magnet therapy does not work |
| overstretched muscles, tendons and ligaments - | | | | despite the result. Some experts share the view, |
| Cancer - Depression | | | | adding that more research must be pursued before |
| 3. Does It Work? | | | | any definitive stand on the therapy is made. |
| Although magnetic therapy does not show any | | | | One factor negating acceptance or a positive attitude |
| adverse side effects when applied with traditional | | | | towards magnet therapy is the proliferation of some |
| medical practice, the treatment is not advised for small | | | | sham products claiming health gains from magnet use. |
| children and pregnant women because studies into its | | | | Among these products are MagnaSlim, which |
| safety and touted effects have remained mixed or | | | | reportedly relieves stress and helps an affected |
| not highly conclusive. Patients with pacemakers and | | | | individual avoid overeating as magnets and a special |
| other implanted devices should also avoid this | | | | magnetized solution are set at certain acupuncture |
| treatment, as magnetic fields may affect device | | | | points on the body. This set-up was said to |
| functions. Despite the absence of strong evidence on | | | | renegenerate one's life force energy, or chi, boost cell |
| their health benefits, different magnets and magnet | | | | function and make a person more strong-willed in |
| products continue to be a strong consumer item. | | | | eating healthy. |
| Among the more popular items are magnet wraps for | | | | These divergent findings highlight the need for more |
| knees and other body parts, magnetic pads and | | | | extensive research into magnetic therapy. The |
| mattresses, magnetic jewelry, and magnetic shoe | | | | University of Virginia's Dr. Ann Gill Taylor has received |
| inserts. | | | | a grant of more than $1 million from the National |
| 4. Real Use Of Magnets In Medicine! | | | | Institute of Health's Alternative Medicine office to |
| Some of today's current mainstream practices involve | | | | pursue research into the impact of magnets on chronic |
| magnets, particularly magnetic resonance imaging. | | | | pain. Similar efforts are being undertaken by Baylor |
| Magnetic pulse fields are now developing as a factor | | | | College of Medicine, John Hopkins, and the |
| in treating Parkinson's disease. The belief is that blood | | | | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. |